Falling Into His Power

Evelyn's POV

I grabbed my purse tightly as though it would protect me from the commotion of the day as I hurried through Austin Enterprises' glass doors. I looked at the clock on the far wall and saw that it was 8:57 AM, and my heart was racing. Almost on time. Once more.

"Evelyn, are you cutting it close?" The hum of the workplace was broken by Olivia's piercing voice.

I could tell she was grinning without even looking. She always had that arrogant tone in her speech, as if she was waiting for me to make a mistake.

I said softly, keeping my head down, "I'm not late," and made my way to my desk.

She whispered, "Not yet," loud enough for me to hear, along with the others. There were a few sneakers.

I choose to disregard them. I had become accustomed to the side-eyes and murmurs after years of this. But every time someone like Olivia reminded me of how insignificant I felt in this tall corporate world, my stomach turned.

I sat at my desk and started my old computer. Like every morning, the cumbersome machine took a very long time to start. I attempted to concentrate while my fingers lingered over the keyboard. However, I was unable to ignore the sinking sensation in my chest as I heard Olivia laughing behind me.

A flurry of phone calls, emails, and paperwork filled the morning. I ignored the grumble in my gut. I had barely made it through dinner last night, and I still had two days till payday, so lunch was out of the question today.

I tried to work quietly and keep my head down, but the office tension was too much to handle. Because of him, everyone spoke a little softly and moved a little more quickly.

Austin Peter.

The air in the room was sucked out by his presence as he walked in like a storm cloud. My heart raced at the sound of his shiny sneakers on the marble floor.

I hoped he wouldn't notice me, so I kept my eyes fixed on my screen.

"Mr. Wallace!" His voice, as cold and cutting as ice, echoed across the room.

I went cold. I looked up slowly from my desk. The marketing manager, Mr. Wallace, was standing next to the coffee station, holding a shaky cup.

"Yes, Mr. Austin?" Wallace's face went white as he stammered.

Peter's face was grim as he held up a file. "Is this what you consider to be appropriate work?"

"I-I don't comprehend"

"You spelled the client's name incorrectly. on each page.

The office fell silent.

Wallace opened and closed his mouth, but nothing came out.

Peter took a step forward, his tone lowering but not softening. "Are you aware of how embarrassing this is for the business? For me?

"I'll take care of it immediately"

"You've been fired."

It was a slap of words. Wallace looked at Peter in disbelief as his cup clattered to the ground.

Peter turned on his heel and said, "Pack your things." "You have until noon."

As he left, his eyes darting around the room like a blade, the place remained silent. I glanced back at my screen immediately, my hands shaking.

I was unable to make any mistakes. Not one.

The office was nearly deserted at the end of the day. The majority of my colleagues had departed, keen to get away from the oppressive stress that Peter Austin had brought with him. I wanted to go too, but there were still a ton of incomplete reports on my desk.

It was 7:10 PM when I looked at the clock. There weren't many of us left.

My phone rang just as I was ready to turn off my computer.

Mrs. Lane's voice broke over the receiver, "Miss Albert." Her tone made my stomach turn. She was the operations manager. "The quarterly report contains a serious error."

I responded tremblingly, "I-I didn't work on that report, ma'am."

"I'm not interested. Make it right. Right now. By 8:30 p.m., Mr. Austin needs it.

Before I could object, the line died.

Panic brewing in my chest, I gazed at my screen. I scanned the file after opening it. It was a complete jumble, with missing graphics, inconsistent numbers, and missed crucial portions.

This was not even intended for me to work on! However, what option did I have?

As I started editing, my hands were shaking. It seemed like a ticking time bomb every second.

My hands were clammy and my head was hammering by the time I pushed "Send." It was 8:25 PM when I looked at the clock.

I let out a sigh of relief. It was finished. I might be able to go home now.

I picked up my suitcase and got up to go.

"Miss Albert."

