Turning The Tide

The next day couldn't have arrived any faster. Every ticking second felt like an eternity as Briana approached Jayden's office. She paused at the door, taking deep breaths to calm her nerves before she mustered the courage to knock. Leaving Leo behind at the hospital was tough, but she wanted to ensure their future with this meeting.

The atmosphere was tense as she entered. Sitting behind his imposing desk, Jayden looked up with that unreadable gaze of his.

Jayden's expression remained unreadable, but he gestured for her to take a seat. She sat across from him, the room filled with an almost unbearable silence. This office was filled with memories that almost felt sinful; she shifted uncomfortably.

She feared he might ask why she called him crying so late at night. She tucked her hair behind her ear and nibbled her lip, a nervous tic of hers. His eyes followed her movement intensely. She couldn't help but feel exposed. He always seemed to have a way of knowing what she was thinking.

Finally, Jayden broke the silence, his voice crisp and businesslike.

"What happened to your hands?" he asked, eyeing her bandaged hands.

"W-wha? My hands?" She looked down at her hands. "It's nothing; that's not what I came here for. Could you please get to the job?" she blurted out, her hands instinctively flying to her mouth.

Shit, I should be careful how I speak to him.

A quiet sigh escaped Jayden as he leaned back in his seat. "Like I said last time, I have an offer for you, Briana. I need a new secretary, someone I can trust."

She nodded; that was easy enough to follow.

"I can do that. Is there anything specific you want me to know?" she asked.

"Nothing I can think of for now; you know me well enough to understand how I like things done." The familiarity of his tone stirred an unsettling mix of emotions.

She didn't like what his voice was doing to her.

She sat up straighter, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I'm here for business, Jayden, not to rehash the past."

Fuck! Briana, get it together.

He nodded; the flicker in his eyes told her he didn't believe her either.

"Good. Then we understand each other. Your responsibilities will be strictly professional, with no personal entanglements."

She nodded again, her mind swirling with a mix of emotions. She couldn't deny that she needed the job, and the opportunity to provide a better life for her child would likely arise in this space.

"You start next week. Use this weekend to sort yourself out. I'll have the official mail sent to you," he said, standing up.

She tensed as he walked around the table, stopping by her side.

He leaned close. "Welcome to the Steele Family."

"S-sure! I'll be here Monday morning!" She jumped up and rushed out of the room.

She leaned against the cold elevator wall on her way down and tried calming her heart. Why did she still react this way to him?

Softly slapping her cheeks, she took deep breaths.

Get a grip, Briana; this person dumped you without a backwards glance.

The elevator doors opened, and she walked into the lobby.

I got the job. I actually got a job!

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After the intense encounter with Jayden, she left his office feeling an odd mix of relief, uncertainty, and a smidge of triumph for standing her ground—well, sort of.

Once she stepped out of that towering building, the crisp air seemed to breathe new resolve into her lungs.

Rushing back to the hospital, where Sophie cared for Leo, she burst into the room, greeted by the delightful sound of Leo's laughter. Sophie looked up from her book, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"Hey, Ria! You're back earlier than expected. How did it go?" Sophie asked, anticipation in her voice.

Leo, bouncing on his tiny toes, greeted her with outstretched arms and a contagious giggle.

"Mommy, Mommy! Up!" he squealed, his bright blue eyes gleaming.

"Hey, little lion, did you behave for Auntie Sophia?" She scooped him up, planting kisses on his pale cheeks.

"Hmm," he held up his stuffed lion, laughter echoing through the room, dissipating the tension from her shoulders.

It was clear that his fever was under control.

"Guess what? Mommy got a new job today."

Leo tilted his head, eyes locking onto hers. "New job, Mommy?" he asked.

Sophia beamed. "Really? Tell me everything!" she exclaimed, setting her magazine aside.

"Jayden offered me an assistant position."

Sophie's eyes widened in surprise and then lit up with joy. "That's incredible news, Ria! Congratulations!"

