Chapter 3 The Assignment

The way the words spilled from his lips sharp, cold, and dripping with venom left me frozen, the same terror clutching me since I stepped into this office. I sat across from him, dutifully recording his schedule while my fingers trembled over the iPad. But fear wasn't the only thing making my pulse race. No, my heart pounded because of the dangerously captivating man sitting right in front of me, and because every syllable of his smooth, metallic voice slid over my skin like a blade.

His beauty was the kind that stopped people mid-stride, forcing them to look again, unable to resist absorbing every inch of his impossible perfection. His features were carved with such precision they looked sculpted from granite. His midnight-black hair was so thick and glossy that my fingers actually twitched with the urge to run through it. And those stormy gray eyes, eyes capable of exposing the deepest, darkest parts of someone's soul with a single, effortless glance.

I kept telling myself to get a grip, to look away, to breathe. But I couldn't not until he finally lifted his gaze from the laptop. Heat rushed to my ears as I yanked my stare away, looking down at the screen in front of me. A whirlwind of emotions, fear and fascination, excitement and anxiety stormed through me so fiercely I felt light-headed.

"Here."

My head jerked up. He was sliding a bottle of water across the desk toward me. I took it quickly and drank half of it in one go, hoping it would steady me.

"Thank you," I whispered, pushing it back to him. He nudged it aside with one long finger, his eyes never leaving mine.

Then he pulled a thick manila folder from the stack of documents on his dark desk and held it out. "Read it, analyze it, and prepare a presentation for tomorrow's meeting."

"Yes, sir." The response escaped me automatically, drawn from my lips by his calm, commanding tone.

With a dismissive flick of his finger, he returned to attacking his keyboard, ending the conversation.

I stood, legs wobbling and stepped out of his office.

What was wrong with me? Why did I react like that around him?

I shook my head, inhaling sharply. I needed to remember why I was here, what I had been forced into. The quicker I finished this job, the quicker I could get out. But could I actually do it? Could I betray someone, even someone like him when my entire body rebelled against the idea?

"Ms. Vale."

I jumped violently, the folder slipping from my hands as papers scattered across the hallway floor.

Perfect.

"Oh gosh, did I scare you? I'm really sorry, Ms. Vale," Mr. Cortez said as he rushed over to help.

"No, no, it's fine. I was just... somewhere else in my head," I muttered, bending to gather the pages.

He straightened with one sheet in his hand. "The ILL and Project." He returned it to me with a friendly smile. "If you need any help with it, feel free to ask me." Then he added almost too quickly "Or anything else."

"Thank you. I'll keep that in mind."

Unlike his boss, Mr. Cortez was warm and courteous. His soft blue eyes and wavy dark-brown curls gave him an approachable, dependable aura completely opposite from the razor-sharp authority and danger Mr. Thorne radiated. Under different circumstances, I might have even considered being friends with him.

I hurried back to my desk and opened the file. From what I could gather, Mr. Thorne was planning to purchase several plots of land from a real estate company to build an exclusive resort for some influential aristocrat. My job was to outline the strategy, provide the cost analysis, and conclude convincingly why we should be granted the contract.

What a lovely task for my first day, insert sarcasm.

It was already 12:20 p.m. Even if I skipped lunch, there was no way I'd finish before tomorrow morning's meeting. With a sigh, I got to work until my phone buzzed beside me. Seeing the caller ID, I nearly leapt out of my chair, quickly blocking the screen from the office camera.

What now?

Clutching my phone, I slipped out of the office and checked the surrounding rooms. Luckily, both the CEO and the manager were at lunch. I rushed into the washroom, shut the door, and answered.

"I can't do this. You need to find someone else."

"Congratulations on landing the job. Now, I assume you have some information for me," he said, ignoring every word I'd just spoken.

"Did you not hear me? I can't do this!" My voice snapped under the pressure.

"Oh, apologies, I can barely hear anything over your loved ones' suffering." His cheerful tone sliced through me, making my heart clench painfully.

"You monster."

"Time is running, Seraphina. Tick tock, tick tock."

My head thudded back against the wall. A broken breath escaped me. "H-he's... working on striking a deal with someone named Mr. Vancouver," I forced out, my hand curling tightly into a fist.

"Good. Now get closer to Thorne. Find out his upcoming projects and keep me updated."

And he hung up.

I slid down the wall as tears streamed freely hot and unstoppable. My morals and my fear battled violently inside me, and fear was winning. Why was this happening to me? All I ever wanted was to give those helpless people a safe place for the little time they had left. And now... this.

Mom... why aren't you here? I need you.

My phone buzzed again. This time, it was my reminder for Mr. Thorne's conference call with a client. I wiped my face, reapplied my smudged eyeliner as best as I could, and hurried toward the conference room.

He was already inside, speaking on the massive screen across from him. When he saw me enter, he lifted one long finger and signaled me to leave without even looking directly at me.

"Sorry, sir," I murmured as I stepped out. His earlier words echoed in my mind: I prefer my business private.

Please, by all means keep everything private so I don't learn anything.

My stomach protested, reminding me I'd skipped lunch, but I pushed through. By the end of the day, the presentation was complete. All that remained was printing the slides and making copies. I hoped I could take care of that. In the morning my eyes burned, and every inch of my body begged for sleep.

Dragging myself to the CEO's office, I knocked.

"Hm," he answered, sounding just as exhausted as I felt.

I stepped inside. He didn't so much as glance up. His eyes stayed glued to the laptop, his brows slightly furrowed, his jaw ticking with focus. In another situation, I would've melted at the sight of him or maybe I already had.

Where on earth did these thoughts even come from?

Clearing my throat, I tried again. "Sir, the presentation is done." And thank you for making my first day one of the most stressful days of my life not that I didn't deserve it.

"Hm."

I crossed my fingers behind my back and prayed silently. "Only the printing and copying are left. Hopefully I can take care of that tomorrow morning?"

"Hm."

I blinked. Was that... agreement? Relief tugged a smile onto my lips.

That's when he finally looked up, removing the small device from his ear. "You were saying?"

My smile evaporated instantly. He'd been on a call? The entire time? And I'd just been rambling? He could've at least used that signature finger of his to warn me.

Before I could repeat myself, a knock sounded. At his nod, Mr. Cortez entered quickly, tension etched on his face.

"Sir, we have another bidder for the IL project."

Mr. Thorne's brows drew together, barely showing concern. "Who?"

"Silas Creed."