Time seemed to fly by as I was jolted awake by the blaring alarm in my room. At first, I thought about snoozing it and getting a few more minutes of sleep, but then I remembered the whole reason I had to get up: the contract signing with that douchebag at the company. Groaning, I dragged myself out of bed, quickly washed up, and realized I didn't have time for breakfast—signing those papers would probably take no more than an hour, right?
I grabbed my bag, left the apartment, and hailed a cab. The driver shot me a look when I told him my destination. I guess it's not every day someone gets in a cab near JAY Enterprises. When we pulled up outside the building, I was momentarily speechless. The place screamed wealth and prestige. The grand roundabout, the silver sculpture at its center—it looked more like a palace than an office. I couldn't help but feel a little out of place. No wonder everyone dreamed of working here.
I took a deep breath to calm my nerves and walked inside. The building was massive—spanning several floors with departments ranging from entertainment to agriculture. I'd heard they rebranded when the new CEO came on board. And with that rebranding came a rise to the top. JAY Enterprises was now number one in the city. The CEO? Well, he was named People Magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive" and the most eligible bachelor. Great.
The voice of the blonde receptionist brought me back to reality. Her desk practically glittered, with imported materials and the latest tech gadgets. I was half-worried I'd accidentally break something if I touched it.
"Good morning, Miss. Welcome to JAY Enterprises. How can I help you today?" she asked, eyeing me a little suspiciously.
"Good morning. My name's Emma Stone. I'm here to meet the head of HR…uh, I forgot her name," I said, trying to sound confident.
"Did you have an appointment?" she asked, her tone dripping with skepticism.
"Yes, she called me yesterday. Said I should come by today to sign some contracts," I replied, trying not to sound too irritated.
Just then, the office seemed to go silent. I looked around to see employees lining up and bowing their heads as a man walked through. He didn't acknowledge any of them. Not a glance, not a nod. He just walked past them like they didn't exist. And then—oh no—he looked directly at me.
Alex.
I froze, my skin suddenly ice cold. He smiled at me, and I knew right then that I was in for a whole lot of trouble.
When he entered the elevator, the employees snapped out of their trance-like state, and I couldn't help but ask, "Excuse me, but what was that all about?"
"Keep it down, woman," the receptionist warned. "We have to do this every day. We didn't like it at first, but we got used to it. Unlike other bosses, he's actually generous with the company profits, so we deal with it."
I almost felt bad for them. Almost.
Then, a blonde woman approached, and everyone greeted her with a level of respect I'd never seen before—some even bowed.
"Hello, you must be Emma Stone," she said, smiling warmly. "I'm Mrs. Johnson, head of HR. If you'll follow me, please."
As we walked, I overheard the receptionist whispering to a colleague, commenting on how rare it was for the head of HR to personally escort someone inside. It made me wonder what kind of company I was stepping into.
Mrs. Johnson led me to her office, and I was struck by how everything in the building screamed sophistication and power. Even the doorknob felt like a statement.
"You can take a seat, Emma," Mrs. Johnson said, motioning to a chair. She opened a drawer and pulled out a thick stack of papers. "These are the documents you'll need to sign."
"Thanks," I replied, glancing over the contract with a mixture of excitement and confusion.
She went through the details with me. As the CEO's secretary, I would be given a company car, an apartment in the same neighborhood as the CEO, and a six-figure salary. Half a million a year. My heart skipped a beat. This was a dream come true. My parents would finally get the life they deserved.
But as Mrs. Johnson went on, explaining the corporate jargon and my responsibilities, my mind was racing. She emphasized how I'd need to be available to the CEO at all times and how I'd have to be patient, especially considering his… personality.
I was still reeling from the salary when I signed the documents, returning them to her while she handed me copies.
"We'll take a quick tour of the company, but since it's lunchtime, let's visit your office first. He may not be around," Mrs. Johnson said, guiding me toward the CEO's office.
When we reached the top floor, I couldn't help but marvel at the view. The CEO had the entire top floor to himself. There were four cubicles for the other secretaries, and my desk was across from a massive mahogany one. "This will be your desk," Mrs. Johnson explained.
"Got it," I said, trying to hide my nervousness.
"Also, there's a fitted bedroom in the office. No one knows about it except for the boss, and you're not allowed to use it," she added.
Just then, Alex walked in, catching me off guard. He looked at us with an unreadable expression.
"I'm sorry, sir. I didn't realize you were here. I was showing Miss Stone her office," Mrs. Johnson stammered.
Alex's icy gaze never left me. He simply said, "Get out."
We turned to leave, but before I could step out, he added, "And you—be at work early on Monday. You start at 7:30 AM."
My heart sank. According to the contract, I was supposed to start at 8:00. But 7:30? That was pushing it.
"Okay, sir," I muttered, barely holding it together as I walked out the door.
Mrs. Johnson looked equally confused, wiping sweat from her brow. That's when it hit me: I was about to work for the devil incarnate.
She showed me the cafeteria and other important departments, but everyone I met gave me sympathetic looks when they found out who I'd be working for.
By the time the tour ended, I was starving. I hailed a cab and went straight to a fast food joint to grab something to eat. As I sat waiting for my meal, I felt a sharp, unsettling presence at the back of my head.
I turned around, and there he was—Alex, sitting at a table across the room, sipping coffee with a smug grin on his face. Our eyes met, and I quickly turned away, my heart racing.
Sighing, I dug into my food and called my friends. I told them everything that happened, leaving out the part about the salary and the perks. I didn't want to make them jealous. I invited them over for a little celebration later.
But just outside the shop, in a sleek car, Alex watched me with a satisfied smile, his eyes gleaming.
"Welcome to my world, Emma," he muttered under his breath. "Now, I'll make you pay for the humiliation you caused me. Consider this your compensation for the trouble you're about to face."
His laugh echoed in the car, sending a chill down my spine.