chapter four: The stranger

Lily's pov….

We lay tangled in the sheets, I lay there catching my breath while he brushed a thumb across my cheek. The smugness was gone, replaced by something quieter, almost reverent.

He got up and walked to the bathroom

So I did the only thing that felt sensible to me at that moment: I slipped my phone number on a folded note into the pocket of his discarded pants. A silent dare.

If he wanted more, he’d find me, if not… well, I’d survived worse.

At some point, exhaustion claimed me. I drifted into sleep I felt a warm towel against my thighs and shuddered as he cleaned me up and I slept off with his arm heavy around my waist, his steady breath against my shoulder.

For the first time since catching Ryan in bed with someone else, I didn’t feel broken but rather I felt wanted and whole.

****

My head was pounding, I looked around and the man was gone, I didn’t even get his name. The sheets were rumpled, his scent still clinging to the pillow,

My heart sank, though I told myself I’d expected this. It was a one-night stand, nothing like more.

Still, as I sat up, my phone buzzed on the nightstand, a calendar notification glowed across the screen:

Job Interview – 9:00 AM, Monday. Sterling Enterprises.

I blinked and my stomach flipped.

Sterling Enterprises?

I grabbed the phone with trembling hands, rereading the reminder twice, three times.

My interview I almost forgot , I had to travel back to New York to prepare for my interview, I took my bathe, dressed up, packed my suitcases and checked out of the Hotel.

Tomorrow will be a new day and a new chapter for me.

*****

The elevator ride to the twenty-seventh floor of Sterling Enterprises felt like it lasted a lifetime I was so nervous.

I smoothed my pencil skirt with damp palms, forcing a deep breath into my lungs. You can do this, Lily it's Just an interview, no big deal.

My phone buzzed again in my bag. For the fifth time that morning, Ryan’s name lit up my screen.

I clenched my jaw, her had called twice last night, three times this morning, and even left a voicemail that started with “Babe, just hear me out—” before I deleted it.

Babe.

The word made bile rise in my throat. He’d lost the right to call me that the second he let another woman into our bed.

Shoving the phone on silent, I lifted my chin as the elevator doors slid open.

The reception area was sleek—glass walls, polished marble floors, a panoramic view of the city stretching across the skyline. Sterling Enterprises screamed wealth and power.

At the front desk, a neatly dressed woman in her forties greeted me with a warm smile. “Miss Hart? Good morning. I’m Mrs. Lawson, the hiring manager.”

Her voice was kind and soothing, and I immediately liked her.

“Good morning,” I said, shaking her hand with as much confidence as I could fake.

She ushered me into a conference room. The interview was nothing like the nightmare scenarios I’d imagined at three in the morning. Mrs. Lawson was polite, thorough, even encouraging. She asked about my academic projects, my career goals, and my willingness to learn quickly.

By the end of the thirty minutes, she smiled like I’d passed some secret test.

“You seem like exactly the type of candidate Sterling Enterprises values, Miss Hart, ambitious, adaptable and hardworking.”

My eyes widened. “So… does this mean—”

“Yes.” She handed me a folder, her voice brisk but kind. “If you’re available, we’d like you to start immediately. There’s a project that needs assistance today. Consider this your probationary first day.”

Relief and excitement crashed into me all at once. “Yes. Of course. I’d love to.”

She stood, smoothing her blazer. “Excellent. First task is a simple one—these reports need to be signed by the CEO. Take them upstairs to his office.”

CEO of Sterling Enterprises.

I froze, gripping the folder tighter. The CEO

Everyone knows to fear him, I've heard the rumours, he was cold as steel, never smiled and always wore a suit.

Mrs. Lawson didn’t notice my hesitation. She was already guiding me back into the hallway, pointing toward the private elevator at the end. “Twentieth floor. Top office. Mr. Sterling will be expecting these.”

“R-right. Thank you.”

My heels clicked against the marble as I walked, my heart hammering so loud I could barely hear. It was probably nothing difficult.

Give him the documents and walk out, very easy and simple.

The private elevator doors slid open.

My pulse pounded in my ears as I stepped inside. The ride up felt like drowning. When the doors parted again, I found myself in front of double glass doors etched with the words:

Andrew Sterling – Chief Executive Officer

My heart beat loudly in my chest and clutching the folder like a lifeline, I pushed the doors open.

Now or never I whispered

And there he was, Andrew Sterling ____ He was sitting on his chair which was facing his huge windows so I couldn't see his face.

“ Good day sir, Miss Lawnson asked me to give this documents to you” I said

He sighed and turned to face me, Midnight black hair, steel blue eyes, perfectly sculpted face hit me like a storm.

My eyes widened and oh my God , Andrew Sterling……..

My one-night stand, my strip-poker mistake. The man who’d left me in bed without a word.

Sitting behind a vast mahogany desk in a tailored navy suit, looking every bit the ruthless, untouchable CEO.

His head lifted and our eyes locked, for a moment, the world went silent.

His expression didn’t flicker, as though something sharp and unreadable glinted in his gaze.

And I realized, with horror and a spark of something else I didn’t dare name—

My new boss was the man who’d had me In different positions under silk sheets just forty-eight hours ago.

Everywhere felt dizzy and fuzzy

Shit Lily you always do shit like this

I told myself as I tried not to faint

*****