~Helena~âWhat a day,â I whispered, voice hoarse as I stumbled into my apartment. My heels clattered against the floor as I flung my bag aside and collapsed onto the bed, face buried in the sheets. My body ached, but it was the weight of Ethan Fisherâs cold eyes that lingered.âWhat does this man take me for?â I scoffed aloud, though it sounded weaker than I intended. The impossible assignment heâd handed me replayed over and over. His words, his silence, his smirk, it was all designed to crush me. Fear rippled beneath my skin. Was I strong enough for this job?Then my momâs voice rose in memory, soft yet firm: Donât back down, Lena. Youâre stronger than you think.I squeezed my eyes shut, holding onto that reminder. Quitting wasnât an option. Not when I had fought so hard to get here. Not when she was rooting for me.Dragging myself to the bathroom, I showered until the tension eased from my shoulders. Wrapped in a towel, I padded into the kitchen, humming faintly to keep the silence
~Ethan~ The morning air was cool against my face as I stepped out of the car, but inside, my mind was already heavy with the day's weight. Another long list of meetings, negotiations, and deadlines. Predictable. Efficient. Just the way I liked it.The lobby of Fisher Corporation hushed as I entered. It always did. People lowered their voices, typing faster, pretending not to notice. Power didnât need to shout, it simply walked into the room, and everything bent around it.A flicker of movement caught my attention on my way down the corridor to my office. She was there. Helena Hart. The new secretary, Daniel, had reluctantly been ushered into this chaos. She was seated at her desk, head bowed, lips pressed together in determination. Nervous energy clung to her, but she wasnât frozen by it. She lookedâŠfocused.I forced my gaze forward. I didnât make a habit of indulging in curiosity. Not with new hires. Especially not with one like her.âMy office. Now.â My tone was clipped, leaving n
~Helena~ I sat by the window of my room, staring into the night. Tomorrow, I will leave Pennsylvania for Washington, D.C. A new city, a new job, and a new life. My heart clenched at the thought. This house carried so many memories, my fatherâs laughter, the warmth of family dinners, the safety of childhood. I whispered softly, Dad, I hope youâre proud of me.Packing was harder than I imagined. Every dress, every book, every photograph seemed to weigh double with the emotions they carried. I finally collapsed onto my bed, exhaustion pulling me under. The next morning, sunlight slipped into my room, warm against my face. I squinted, covering my eyes with my palm. Itâs moving day, I reminded myself, my voice barely above a whisper. My stomach twisted between excitement and fear.Boxes lined the floor. I had packed my essentials, but it still felt like I was leaving half my life behind.When I stepped into the living room, my mother was already waiting. I curled beside her, resting my
~Helena~ My heart flickered when I stepped out of Fisher Corporation after the interview. I could hardly believe what had just happened, that the man Iâd spilled coffee on earlier that morning was none other than the CEO himself. Ethan Fisher. The thought alone made my stomach twist.I had been anxious before, but the moment I recognized him across the conference table, I thought my chances were ruined. Still, I had no choice but to keep my composure and do my best. Now, walking down the street, I felt wrung out, as though every ounce of energy had been drained from me.I caught the next bus back to Pennsylvania. The moment I sat down by the window, a sense of relief washed over me. I allowed myself, for the first time that day, to really notice the beauty of the city. In the morning, Iâd been too tense, too focused on my interview, but now⊠now I saw it. Cars streaming past with polished shine, people in crisp, stylish outfits walking briskly across intersections, the tall buildin
~Ethan~ What a disaster.I stormed into my office, brushing angrily at the dark stain across my white shirt. The sharp scent of coffee clung to me like mockery. Of all mornings for this to happen, why today?Daniel walked in, his brows pulling together when he saw me.âEthan, what happened?ââA girl spilled coffee on me,â I said, the words clipped, agitation running sharp through my voice.âOh.â His tone softened. âThereâs a backup shirt in the wardrobe. I put one there in case of emergencies.âI gave him a look, half exasperated, half grateful. âYouâre a lifesaver.âWithin minutes, the ruined shirt was gone and a crisp new one took place. I tugged at the cuffs, forcing my irritation down. I had no time to dwell, an interview awaited me in the conference room. My former secretary had left three weeks ago, and without him, the office had slipped into disorder. Daniel was good, but he couldnât carry everything alone. I needed someone sharp, reliable, and discreet. Preferably a man.
~ Helena~I was lost in thought, my rag moving absentmindedly across the surface of the wooden table at the restaurant where I worked. The hum of voices, the clatter of cutlery, and the scent of grilled food swirled around me, but none of it registered. My mind was somewhere else buried under worries I couldnât seem to shake.A sudden snap of fingers jolted me back.âHey, good afternoon,â a manâs voice said firmly.I blinked, startled, and looked up to see someone standing directly in front of me. Embarrassment flushed through me. âSorry, good afternoon,â I said quickly, straightening.And then recognition hit. It was him the man Iâd helped a few days ago when his little daughter had gotten lost and frightened.His expression softened. âHow are you?â he asked warmly.âIâm fine,â I said, mustering a small smile. âWhat a surprise. I didnât expect to see you anytime soon.ââYeah,â he chuckled lightly, slipping his hands into his pockets. âI just wanted to say thank you again.ââOh, it wa