I was stopped in my tracks by the deep voice.

Peter Austin was standing behind me with his arms folded when I cautiously turned around. My heart almost stopped when his piercing grey eyes were fixed on me.

"S-Sir," I stumbled, gripping my bag very firmly.

"What keeps you here?" Although he spoke in a calm tone, I could feel the tension below it.

I hastily clarified, "The quarterly report had a problem." "I-uh-fixed it and forwarded it to your email."

His eyes never left mine as he took a step closer. "You fixed it?"

"Yes, sir."

He examined me with that unreadable gaze of his for a minute without saying anything.

"Please come to my office," he replied at last.

I felt sick to my stomach. "Now?"

"Yes, right now."

With my heart thumping so loudly that I was certain he could hear it, I silently followed him. What had I done incorrectly? Was something wrong?

Peter motioned me inside his modern office as he opened the door. The room was softly lighted, with a desk lamp casting a gentle glow on the polished surfaces.

He ordered, "Sit," and shut the door after me.

I sat tensely on the chair's edge and obeyed. As I waited for him to say something, my hands gripped the hem of my skirt.

Peter examined me while leaning on his desk and crossing his arms.

"Are you aware of the reason I called you here?" His tone was even as he asked.

With a dry throat, I swallowed hard. "N-No, sir."

He cocked his head slightly, making it hard to read his face.

"Let's discuss your performance."

My heart raced as I braced myself for what was coming next. Would this be the end of my job-or the start of something far worse?

Evelyn's POV

Above me, the ballroom lights glowed like stars, yet I felt as though I was in a vacuum. My mind was in disarray, and my feet were firmly planted on the shiny floor.

Daniel's comments, "Your past isn't as simple as you think," kept repeating in my head.

I discovered him drinking a beer while casually leaning against the bar. I plucked up the guts to go up to him.

"What were you referring to earlier?" I asked, making a terrible attempt to sound firm.

He turned and grinned mischievously at me. "Oh, Evelyn. So ready for answers already?

I crossed my arms and yelled, "Stop playing games." "What are you attempting to express?"

Leaning closer, he put down his drink. He said, "You're Richard Elmont's illegitimate daughter," in a thunderclap-like voice.

I looked at him in disbelief. "What?"

His smile grew as he said, "You heard me." Richard Elmont. The guy whose empire fell apart when Peter became involved.

"Stop!" My voice trembled as I snapped. "That isn't accurate."

"Isn't it?" Daniel's eyebrow went up. Consider it, Evelyn. What else could explain Peter Austin's closeness to you?

"I don't stay close to him!" My fists clenched as I spoke. "I am merely his assistant."

Daniel shook his head and laughed. "All well, if that's what you want to think. However, the truth has a humorous way of surfacing.

With my heart racing, I pivoted on my heel and left. He must have been making a mean joke. They couldn't possibly be true.

A familiar voice came from the other side of the room as I was trying to relax.

Olivia scoffed, her words brimming with derision, "Evelyn." "How is tonight's charity case going?"

Lila was giggling beside her. "Did you notice her gown? My maid, in my opinion, has greater taste.

I tried to ignore them by biting my lip. Lila wasn't done, though.

She made sure everyone could hear her say, "You know, Peter has such peculiar standards." "He destroys my father's business first, and then he takes this to a gala."

The words hurt. I sensed that everyone was watching me and that their opinions were highly important.

"That's sufficient."

Peter's voice pierced the air like a knife, and the room became silent. He took a step closer, glaring at Lila with a cold face.

"Lila, what did you say?" His voice was quiet yet menacing as he requested.

Lila stumbled, her self-assurance eroding in his presence. "Peter, I was just kidding."

"Joking?" he said in a chilly tone. "You think it's funny to make fun of my assistant in public?"

"I didn't mean that"

"Sorry," he ordered, interrupting her.

Lila's face became quite red. She glanced at me before turning back to Peter. "I apologize," she muttered.

