Claimed by the CEO

Anna Williams had always believed her life was predictable, like the steady ticking of the old clock in her father's study. Wake up. Go to work. Rush back home to check on her sick father. Repeat. Nothing extraordinary ever happened to her-at least, not until the day she collided head-on with Alexander Knight, the man whose name alone sent shivers through the business world.

The morning had started with chaos.

"Anna, the hospital bills are piling up again," her aunt sighed, voice weary as she folded another notice in her trembling hands. The papers scattered across the worn wooden table, each line of bold black print screaming one truth-her father's treatments were bleeding them dry.

Anna swallowed the lump in her throat. She worked two jobs, barely slept, and still, the money wasn't enough. Her father, once a proud architect, now lay weak and pale in a hospital bed, while she carried the weight of saving him.

"I'll find a way," Anna whispered, though her own voice trembled. She forced a smile for her aunt, grabbed her worn blazer, and stepped out into the city's biting morning air.

The subway was packed, her cheap heels pinching as she maneuvered through crowds. She clutched her portfolio-filled with résumés she'd been handing out endlessly-to her chest. Today, she had an interview at Knight Enterprises, one of the most powerful conglomerates in the country.

She hadn't expected much. Thousands wanted a job there, but she was desperate.

By the time Anna pushed through the revolving doors of the glass skyscraper, her nerves were in tatters. The building was intimidating, a gleaming fortress that screamed wealth and authority. Employees strode past in sleek suits, their polished shoes clicking against marble floors.

"Interviewees, sign here," a receptionist said, handing her a clipboard.

Anna signed, sat, and rehearsed answers in her head. She barely noticed when the elevator doors opened, or when the atmosphere shifted-voices dropping, whispers spreading like wildfire.

Then she saw him.

Alexander Knight.

He didn't walk into the lobby-he commanded it. Tall, broad-shouldered, dressed in an impeccably tailored black suit, he exuded cold authority. His expression was unreadable, jaw set like stone, and his dark eyes scanned the room with the sharpness of a blade.

People straightened in their seats, employees scrambled to greet him, but Alexander ignored them all, heading straight for the elevators. His presence was suffocating, magnetic in a way that made Anna's breath hitch.

She told herself to look away. She didn't belong in his world. But fate, cruel as always, had other plans.

As she stood to adjust her portfolio, someone bumped into her, sending her papers flying across the floor.

"No, no, no..." Anna scrambled, kneeling to gather the scattered sheets. One page skidded across the polished marble-straight to Alexander's feet.

He stopped.

For a moment, silence filled the lobby. Anna froze, mortified, as his gaze dropped to the paper. Slowly, he bent, picked it up, and glanced at the résumé in his hand.

His dark brows furrowed. Then his eyes lifted, pinning her in place.

Anna's breath caught. His stare was intense, like he could see through her, stripping her bare of every secret, every fear.

"You dropped this," his voice was low, smooth, but carried the weight of authority. He extended the paper toward her.

"Th-thank you," she stammered, taking it back with trembling fingers.

Alexander's gaze lingered a second longer, unreadable, before he turned away and entered the elevator. The doors closed, cutting off the moment, leaving Anna's heart racing.

She exhaled shakily, cheeks burning.

"Who was that?" she whispered to herself, though she already knew.

Alexander Knight-the CEO. The man rumored to be ruthless, cold-hearted, untouchable. The kind of man who destroyed rivals without flinching and never let anyone close.

The kind of man she had no business crossing paths with.

Yet somehow, she had.

---

The interview itself was a blur. Anna did her best, answering questions politely, showcasing her skills, but her mind kept drifting back to that piercing gaze. When it ended, she left the building with little hope. She wasn't the type they hired-too ordinary, too... expendable.

But fate wasn't done with her.

That evening, while rushing home through the pouring rain, Anna ducked under the awning of a luxury hotel to catch her breath. She was drenched, her clothes clinging to her skin, her portfolio soaked despite her efforts to shield it.

"Just my luck," she muttered, wringing out her sleeve.

The hotel doors slid open. A group of wealthy men exited, their laughter loud, their cigars leaving a trail of smoke. And among them-Alexander Knight.

Anna's heart stuttered. Twice in one day? Impossible.

He noticed her immediately. His eyes flicked over her, taking in her soaked clothes, the ruined papers clutched to her chest. For a heartbeat, something unreadable crossed his face-curiosity, maybe, or recognition.

Their eyes locked again, and Anna felt that same suffocating pull, like he was gravity itself.

One of the men with him smirked. "Another stray, Knight? Should I call security?"

Alexander didn't answer right away. He simply stepped forward, stopping just inches away from Anna. The rain pounded around them, but he stood untouched, perfectly composed.

Anna's pulse hammered. She wanted to step back, but couldn't move.

Finally, he spoke. "You're persistent."

She blinked. "E-excuse me?"

"You were in my building this morning," he said coolly. "And now here you are again." His gaze flicked to her ruined portfolio. "Still chasing opportunities?"

Heat rushed to her cheeks. "I-I wasn't following you. This is just coincidence."

His lips curved slightly-not quite a smile, more like a dangerous smirk. "I don't believe in coincidences."

Before Anna could respond, Alexander reached into his pocket, pulled out a sleek black card, and held it out.

"Come to my office tomorrow. Ten a.m. Sharp."

Anna stared at the card, stunned. "Why?"

His eyes darkened. "Because I don't waste my time. And you... are either a distraction I should remove, or something else entirely."

Then, without waiting for her reply, Alexander turned and walked away, disappearing into the night with his entourage.

Anna clutched the card to her chest, heart pounding, mind spinning.

What had just happened?

And why, out of all people, had Alexander Knight-the untouchable CEO-noticed her?

One thing was certain. Her life would never be predictable again.