Aria Hale had survived her first full day with Alexander Knight without collapsing into a puddle of nerves, but she was far from feeling triumphant. She thought the elevator ride down to the lobby would give her a moment to breathe-but as the doors opened, the subtle buzz of whispers hit her immediately.
"Is that… Alexander Knight's new assistant?"
"I heard she's the one he can't intimidate."
They say he is a monster in the office-how is anyone supposed to handle him?
Aria clutched her tote a little closer. She wasn't used to this sort of scrutiny, not on the very first day. Her chest tightened, both from embarrassment and frustration. She refused to acknowledge the prickle of anxiety creeping up her spine.
Ignore them, she told herself. They don't matter. He doesn't matter. Not beyond this office door.
And yet, they did.
It wasn't the office whispers that unnerved her; it was the preconceived knowledge that Alexander Knight's reputation preceded him. Every step she made was measured and calculated, every word uttered could be judged or misinterpreted or twisted.
She walked to the elevator bank, looking forward to a quiet ride down. A voice called out behind her:
"Well, if isn't the infamous new assistant," said a young man; his tone was filled with mock curiosity. Aria turned to find a colleague from the marketing department smirking, casually leaning against the wall.
"Yes, that would be me," she said evenly, her voice steady. "I'm flattered you noticed."
The smirk grew wider. "Flattered or terrified?"
Aria raised an eyebrow. "A little of both," she said smoothly. "Depends on the day."
For just a moment, the smirk had faltered. The flicker of recognition in his eyes was unmistakable: this one's not easy to shake. That tiny moment of triumph gave her a fleeting thrill before the doors slid open and cut the exchange short.
Back on the executive floor, she tried to focus on her work. Organizing Alexander's calendar had been difficult enough yesterday, and today was shaping up to be no different. Every email, every phone call, every small task carried the weight of perfection. She double-checked every detail, reminding herself that Alexander had a razor-sharp memory for mistakes and an even sharper tongue for criticism.
She was going over a schedule of meetings when a light knock came at her door.
"Come in," she said.
It was Lucas, one of the junior analysts. He was friendly, easygoing—the kind of person who made the office feel slightly less like a war zone. "Hey," he said, holding a cup of coffee. "Thought you might need a refill."
Aria managed a small smile. "Thanks, I could use it."
He put the cup down on her desk, leaning casually. "So… how's it going with Alexander Knight?"
Her fingers froze over the keyboard. "Fine," she said cautiously. "Challenging, but fine."
Lucas chuckled. "Challenging? That's an understatement. You've survived what, a day and a half? Some of us have been here years and still fear him."
Aria leaned back slightly, letting herself relax a fraction. "I've heard the rumors."
"You've heard them right," he said, one corner of his mouth curling upward. "He's.much. Arrogant, intimidating, impossible. But he's not without his moments."
"Moments?" she repeated skeptically.
Lucas shrugged. "He's human, believe it or not. I've seen glimpses."
Aria frowned skeptically. She was yet to see anything beyond sheer arrogance and dominance. "I'll take your word for it."
By noon, the whispers in the office had progressed to more open conversations. Many were curious, maybe even a little envious, of this new assistant who simply wasn't fazed by the city's most feared CEO.
"Did you see the way she stood up to him yesterday?" one co-worker whispered.
"I know! I thought he would fire her on the spot," another said.
Aria felt their eyes upon her as she walked past. Every glance, every small smirk, every whispered remark chipped away at her sense of anonymity-but she refused to let it bother her. She had come here to work, to prove herself, not to be the subject of idle chatter.
But deep down, a part of her was thinking that she liked it-the curiosity, the tension, the fact that she wasn't invisible.
Later that afternoon, Alexander called her into his office again. Aria entered warily, stealing herself for criticism or another challenge.
"You've been the topic of office conversation," he told her, his gray eyes scanning her like a predator. "Do you know why?"
Aria steeled herself. "I can guess," she said.
He leaned back in his chair, his mouth curved in a smirk. "You're different. You don't cower, you don't flinch, and—most importantly—you don't play the office games."
Aria blinked. "That's… a compliment?
"Possibly," he said, shrugging. "I find it. interesting.
She bit back the urge to smile. Interesting. That one word made her pulse quicken, though she couldn't explain why it did. She wanted to argue, to deny that it affected her-but the truth was, it did.
"Your assignment for today," he concluded, sliding a thick folder across the desk, "is to prepare a presentation for tomorrow's investor meeting. It needs to be flawless. I don't want excuses, errors, or delays."
Aria picked up the folder, feeling its weight. "Understood. I'll have it ready."
"Good," he said, suddenly leaning forward. "Because I'm not here to babysit, and I'm not forgiving mistakes.
Her fingers tightened on the folder. "I wouldn't expect anything less."
He studied her, gray eyes sharp and assessing. Then, without warning, he added, "You're ambitious. I can see it. But remember—ambition without skill is dangerous."
Aria felt a flicker of challenge ignite within her. "Then I will make sure that my ambition is equaled with results."