"Louder," Peter insisted.

She apologized once more, her voice almost audible.

Satisfied, Peter nodded. "All right. Now go.

With her heels clicking loudly on the marble floor, Lila bounded off. Olivia trailed closely after her.

Stunned, I stood there. It was the first time Peter had stood up for me. Why now?

To avoid more attention, I spent the remainder of the evening close to the ballroom's edge. However, my mind continued to race.

What made Peter intervene? And what did Daniel hope to achieve by telling lies?

I was relieved to return to my tiny flat when the event was finally over. I exhaled deeply as I shut the door behind me.

I was emotionally spent from the night's events. After kicking off my heels, I fell onto the couch and allowed the room's silence to envelope me.

But it was short-lived.

I was startled by a knock at the door. I looked at the clock and scowled. It was almost midnight.

At this hour, who might it be?

A plain white envelope was on the floor when I carefully opened the door. The corridor was deserted.

I picked it up and looked at the front handwriting. In strong, black writing, my name was written: Evelyn Albert.

With shaky hands, I ripped it open.

Two lines were written on a single sheet of paper that was inside:

"You are descended from Richard Elmont. If you don't believe me, ask Peter.

The paper dropped from my fingertips as my breath caught.

My fingers shaking, I took up the letter again and read the words a second time. I couldn't stop thinking about the audacious assertion written on the paper: "You are Richard Elmont's blood." If you don't believe me, ask Peter.

Why would I receive this? Did Daniel do it? He had to be the one. But what's the point of all this hassle? Why would he want to cause such turmoil in my life?

My chest rose and fell with irregular breaths as I rested back against the couch. I could picture my mother's face, her soft touch, her loving gaze, and her hushed comforts when life seemed too much. She didn't bring up my father at all. Not once.

Was that something she was trying to hide?

I tried to ignore the thought by shaking my head. It didn't feel feasible. My mom couldn't be dishonest. She gave me what little we had by working so hard and making so many sacrifices.

However, the suspicions persisted.

Is this the case? Could I have something to do with Richard Elmont? A tycoon?

I felt a little at the concept. A nobody like me would never have been important to someone like that.

What does Peter have to do with this? Was the next question that came up, and it made me shiver.

"Ask him," the letter advised. However, how could I? He was Peter Austin, the icy, unapproachable CEO who hardly glanced at me, much less revealed intimate details.

I looked at the time. I knew I wouldn't go to sleep until I had some answers, even if it was beyond midnight.

Clutching the letter tightly, I decided. Tomorrow, I will confront Peter Austin, no matter the consequences. But as I stared out the window into the dark, I couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of something much bigger. Something I wasn't ready for.

Evelyn's POV

Above me, the ballroom lights glowed like stars, yet I felt as though I was in a vacuum. My mind was in disarray, and my feet were firmly planted on the shiny floor.

Daniel's comments, "Your past isn't as simple as you think," kept repeating in my head.

I discovered him drinking a beer while casually leaning against the bar. I plucked up the guts to go up to him.

"What were you referring to earlier?" I asked, making a terrible attempt to sound firm.

He turned and grinned mischievously at me. "Oh, Evelyn. So ready for answers already?

I crossed my arms and yelled, "Stop playing games." "What are you attempting to express?"

Leaning closer, he put down his drink. He said, "You're Richard Elmont's illegitimate daughter," in a thunderclap-like voice.

I looked at him in disbelief. "What?"

His smile grew as he said, "You heard me." Richard Elmont. The guy whose empire fell apart when Peter became involved.

"Stop!" My voice trembled as I snapped. "That isn't accurate."

"Isn't it?" Daniel's eyebrow went up. Consider it, Evelyn. What else could explain Peter Austin's closeness to you?

"I don't stay close to him!" My fists clenched as I spoke. "I am merely his assistant."

Daniel shook his head and laughed. "All well, if that's what you want to think. However, the truth has a humorous way of surfacing.

