Chapter 8 Under him

ROSE

Monday morning came faster than I wanted. My alarm blared, but instead of springing up like a responsible adult starting her first internship, I hit snooze. Twice.

By the time I sat up, sunlight was already slicing through my curtains.

"Oh no, no, no..." I scrambled out of bed, nearly tripping over the shopping bags from Saturday. My mind was spinning, first impressions mattered, and I was about to make mine with Adrian Sterling.

I rushed through my tiny bathroom routine, brushing my teeth with one hand while trying to tame my hair with the other.

My straight, midnight-black hair tumbled down to the top of my bum, refusing to cooperate. I pulled a brush through it desperately, watching how it caught the light in strands that looked far too polished for how rushed I actually felt.

By the time I slipped into my blazer, I was sweating, my long lashes clumped with a quick swipe of mascara, blue eyes wide with panic. My reflection stared back at me, lips glossed, cheeks flushed. My face, no matter how flustered, always carried that sharp edge people whispered about, that look of seduction I could never quite turn off.

My body didn't help either. The fitted blazer hugged my waist, dipping into curves I had no time to think about, the soft lines of my hips outlined against the pencil skirt I'd chosen. Everything felt too tight, too noticeable, to me.

"Great," I muttered. "Perfect start. Distracting for all the wrong reasons."

I grabbed my bag, shoved my notebook inside, and sprinted out the door.

The bus delay nearly ended me, but somehow, by some miracle, I reached the sterling & Co stoping in front of the lobby as I took in a deep breath taking in my surroundings , this place looked surreal.

I looked back catching a glimpse of Ethan walking in with Adrian.

I froze, trying to catch my breath, smoothing down my blazer. And then he stepped into view.

Adrian Sterling.

Even from across the hall, I felt his gaze cut through me, sharp, unreadable. My heart stuttered, because the way his silver-gray eyes lingered made it feel like he saw everything. My hair, still damp at the ends from my rushed morning. My lips, parted as I struggled to breathe. The curve of my waist, the sway of my hips as I forced myself to walk forward.

For a split second, I wished I could disappear into the ground.

But instead, I straightened my shoulders, tried to smile, and prayed he couldn't hear the thunder of my heartbeat.

At least I made it. Just barely.

The elevator ride to the top floor felt endless. My palms were slick with sweat, my heart pounding against my ribs. By the time the doors slid open, I was sure everyone in the hallway could hear it.

I stopped just outside the massive glass doors of Adrian Sterling's office. The air felt heavier here, like even the walls respected him. Ethan gave me a quick glance before nodding to the secretary seated nearby, who then gestured for me to wait.

So I stood there heels pressing into the polished floor, fingers twisting the strap of my bag. My throat was dry. What if he knew? What if the dashcam caught everything? What if he'd seen me laughing as I vandalized his car like a reckless child?

"Rose?" The secretary's voice pulled me out of my spiraling thoughts. "You can go in now."

My legs wobbled, but I forced them to move. The door shut softly behind me, sealing me in with him.

Adrian Sterling sat behind a sleek black desk, posture relaxed, yet everything about him screamed authority. His suit was flawless, his expression unreadable. Those silver-gray eyes lifted to meet mine, steady and sharp.

For a moment, silence stretched between us. He didn't rush. He didn't need to. When Adrian finally spoke, his voice was low and smooth, yet it carried enough weight to make me feel pinned in place.

"From today," he said, "you'll be working directly under me."

My lips parted in surprise. "U-under you?"

His gaze didn't waver. "As my secretary. At my beck and call." He leaned back slightly, the corner of his mouth twitching, not a smile, but something sharper, unreadable. "Every schedule. Every document. Every request. You'll handle it."

My stomach dropped. Secretary? That wasn't what I signed up for. But his tone left no room for argument. It wasn't a suggestion. It was a command.

I forced myself to nod, though my throat felt tight. "Yes... sir."

His eyes lingered on me, quiet and calculating, as if he already knew every thought rushing through my head.

For the first time, I realized this internship wasn't going to be about learning. It was going to be about surviving Adrian Sterling

The words "my secretary" still rang in my ears, heavy and suffocating. I barely had time to process them before Adrian's gaze shifted toward Ethan, who entered with a stack of files. Adrian didn't look at me when he spoke, but his tone left no doubt who the command was directed at.

"Sort those," he said. "By priority, department, and urgency. Ten minutes."

My eyes widened. The files looked like a mountain thick folders, clipped documents, numbers and contracts spilling over. Ten minutes? My throat went dry.

I stepped forward slowly, taking the stack from Ethan, who gave me the faintest look of pity before stepping aside. My hands trembled slightly as I placed the files on the edge of Adrian's desk.

This was insane. I wasn't trained for this at least not like this. My first day, and he wanted me to dive straight into chaos. Was this punishment? Did he know what I'd done?

My heart screamed walk out, but instead, I pulled the files closer, flipping them open with shaky fingers. Numbers, names, deadlines, everything blurred for a moment, but I forced myself to focus.

I muttered under my breath as I worked. "Okay... department here... urgency marked in red... contracts to be signed today go first..." My mind raced, piecing it together like a puzzle. My chest burned with panic, but I refused to let it show.

When the ten minutes ticked by, I stacked the files neatly, exhaling as though I'd just run a marathon.

Adrian reached forward, his movements calm, unhurried. He lifted the first file, skimming the labels I had made. For a long moment, silence filled the room. I felt the weight of it pressing down on me, each second dragging like an eternity.

Finally, he set the file down, his eyes lifting to meet mine. His expression gave nothing away, but something flickered in those gray eyes, amusement, maybe, or approval, I couldn't tell.

"You're not as fragile as you look," he said quietly. His tone wasn't praise exactly, but it wasn't dismissal either. More like... acknowledgment.

Relief washed through me, though I tried not to show it. I straightened my back, meeting his gaze even though my knees wanted to buckle.

"I can handle it," I managed, my voice steadier than I felt.

Adrian leaned back in his chair, fingers tapping the armrest once. Then, with that same unreadable expression, he spoke again.

"Good. You'll need to."