The short, sweet exchange had left the air charged. Alexander returned to his tablet, feigning absorption, but Aria knew better. She could feel his gaze linger, watch her even while he appeared disinterested.
The afternoon trudged along in relentless chore after chore, but Aria found herself growing into the rhythm of Alexander's demands. She became hyper-aware of his tendencies, anticipating the exact way he would request changes, the tone he would use when he was displeased.
Each small victory—email sent flawlessly, schedule adjusted to perfection—was met with a faint nod or a raised eyebrow, subtle acknowledgments that made her chest swell with quiet satisfaction.
And then, of course, there was the gossip.
By mid-afternoon, she found herself cornered near the coffee machine by a pair of junior staffers.
"So… what's it like working for him?" one asked, her tone a mix of curiosity and envy.
Aria considered the question. She could've brushed it off, kept her answers vague, but instead she opted for honesty—careful honesty.
"He's… challenging. Demanding. And yes, intimidating. But he's also… precise, intelligent, and, surprisingly, fair when he sees somebody working.
The second staffer looked skeptical. "Fair? Really?"
Aria shrugged. "If you do your job properly, he notices. If you don't… well, you've been warned."
The two exchanged glances, clearly impressed. Aria couldn't help a small smirk. She might be a new face in this office, but she was starting to earn her place—not just through her work, but through her composure, her confidence, and her refusal to cower before Alexander Knight's legendary temperament.
By the end of the day, Aria was back in Alexander's office for a final time. She submitted the completed schedule for tomorrow's investor meeting, carefully formatted and meticulously checked.
Taking the folder from her, Alexander flipped through its pages. His expression remained detached until, quite unexpectedly, he nodded.
"Well done," he said briefly.
Aria blinked, not quite sure she had heard right. "Thank you, sir."
He leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers. "I'll admit… you're better than I expected. That doesn't mean you're safe from criticism, but—well, you've earned a temporary reprieve." Aria's lips twitched into a suppressed smile.
Temporary reprieve, indeed. That sounded like Alexander Knight-never fully satisfied, always challenging, yet acknowledging excellence when it mattered. As she gathered her things, she felt something she hadn't anticipated: a strange, fluttering anticipation of tomorrow. Of the next challenge.
Of the next battle with the man who had already begun to occupy her thoughts far more than she would ever admit. And somewhere, back in her mind, she had the unnerving realization: this wasn't just a job. It was the beginning of something far more complicated.
Far more dangerous. Because Alexander Knight was impossible. He was infuriating. And, she couldn't deny it, he was also… irresistible.
Chapter 3: Office Gossip
Aria Hale had survived her first full day with Alexander Knight without collapsing into a puddle of nerves, but she was far from feeling triumphant. She thought the elevator ride down to the lobby would give her a moment to breathe-but as the doors opened, the subtle buzz of whispers hit her immediately.
"Is that… Alexander Knight's new assistant?"
"I heard she's the one he can't intimidate."
They say he is a monster in the office-how is anyone supposed to handle him?
Aria clutched her tote a little closer. She wasn't used to this sort of scrutiny, not on the very first day. Her chest tightened, both from embarrassment and frustration. She refused to acknowledge the prickle of anxiety creeping up her spine.
Ignore them, she told herself. They don't matter. He doesn't matter. Not beyond this office door.
And yet, they did.
It wasn't the office whispers that unnerved her; it was the preconceived knowledge that Alexander Knight's reputation preceded him. Every step she made was measured and calculated, every word uttered could be judged or misinterpreted or twisted.
She walked to the elevator bank, looking forward to a quiet ride down. A voice called out behind her:
"Well, if isn't the infamous new assistant," said a young man; his tone was filled with mock curiosity. Aria turned to find a colleague from the marketing department smirking, casually leaning against the wall.
"Yes, that would be me," she said evenly, her voice steady. "I'm flattered you noticed."
The smirk grew wider. "Flattered or terrified?"
Aria raised an eyebrow. "A little of both," she said smoothly. "Depends on the day."
For just a moment, the smirk had faltered. The flicker of recognition in his eyes was unmistakable: this one's not easy to shake. That tiny moment of triumph gave her a fleeting thrill before the doors slid open and cut the exchange short.
Back on the executive floor, she tried to focus on her work. Organizing Alexander's calendar had been difficult enough yesterday, and today was shaping up to be no different. Every email, every phone call, every small task carried the weight of perfection. She double-checked every detail, reminding herself that Alexander had a razor-sharp memory for mistakes and an even sharper tongue for criticism.
She was going over a schedule of meetings when a light knock came at her door.
"Come in," she said.
It was Lucas, one of the junior analysts. He was friendly, easygoing—the kind of person who made the office feel slightly less like a war zone. "Hey," he said, holding a cup of coffee. "Thought you might need a refill."
Aria managed a small smile. "Thanks, I could use it."
He put the cup down on her desk, leaning casually. "So… how's it going with Alexander Knight?"
Her fingers froze over the keyboard. "Fine," she said cautiously. "Challenging, but fine."