With my heart racing, I pivoted on my heel and left. He must have been making a mean joke. They couldn't possibly be true.

A familiar voice came from the other side of the room as I was trying to relax.

Olivia scoffed, her words brimming with derision, "Evelyn." "How is tonight's charity case going?"

Lila was giggling beside her. "Did you notice her gown? My maid, in my opinion, has greater taste.

I tried to ignore them by biting my lip. Lila wasn't done, though.

She made sure everyone could hear her say, "You know, Peter has such peculiar standards." "He destroys my father's business first, and then he takes this to a gala."

The words hurt. I sensed that everyone was watching me and that their opinions were highly important.

"That's sufficient."

Peter's voice pierced the air like a knife, and the room became silent. He took a step closer, glaring at Lila with a cold face.

"Lila, what did you say?" His voice was quiet yet menacing as he requested.

Lila stumbled, her self-assurance eroding in his presence. "Peter, I was just kidding."

"Joking?" he said in a chilly tone. "You think it's funny to make fun of my assistant in public?"

"I didn't mean that"

"Sorry," he ordered, interrupting her.

Lila's face became quite red. She glanced at me before turning back to Peter. "I apologize," she muttered.

"Louder," Peter insisted.

She apologized once more, her voice almost audible.

Satisfied, Peter nodded. "All right. Now go.

With her heels clicking loudly on the marble floor, Lila bounded off. Olivia trailed closely after her.

Stunned, I stood there. It was the first time Peter had stood up for me. Why now?

To avoid more attention, I spent the remainder of the evening close to the ballroom's edge. However, my mind continued to race.

What made Peter intervene? And what did Daniel hope to achieve by telling lies?

I was relieved to return to my tiny flat when the event was finally over. I exhaled deeply as I shut the door behind me.

I was emotionally spent from the night's events. After kicking off my heels, I fell onto the couch and allowed the room's silence to envelope me.

But it was short-lived.

I was startled by a knock at the door. I looked at the clock and scowled. It was almost midnight.

At this hour, who might it be?

A plain white envelope was on the floor when I carefully opened the door. The corridor was deserted.

I picked it up and looked at the front handwriting. In strong, black writing, my name was written: Evelyn Albert.

With shaky hands, I ripped it open.

Two lines were written on a single sheet of paper that was inside:

"You are descended from Richard Elmont. If you don't believe me, ask Peter.

The paper dropped from my fingertips as my breath caught.

My fingers shaking, I took up the letter again and read the words a second time. I couldn't stop thinking about the audacious assertion written on the paper: "You are Richard Elmont's blood." If you don't believe me, ask Peter.

Why would I receive this? Did Daniel do it? He had to be the one. But what's the point of all this hassle? Why would he want to cause such turmoil in my life?

My chest rose and fell with irregular breaths as I rested back against the couch. I could picture my mother's face, her soft touch, her loving gaze, and her hushed comforts when life seemed too much. She didn't bring up my father at all. Not once.

Was that something she was trying to hide?

I tried to ignore the thought by shaking my head. It didn't feel feasible. My mom couldn't be dishonest. She gave me what little we had by working so hard and making so many sacrifices.

However, the suspicions persisted.

Is this the case? Could I have something to do with Richard Elmont? A tycoon?

I felt a little at the concept. A nobody like me would never have been important to someone like that.

What does Peter have to do with this? Was the next question that came up, and it made me shiver.

"Ask him," the letter advised. However, how could I? He was Peter Austin, the icy, unapproachable CEO who hardly glanced at me, much less revealed intimate details.

I looked at the time. I knew I wouldn't go to sleep until I had some answers, even if it was beyond midnight.

Clutching the letter tightly, I decided. Tomorrow, I will confront Peter Austin, no matter the consequences. But as I stared out the window into the dark, I couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of something much bigger. Something I wasn't ready for.