The next morning, Isabella walked into the office with a little more confidence than before. Yesterday's small victory—the coffee—still lingered in her mind. It wasn't much, but it was the first time Alexander Knight hadn't criticized her.
Still, she knew better than to relax.
The moment she stepped into his office, his voice cut through the air. "You're late."
Isabella frowned slightly, glancing at the clock. "It's exactly 9:00 a.m., sir."
He didn't look up from his desk. "Then you should have been here at 8:55. Assistants don't arrive on time. They arrive early."
Her lips pressed into a thin line, but she swallowed her response. "Noted."
Alexander finally looked at her, his sharp eyes scanning her face as if testing her patience. "Good. Now, I have a meeting in thirty minutes. I need a full summary of these reports, organized and simplified. No errors."
He dropped a thick pile of files onto the desk.
Isabella stared at it for a second, then nodded. "I'll get it done."
She worked quickly, her fingers flying across the keyboard, sorting through complex data, highlighting key points, and structuring everything into a clear, concise report. The pressure was intense, but she refused to crack.
Minutes later, she walked into his office and placed the file in front of him. "Your summary, sir."
Alexander raised an eyebrow, clearly not expecting her to finish so fast. He opened the file, scanning through it in silence.
The room felt suffocating as Isabella waited.
Then he stopped.
His eyes lingered on a page longer than the others.
"You reorganized the financial projections," he said slowly.
"Yes, sir. It makes it easier to understand at a glance," she replied, steady but cautious.
Another pause.
Then, unexpectedly, he nodded. "Efficient."
Isabella blinked, surprised. That wasn't an insult.
He closed the file and leaned back in his chair, studying her. "You're adapting faster than I expected. Most assistants take weeks to catch up… if they last that long."
She met his gaze, a flicker of determination in her eyes. "I told you I wouldn't fail."
For a brief second, something unreadable passed through his expression—interest, maybe even respect. But just as quickly, his usual cold demeanor returned.
"Don't get comfortable," he said. "I haven't decided if you're good enough yet."
Isabella almost rolled her eyes but stopped herself just in time. "Of course, sir."
As she turned to leave, his voice stopped her.
"And Isabella…"
She paused. "Yes?"
"The coffee. Make it the same way today."
A small smile tugged at her lips as she nodded. "Yes, Mr. Knight."
Walking out of his office, Isabella felt something shift. He was still difficult, still demanding—but now, there was something else beneath it.
Recognition.
And maybe… the beginning of something neither of them was ready to admit.