Elina barely slept the night before her first day.
Excitement and anxiety took turns racing through her mind like restless waves. Every few minutes she imagined walking into the massive building again, sitting at her new desk, and facing the man whose presence alone had made the air feel heavier.
Belonia.
Even thinking about his name made her nervous.
At exactly 8:15 AM, Elina stepped into the lobby of Belonia Enterprises once again. Employees hurried past in expensive suits, carrying coffee and documents as the day's work began.
Elina held her small bag close to her side.
Everything about this place still felt overwhelming.
The receptionist smiled politely.
"You must be Miss Rivers. Mr. Belonia asked that you report directly to the executive floor."
Her heart skipped slightly.
Directly to him?
"Thank you," Elina replied softly.
Upstairs, Belonia's office door was already open.
He stood beside the window, speaking on the phone with a calm but sharp tone.
"No excuses. If the investors aren't satisfied, the deal is canceled."
He ended the call without waiting for a response.
Only then did he notice Elina standing at the doorway.
For a moment, his gaze lingered on her again.
She looked different from the day before.
Her long coily hair was tied loosely behind her shoulders, and she wore a soft blue blouse paired with a simple skirt. Nothing about her appearance was extravagant, yet there was a natural elegance in the way she carried herself.
Belonia's expression quickly returned to its usual cold neutrality.
"You're five minutes early," he said flatly.
Elina blinked slightly.
"I thought that was a good thing."
Belonia walked past her toward his desk.
"In this company, being early simply means you're on time."
Elina nodded quietly.
He tossed a stack of files onto the desk in front of her.
"You'll organize these reports before noon."
Elina looked at the pile.
There were at least thirty files.
"Before noon?" she asked carefully.
Belonia didn't even look up.
"Is that a problem?"
She hesitated.
"No."
"Good."
His tone was cold and dismissive, as if the conversation had already ended.
Elina sat down at the assistant desk outside his office and began working immediately.
Inside, Belonia continued reviewing documents.
But every now and then, his eyes drifted toward the glass wall separating them.
She worked quietly.
Focused.
Determined.
Most new employees spent their first morning nervous or overwhelmed.
But Elina simply worked.
Still… something about her calmness irritated him.
Or maybe it unsettled him.
Belonia wasn't sure which.
Later that afternoon, laughter echoed through the executive hallway.
Three men walked into Belonia's office without bothering to knock.
"Still terrorizing your employees?" one of them said with a grin.
Belonia looked up.
"Victor."
Victor Hale dropped into the chair across from Belonia's desk. He was tall, charming, and carried the careless confidence of someone who had never faced real consequences in life.
Behind him walked Dominic Cruz and Leon Arden, both dressed in expensive suits with the relaxed arrogance of wealthy men.
Belonia's closest friends.
Or at least the closest thing he had to friends.
Dominic leaned casually against the desk.
"We're heading to the club tonight," he said. "New place. Very exclusive."
Leon smirked.
"And apparently filled with very beautiful women."
Victor noticed Elina sitting outside the office.
His eyebrows lifted slightly.
"Well, well."
Belonia followed his gaze.
"Don't start," he said flatly.
Victor leaned closer to the glass wall, studying Elina openly.
"She's new."
"She works here."
Victor grinned.
"You never hire beautiful assistants."
Belonia's voice turned colder.
"She's not your concern."
Victor chuckled.
"Relax. I was only observing."
Elina pretended not to notice the conversation, though she could feel their eyes on her.
Victor eventually stood up.
"Well," he said, adjusting his jacket, "try not to bury yourself in work forever, Belonia. Life is meant to be enjoyed."
Belonia gave a dry laugh.
"Your definition of enjoyment is questionable."
The men left shortly afterward.
But Victor's words lingered in the air.
That evening, Elina's phone buzzed as she left the building.
Clara calling.
"Elina!" Clara's voice burst with excitement. "How was your first day working for the most terrifying man in the city?"
Elina sighed softly.
"He's… exactly like everyone says."
"Cold?"
"Yes."
"Arrogant?"
"Yes."
"Unfairly attractive?"
Elina paused.
Clara gasped dramatically.
"Oh my god, you hesitated!"
"I did not."
"You absolutely did!"
Elina laughed softly for the first time that day.
"He's also extremely rude."
Clara chuckled.
"That's Belonia for you. Rich, handsome, emotionally unavailable."
Elina shook her head as she walked down the street.
"He doesn't believe in people."
Clara's voice softened slightly.
"Men like him usually have a reason."
Elina thought about that for a moment.
Somewhere deep down, she had sensed it too.
A quiet pain hidden beneath his coldness.
Meanwhile, high above the city, Belonia sat alone in his penthouse.
A glass of whiskey rested in his hand.
His mind replayed something from earlier that day.
"I believe people can grow beyond where they start."
Elina's words echoed faintly.
Belonia scoffed quietly.
People didn't change.
Love didn't last.
And hope was a luxury for people who hadn't been broken.
Yet for some reason…
He found himself thinking about the girl with the soft voice and determined eyes.
And that irritated him more than anything else.
Because Belonia had spent years building walls around his heart.
And the last thing he wanted…
Was for someone like Elina Rivers to start tearing them down.