Chapter 4

As they left a message notification popped up on her phone “come to the office immediately, Richard”

The drive to her office takes thirty minutes. By the time she arrives, Richard is waiting in her office looking both excited and nervous.

"Sterling Enterprises" he says before she even sits down. "Lucas Sterling himself called,He wants us to develop their entire Q4 marketing strategy,product launches, rebranding, media buys…everything. It's a fifteen-million-dollar contract"he explained in one single breath 

Chloe sets down her bag slowly. "And he requested me specifically?"she asked with curiosity showing all over her face.

"He requested your team specifically,said he was impressed by your work." Richard grins. "This is huge, Chloe, this could make your career"he said excitedly 

Chloe didn't speak….she opens her laptop and pulls up Sterling Enterprises. The company has divisions in tech, real estate, and venture capital. Annual revenue in the billions. Lucas Sterling, founder and CEO. Age thirty-six. Net worth estimated at $3.2 billion.

Her phone buzzes. Text from an unknown number,”looking forward to working together”(LS)

She stares at the message. How did he get her personal number?

Another text: “Your assistant gave it to me,i can be persuasive,See you Monday for the kickoff meeting, 9 AM,My office”

Richard is still talking about the contract terms, the timeline, the opportunity,but Chloe is reading Lucas Sterling's texts and realizing something.

When he said he requested her team, he didn't mean her team.

He meant her.

When Chloe arrives at her apartment in Santa Monica,she was exhausted, Her phone buzzes with texts,

Sarah: “You killed it today! So proud!!

Her mother: “Your father told me about the presentation, Wonderful job,sweetheart”

She doesn't respond to any of them. She pours a glass of wine and sits on the balcony, watching the sun set over the Pacific.

Four months since her divorce. Four months of rebuilding her life piece by piece. Four months of pretending she's fine while feeling hollow inside.

She stares at the sun disappears completely and her apartment fills with darkness.

Monday morning came 

Chloe stands in front of her closet at 6 AM, staring at her professional wardrobe like it holds the answers to questions she's not ready to ask,She settles on a black pencil skirt, cream silk blouse, and blazer. Professional armor.

She arrives at Sterling Enterprises headquarters in Century City at eight-thirty. The building is all glass and steel, forty-two floors of wealth and power. The lobby is minimalist,white marble, chrome accents, a massive abstract sculpture that probably costs more than fortune 

The receptionist smiles when she approaches, "Ms. Bennett,Mr. Sterling is expecting you. Forty-second floor, suite 4200"

She opens double doors to an office that's larger than her entire apartment. Lucas sits behind a massive desk, phone to his ear, gesturing with his free hand, he sees her and holds up one finger…give me a minute.

Chloe walks to the windows. The view stretches from downtown Los Angeles to the Pacific Ocean,she can see the Santa Monica Pier, tiny in the distance.

"Sorry about that" Lucas's voice behind her,"crisis in the Tokyo office, All handled now"he explained 

She turns, He's wearing charcoal pants and a white dress shirt, sleeves rolled to his elbows, his blue eyes staring into her face like he's reading her,Less formal than the conference. More dangerous somehow…

"Impressive view" she says walking close to him 

"It's why I bought the building" He gestures to the seating area a leather couch and chairs arranged around a glass coffee table,

 "Sit,We have a lot to discuss" 

Chloe sits on the chair, not the couch, Maintains professional distance.

Lucas sits across from her, crossing one ankle over his knee. Relaxed,confident. 

"I'll get straight to it, I'm launching a new division, Sterling security solutions,data protection, cybersecurity, enterprise software….. The market is crowded, and I need a campaign that cuts through the noise."he explained 

"What's your timeline?"

Project launch in twelve weeks,I want the campaign live at launch"

Chloe pulls out her tablet and opens her notes app. "Twelve weeks is aggressive for a full campaign. Brand development, creative production, media buys……that's normally a six-month timeline"

"I don't need normal,i need exceptional." He leans forward. "I've seen your work. The Sterling Tech campaign you presented at that launch event last week? Brilliant, I want that level of strategic thinking for my company"

Chloe opens the file. The budget line makes her pause. "Twenty-five million dollars?"she asked surprised 

"Is that a problem?"

"That's more than most companies spend on annual marketing."

"I'm not most companies." He stands and walks to the windows. "I want television, digital, print, outdoor, experiential. I want people to see Sterling Security Solutions everywhere they look. And I want the message to be clear….we're not just another tech company,we're the future"

Chloe closes the file and looks at him. "Why me? You could hire any agency in the world. Why a mid-level firm in Los Angeles?"

"Because big agencies are predictable. They use the same strategies, the same creative teams, the same tired approache

" He turns to face her. "You're different,you think differently, you are strategic.he said keenly 

She opens the folder,the salary number makes her throat tight,It's more money than she's ever made,more than she thought she was worth.

"This is too much."

"It's exactly what you're worth, possibly less" Lucas stands. "Read the contract, Think about it,Give me your answer by Friday"

Chloe stands, holding the folder. "You're very sure of yourself."

"I'm sure of you" His eyes meet hers,direct and unnerving. "I don't make offers like this often, Ms. Bennett,when I see talent, I move quickly. Before someone else does."

"And if I say no?"she asked maintaining a good posture 

"Then I'll respect your decision and find someone else. he said almost like he's giving up.

He walked her to the door as she's set to leave.

That night, she sits on her balcony with the contract spread on the table in front of her,the terms are clear,the money is substantial,the opportunity is real.

But why does it feel like she's walking into a trap,something about Lucas unnerves her,the way he looks at her like he's solving a puzzle,the way he orchestrated this entire situation before she had a chance to think.

She sets down her phone and looks out at the ocean. The waves are dark, endless,she feels like she's standing at the edge of something she doesn't fully understand.

Maybe it's time to take a risk.

She picks up a pen and signs the contract.