Lucas chuckled. "Challenging? That's an understatement. You've survived what, a day and a half? Some of us have been here years and still fear him."
Aria leaned back slightly, letting herself relax a fraction. "I've heard the rumors."
"You've heard them right," he said, one corner of his mouth curling upward. "He's.much. Arrogant, intimidating, impossible. But he's not without his moments."
"Moments?" she repeated skeptically.
Lucas shrugged. "He's human, believe it or not. I've seen glimpses."
Aria frowned skeptically. She was yet to see anything beyond sheer arrogance and dominance. "I'll take your word for it."
By noon, the whispers in the office had progressed to more open conversations. Many were curious, maybe even a little envious, of this new assistant who simply wasn't fazed by the city's most feared CEO.
"Did you see the way she stood up to him yesterday?" one co-worker whispered.
"I know! I thought he would fire her on the spot," another said.
Aria felt their eyes upon her as she walked past. Every glance, every small smirk, every whispered remark chipped away at her sense of anonymity-but she refused to let it bother her. She had come here to work, to prove herself, not to be the subject of idle chatter.
But deep down, a part of her was thinking that she liked it-the curiosity, the tension, the fact that she wasn't invisible.
Later that afternoon, Alexander called her into his office again. Aria entered warily, stealing herself for criticism or another challenge.
"You've been the topic of office conversation," he told her, his gray eyes scanning her like a predator. "Do you know why?"
Aria steeled herself. "I can guess," she said.
He leaned back in his chair, his mouth curved in a smirk. "You're different. You don't cower, you don't flinch, and—most importantly—you don't play the office games."
Aria blinked. "That's… a compliment?
"Possibly," he said, shrugging. "I find it. interesting.
She bit back the urge to smile. Interesting. That one word made her pulse quicken, though she couldn't explain why it did. She wanted to argue, to deny that it affected her-but the truth was, it did.
"Your assignment for today," he concluded, sliding a thick folder across the desk, "is to prepare a presentation for tomorrow's investor meeting. It needs to be flawless. I don't want excuses, errors, or delays."
Aria picked up the folder, feeling its weight. "Understood. I'll have it ready."
"Good," he said, suddenly leaning forward. "Because I'm not here to babysit, and I'm not forgiving mistakes.
Her fingers tightened on the folder. "I wouldn't expect anything less."
He studied her, gray eyes sharp and assessing. Then, without warning, he added, "You're ambitious. I can see it. But remember—ambition without skill is dangerous."
Aria felt a flicker of challenge ignite within her. "Then I will make sure that my ambition is equaled with results."
The short, sweet exchange had left the air charged. Alexander returned to his tablet, feigning absorption, but Aria knew better. She could feel his gaze linger, watch her even while he appeared disinterested.
The afternoon trudged along in relentless chore after chore, but Aria found herself growing into the rhythm of Alexander's demands. She became hyper-aware of his tendencies, anticipating the exact way he would request changes, the tone he would use when he was displeased.
Each small victory—email sent flawlessly, schedule adjusted to perfection—was met with a faint nod or a raised eyebrow, subtle acknowledgments that made her chest swell with quiet satisfaction.
And then, of course, there was the gossip.
By mid-afternoon, she found herself cornered near the coffee machine by a pair of junior staffers.
"So… what's it like working for him?" one asked, her tone a mix of curiosity and envy.
Aria considered the question. She could've brushed it off, kept her answers vague, but instead she opted for honesty—careful honesty.
"He's… challenging. Demanding. And yes, intimidating. But he's also… precise, intelligent, and, surprisingly, fair when he sees somebody working.
The second staffer looked skeptical. "Fair? Really?"
Aria shrugged. "If you do your job properly, he notices. If you don't… well, you've been warned."
The two exchanged glances, clearly impressed. Aria couldn't help a small smirk. She might be a new face in this office, but she was starting to earn her place—not just through her work, but through her composure, her confidence, and her refusal to cower before Alexander Knight's legendary temperament.
By the end of the day, Aria was back in Alexander's office for a final time. She submitted the completed schedule for tomorrow's investor meeting, carefully formatted and meticulously checked.
Taking the folder from her, Alexander flipped through its pages. His expression remained detached until, quite unexpectedly, he nodded.
"Well done," he said briefly.
Aria blinked, not quite sure she had heard right. "Thank you, sir."
He leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers. "I'll admit… you're better than I expected. That doesn't mean you're safe from criticism, but—well, you've earned a temporary reprieve." Aria's lips twitched into a suppressed smile.
Temporary reprieve, indeed. That sounded like Alexander Knight-never fully satisfied, always challenging, yet acknowledging excellence when it mattered. As she gathered her things, she felt something she hadn't anticipated: a strange, fluttering anticipation of tomorrow. Of the next challenge.
Of the next battle with the man who had already begun to occupy her thoughts far more than she would ever admit. And somewhere, back in her mind, she had the unnerving realization: this wasn't just a job. It was the beginning of something far more complicated.
Far more dangerous. Because Alexander Knight was impossible. He was infuriating. And, she couldn't deny it, he was also… irresistible.