Chapter six: promotions

Lily's pov….

The sting of his words still burned.

“You may leave.”

So flat. So final.

I sat at my new desk, staring blankly at the computer screen, pretending to read the employee manual while my mind replayed every second of that humiliating encounter.

Andrew Sterling.

The man I’d spent the night with.

The man who made me feel things I shouldn’t have—who’d looked at me like I was something to be cared for and kept special .

And this morning?

He couldn’t even look at me twice.

He’d spoken like a stranger. No—worse. Like I was beneath him.

I rubbed my palms down my skirt, forcing my breathing to even out. This was my job now. Whatever happened between us was a mistake, a one-night slip I’d bury under professionalism and pride.

I would not cry at my desk. Not here. Not on day one.

A cheerful voice broke through my thoughts.

“Hey, you’re the new hire, right? Lily Hart?”

I blinked up to see a petite woman with curly brown hair and a kind smile. “Yeah. That’s me.”

“I’m Jenna. Marketing.” She leaned against my cubicle wall. “Welcome to Sterling Enterprises. Don’t mind the stiff vibe around here. Everyone’s terrified of the CEO.”

My stomach twisted. “I can see why.”

Jenna laughed. “Right? He’s gorgeous but terrifying. The man could probably freeze lava with that stare.”

Tell me about it.

Before I could answer, a tall guy with rolled-up sleeves appeared beside her. He had dark eyes, an easy grin, and the kind of confidence that screamed office flirt.

“Jenna, stop scaring the newbie,” he teased, extending his hand to me. “I’m Daniel. I’ll be your unofficial tour guide, unless you’d rather figure this labyrinth out on your own and starve before lunch.”

I shook his hand, grateful for the distraction. “I’ll take the tour, thanks.”

“Perfect. Come on, rookie.”

As we walked, Daniel pointed out everything—the departments, the lounge, the glass-walled conference rooms, and finally the executive floor.

“That’s the CEO’s office,” he said, gesturing toward the tall mahogany door at the end of the corridor. “Approach at your own risk.”

I tried not to stare, but my heart had its own plans. That door felt like a loaded gun—quiet, dangerous, waiting to go off.

Daniel didn’t seem to notice the shift in my expression. “And over there is Mrs. Lawson’s office. She’s the HR manager—strict but fair. She’s the one who decides who stays or goes, so smile when you see her.”

We stopped by the break room, where two interns were gossiping by the coffee machine. Everything looked sleek and fast-paced, people rushing between meetings, phones buzzing, printers humming. The kind of place that swallowed you whole if you weren’t quick enough to adapt.

I liked it.

Or at least, I wanted to.

“Hey, you okay?” Daniel asked, tilting his head.

“Yeah. Just… taking it all in.”

He smiled. “You’ll be fine. You’ve got the look of someone who learns fast.”

Before I could reply, a sudden thud echoed from down the hall.

Someone screamed.

Daniel and I rushed toward the sound—right outside Andrew’s office. A woman , was collapsed on the floor, pale and trembling. Her papers were scattered everywhere.

“Oh my God!” Jenna gasped, kneeling beside her. “Claire! Can you hear me?”

Mrs. Lawson came running, her heels clicking sharply against the tile. “Call 911! Now!”

“I’m on it,” Daniel said, already dialing.

The hallway spun into chaos. Employees gathered, whispering anxiously. Mrs. Lawson knelt by her assistant, her calm voice tight with worry as she checked for a pulse.

I crouched to help, gathering the papers, trying to make myself useful. “She was standing fine a second ago…”

“She’s been overworking,” Mrs. Lawson muttered. “Damn it, Claire, you should’ve taken the day off.”

Minutes later, paramedics arrived. They lifted Claire carefully onto a stretcher, attaching an oxygen mask. The entire floor went quiet as the elevator doors shut behind them.

Mrs. Lawson straightened, her expression tight. She took a deep breath, brushing her hair back. “Everyone, return to your duties. Daniel thank you for calling it in.”

Then her sharp gaze landed on me.

“You’re Lily Hart, right?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Come with me.”

I followed her into her office, nerves buzzing. She shut the door and pressed her fingertips to her temples. “What a morning.”

“I hope she’ll be okay,” I said softly.

“She will,” Mrs. Lawson sighed, dropping into her chair. “But she won’t be back for a few weeks. And I can’t have the CEO without an assistant—not with the investor meeting tomorrow.”

She looked at me, assessing, calculating. I felt my stomach drop.

“Wait,” I started. “You’re not—”

“I am,” she interrupted, reaching for her tablet. “You were one of my top interview candidates. Organized, composed, good references. I need someone now. You’re it.”

My mouth went dry. “You want me to be Mr. Sterling’s assistant?”

“Temporarily,” she said. “Until Claire returns.”

Temporarily.

Right.

Because being in the same room with Andrew Sterling again was exactly what I needed.

“Mrs. Lawson, are you sure? I—I barely know the system. I might mess something up—”

She waved her hand. “You’ll learn fast. Besides, I’ve seen how he looked at you when you brought those documents earlier.”

My pulse jumped. “He didn’t look at me at all.”

“Exactly my point,” she said dryly. “That man doesn’t look at anyone, Miss Hart. Not unless they get under his skin.”

I froze. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“He didn't look at you, meaning you haven't done anything so far to annoy him, so you're good” she said

. Now, go tell Mr. Sterling about your new position before I make it official.”

I nodded, throat tight. My heart thudded painfully as I left her office and started down the hall toward his.

Every step felt heavier than the last. The glass walls reflected my nervous face back at me—a reminder that I wasn’t ready for this.

By the time I reached his door, my palms were slick with sweat. I forced myself to knock.

“Come in.”

That voice. Deep, controlled, infuriatingly calm.

I stepped inside.

Andrew sat behind his desk, jacket off, sleeves rolled up. The sight of his forearms alone was enough to undo the fragile composure I’d built all morning.

He didn’t look up at first, just flipped through documents with his usual precision. Then he glanced up—and stilled.

Our eyes met.

For a second, neither of us spoke. The air between us thickened, electric and uncomfortable.

“Yes?” he said finally, cool and clipped. “Miss Hart.”

I straightened my shoulders. “Mrs. Lawson asked me to inform you that I’ll be taking over as your assistant—temporarily. Until Claire recovers.”

His jaw tightened. “I see.”

He leaned back, eyes flicking over me like he was measuring how much trouble I’d cause.

“Do you have experience handling executive-level correspondence?”

“No,” I admitted. “But I’m a fast learner.”

“Hmm.” His gaze lingered. “I don’t tolerate mistakes, Miss Hart.”

“Then I won’t make any,” I said quietly, meeting his eyes head-on.

Something flickered in them—surprise, maybe.

He stood abruptly, walking toward the window. “Fine. Mrs. Lawson will send you my schedule. Start immediately.”

“Yes, sir.”

I turned to leave, desperate to escape before the tension swallowed me whole.

“Miss Hart.”

I froze. .

When I turned, he was watching me, unreadable. “If this… arrangement becomes uncomfortable, you can request reassignment.”

His voice was careful, almost detached.

I lifted my chin. “Thank you for the concern, Mr. Sterling. But I can handle it.”

He gave a slow nod, though his eyes stayed locked on me a second too long.

“Very well. Close the door on your way out.”

I did. And the moment it clicked shut behind me, I leaned against the wall, exhaling shakily.

I could still feel his gaze, the weight of it, burning through every inch of my resolve.

This job was supposed to be a fresh start.

Instead, it felt like walking straight back into the fire I’d barely escaped.

***