Chapter 20

Lily sat at her desk, surrounded by stacks of papers and a glowing computer screen filled with emails and reports. The office buzzed with activity, but her focus was solely on the mountain of work that lay ahead. She had deadlines looming and projects piling up, but the rhythm of her typing provided a comforting distraction from the chaos of her thoughts.

Just as she was about to dive into another report, the door to her cubicle swung open, and the CEO’s assistant, Jessica, stepped inside. Jessica was impeccably dressed, her demeanor professional yet friendly. “Lily,” she said, her tone brisk but polite. “Mr. Evans has summoned you to his office.”

Lily’s heart skipped a beat, a mix of confusion and apprehension washing over her. “Me? But I’m not in the project department. What does he want with me?” she asked, trying to mask her surprise.

“I’m not sure,” Jessica replied, offering a reassuring smile. “But he specifically requested you. It’s best not to keep him waiting.”

Lily nodded, her mind racing with questions. What could the CEO possibly want from her? She was just an account manager, not someone directly involved in the projects he was overseeing. As Jessica turned to lead the way, Lily gathered her thoughts and followed, her heart pounding in her chest.

They walked through the bustling office, the sound of keyboards clacking and phones ringing creating a familiar backdrop. Each step felt heavier than the last as they approached the imposing glass door of Mr. Evans’s office. Lily took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves.

When they reached the door, Jessica paused and turned to Lily. “Just remember to be yourself. He’s straightforward, but he appreciates honesty and initiative,” she advised before giving her a supportive nod.

With a final gulp, Lily raised her hand and knocked gently on the door.

“Come in,” came Mr. Evans’s commanding voice from within.

Lily pushed the door open and walked in, feeling the weight of his gaze as he looked up from his desk. The office was sleek and modern, a testament to his authority. Lewis sat behind his polished desk, his expression serious as he reviewed some documents.

“Lily Everhart,” he said, his tone firm but not unkind. “Thank you for coming. Please, have a seat.”

“Of course, Mr. Evans,” she replied, settling into the chair across from him.

“I wanted to discuss the company accounts and the pending work you’ve left behind,” he began, his tone serious. “I noticed there are several account transactions that need your attention.”

Lily nodded, feeling a mix of anxiety and frustration. “Yes, I’ve been working on those, but I was out for a month—”

“Out for a month?” he interrupted, his brow furrowing. “Who took over your responsibilities while you were absent?”

“I didn’t assign anyone to my work,” she admitted, her voice steady despite the tension. “The leave was sudden, and I didn’t have a chance to delegate anything.”

“What kind of sudden leave?” he asked, his tone sharpening slightly.

“Personal reasons that I can’t disclose,” she replied, meeting his gaze firmly.

Lewis leaned back in his chair, his expression serious. “Lily, I understand that personal matters can arise, but you need to communicate better with your team. This is a professional environment, and we rely on each other to maintain our workflow.”

Feeling a wave of frustration, she nodded. “I understand, and I apologize for the inconvenience.”

“I need you to clear all reports and have every detail on my desk before the end of the day,” he ordered, his voice leaving no room for argument. “This is crucial for our upcoming meetings.”

“Yes, sir,” she replied, trying to mask her irritation.

As she stood to leave, she turned toward the door but then heard him call her name softly. “Lily.”

She paused and looked back at him, curiosity piqued. “Yes?”

“I wonder why you still don’t recognize me,” he said, a hint of intrigue in his voice.

Her eyes widened in surprise, a mix of realization and confusion washing over her. “What do you mean?” she stammered, suddenly feeling the weight of his words.

As Lily stood in the doorway, Lewis walked toward her, closing the door softly behind him. He stood so close that she could feel the warmth radiating from him, his striking green eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that made her heart race.

A wave of confusion washed over her; she felt a strange familiarity but couldn’t place where she had seen him before. His presence was magnetic, drawing her in as if they were the only two people in the world.

Lily's breath caught in her throat as their faces hovered inches apart. She could feel the warmth of his body, the faint scent of his cologne enveloping her senses.