Hailey walked out of the building in shock.
She got the job.
She actually got the job.
But that wasn't what scared her.
What scared her… was the voice.
She could still hear it.
Faint.
Distant.
From people walking past her.
I'm late.
I forgot my keys.
I'm tired…
She stopped walking.
"Oh no."
This wasn't just the CEO.
She could hear everyone.
Her first day was overwhelming.
Being the CEO's assistant meant everything moved fast.
Too fast.
But her ability… made it easier.
She knew what people wanted before they asked.
She avoided mistakes before they happened.
She impressed everyone.
Especially Adrian.
But something was strange.
Very strange.
She could hear his thoughts.
But not all of them.
Sometimes…
There was silence.
As if he was blocking her.
Days turned into weeks.
Hailey learned more about Adrian.
He was cold.
Strict.
Demanding.
But beneath that…
There was something else.
Loneliness.
Pressure.
And something deeper.
Something painful.
One evening, as they worked late, she heard it clearly.
Don't trust her.
She froze.
Then—
Everyone leaves eventually.
Her chest tightened.
She looked at him.
Really looked at him.
For the first time…
She didn't see a powerful CEO.
She saw a man who had built walls so high… no one could reach him.
You don't trust people, do you?" she asked suddenly.
Adrian looked up sharply.
"What?"
Hailey's heart pounded.
She shouldn't have said that.
But it was too late.
"You expect them to leave," she continued softly.
Silence.
Dangerous silence.
"How would you know that?" he asked coldly.
Hailey hesitated.
Then said the truth—just not all of it.
"Because you act like someone who's been disappointed too many times."
He stared at her.
Long.
Hard.
Then—
She sees too much.
From that day on, things changed.
Slightly.
Subtly.
Adrian became… less distant.
Not warm.
Not yet.
But different.
And Hailey…
She stopped using her ability just to succeed.
She started using it…
To understand him.
THE COST OF KNOWING EVERYTHING
But reading minds wasn't a gift.
It was exhausting.
Overwhelming.
Painful.
She heard things she wasn't meant to hear.
Secrets.
Fears.
Regrets.
And sometimes…
Things that hurt.
Like the day she accidentally heard Adrian think—
She'll leave too.
Her heart broke.
One night, Hailey stood alone.
Thinking.
She had a choice.
Keep using her ability.
Or stop.
Because knowing everything…
Meant feeling everything.
The next day, she walked into his office.
"I need to tell you something," she said.
Adrian looked up.
"What is it?"
She took a deep breath.
"This is going to sound crazy…"
Hailey said, her fingers trembling slightly.
Adrian leaned back in his chair, studying her carefully. "Go on."
She swallowed.
Her heart pounded loudly in her chest.
"I can hear your thoughts."
Silence.
Dead, heavy silence.
For a moment, Adrian didn't react at all.
Then he let out a short, cold laugh.
"That's not funny."
"I'm not joking," she said quickly. "Since the day of my interview… I've been hearing them. Yours. Everyone's."
His expression darkened.
"Enough, Hailey."
"I know about the project you almost shut down because of your father's failure," she said, her voice shaking. "I know why you don't trust partnerships. I know you think I'll leave."
That did it.
Adrian froze.
Completely.
Because those were things he had never told anyone.
Ever.
Get out."
His voice was low.
Dangerously controlled.
Hailey's heart sank. "Adrian, I—"
"Get. Out."
She flinched.
Not because he shouted—but because he didn't.
She turned slowly and walked out of the office.
The moment the door closed behind her—
How does she know…?
Is she spying on me?
Or… is she telling the truth?
That night, Hailey cried.
Not because she lost her job—though she was sure she had.
But because she had hurt him.
The one person she had started to care about.
The next day, she still came to work.
She expected security to escort her out.
But they didn't.
Instead, she received a message.
"Come to my office."
When she walked in, Adrian was standing by the window.
He didn't turn immediately.
"Prove it," he said.
Hailey blinked. "What?"
"If you can hear my thoughts… prove it."
Her heart raced.
"Okay…"
She focused.
Listened.
At first, there was nothing.
Then—
If she's lying, she's gone.
If she's telling the truth… everything changes.
Hailey took a breath.
"You're thinking that if I'm lying, you'll fire me," she said softly. "And if I'm telling the truth… you don't know what to do with me."
He turned.
Slowly.
Shock was written clearly across his face.
After that… things changed.
Not suddenly.
Not easily.
But slowly.
Adrian didn't fire her.
Instead, he kept her closer.
Watching her.
Testing her.
Trying to understand her.
And Hailey…
She stopped being just his assistant.
She became someone he relied on.
Late nights became normal.
Working together.
Talking.
Arguing.
Laughing—sometimes.
And in those quiet moments…
Their walls began to fall.
One night, as rain poured outside, they were the only two left in the office.
"You don't have to stay this late," Adrian said.
"I know," she replied. "But I want to."
He looked at her.
Really looked at her.
Why does she stay…?
Hailey smiled softly.
"Because I care."
The words slipped out before she could stop them.
Silence filled the room.
I care about this job," she quickly added.
But Adrian didn't look convinced.
He stepped closer.
"Only the job?"
Her heart skipped.
She could hear his thoughts.
Say it.
Don't say it.
I shouldn't want this.
She looked up at him.
"I care about you too."
There it was.
The truth.
Raw.
Unfiltered.
Adrian's breath hitched slightly.
He didn't step back.
Instead…
He stepped closer.
Too close.
"You shouldn't," he said quietly.
"I know."
"But you do anyway."
"Yes."
And for the first time…
He didn't push her away.
Days later, something strange happened.
Hailey saw her.
The old woman.
Standing across the street.
Watching her.
Hailey ran toward her.
"You!"
The old woman smiled.
"I was wondering when you'd notice."
"What did you do to me?" Hailey demanded.
The woman chuckled softly. "I gave you what you asked for."
"I didn't mean it literally!"
"Most people don't."
Hailey crossed her arms. "Why me?"
The old woman's expression softened.
"Because you helped without expecting anything in return."
She stepped closer.
"And because you needed to learn something."
"What?"
"That knowing someone's mind… is not the same as understanding their heart."
Hailey fell silent.
"There's more, isn't there?" she asked.
The woman nodded.
"The gift comes with a cost."
Hailey's stomach tightened. "What kind of cost?"
The old woman looked at her seriously.
"The deeper you connect with someone… the harder it becomes to separate your feelings from theirs."
"And if I don't stop?"
The woman smiled sadly.
"Then one day… you won't know where you end and they begin."
TO BE CONTINUED...