Leo, sensing the jubilation, clapped his tiny hands as if joining the celebration. "Yay, Mommy!"

She couldn't suppress the grin that crept across her face. She chuckled, hugging him close. "That's right, little champ. Yay, Mommy, indeed."

Sophie reached out, squeezing her hand in celebration. "I'm so happy for you, Ria. You deserve this."

Her genuine happiness warmed Briana's heart, reinforcing the feeling that she might have made the right choice.

"Thank you so much; things will get even better for us."

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She felt nervous and excited the following day as she walked towards Jayden's office building. Her heart was pounding, a mix of excitement and anxiety.

Taking a deep breath, she straightened the wrinkles on her suit and stepped into the grand building.

Let's do this!

The polished marble floors echoed her footsteps as she approached the elevators. Her coworkers, or at least she thought they were, exchanged glances as she approached the receptionist. It was like walking into a sea of designer-clad, makeup-caked faces; she stood out like a sore thumb.

"Briana Summers? Mr. Steele is waiting for you," Olivia, the receptionist from before, stated, giving her another once-over.

The clear judgment hung as they rode the private elevator to the top floor. Olivia's icy silence made it clear what she thought of her.

"Jayden doesn't usually hire personal assistants," Olivia remarked with a condescending smirk.

"I wonder what makes you so special."

Brianna chose not to engage, maintaining her calm façade. The snide comments stung, but she wasn't too surprised. This was the world of the rich and snobby. Olivia's attitude would probably be one of the many she would face going forward.

The elevator opened, saving her from the suffocating smell of Olivia's perfume. Jayden's office door opened, revealing the man himself immersed in work. The stern lines of his face softened slightly as his eyes met hers.

Ignore it, Briana! It means nothing, she reminded herself mentally as she walked further into the room.

"Briana," he acknowledged—his voice, a low rumble that sent a shiver down her spine.

"Good morning," he greeted. "Sit down."

She sat, feeling the intensity of his gaze as he outlined her responsibilities. "You're not just a personal assistant. You're an extension of me," he stated, his tone calm. "I expect nothing but excellence. Can you deliver that?"

She met his gaze, and determination burned in her eyes. "I didn't take this job to deliver anything less, Jayden," she replied, her voice steady.

He nodded and looked back at the files on his desk. "Great, let's get to it then."

The day was filled with tasks and demands. Jayden's world was a complex web of meetings, negotiations, and strategic decisions. She shadowed him closely, her notepad ready to capture every directive.

In a rare moment of respite, Jayden leaned back in his chair, his gaze assessing. His dark hair was getting mussed as he ran his fingers through it.

I wonder if it's still as soft as it was back then.

Get a hold of yourself, Miss Summers! Her cheeks flushed as she turned to arrange the files to distract herself.

"You're holding up well," he remarked, a glimmer of acknowledgement in his eyes.

"Were you not expecting me to?" She didn't look up from the files she was sorting; there was a presentation in a few minutes.

He murmured something she couldn't catch. "What did you say?" she asked.

"Nothing, keep it up," he said.

She frowned at him; why was he acting weird?

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Later that day, a woman came to the office, her blonde curls bouncing with each step; if her top had gone any lower, it would have been a belt. Briana cleared her throat as the woman’s perfume threatened to suffocate her.

"Jay darling, you didn't answer my calls." Her shrill voice grated in Briana's head; judging by Jayden's grimace, she wasn’t the only one who felt that way.

Jayden handed Briana a file and said, "I need this delivered to the 38th floor. It's urgent."

"Can't you just send an email?" Her hands flew to her mouth; she needed a filter.

The woman finally decided to acknowledge her presence. "Who is this? I didn't know you hired help; why is she speaking to you like that?" she asked with a condescending glare.

Jayden sighed as he massaged his temple. Ignoring the question, he answered Brianna, "I could, but this needs to be sent physically," and motioned toward the door.

"Don't you know workplace etiquette? Or manners at all?" the woman added, turning to Briana, practically glaring a hole into her head.

"Now, Briana." Jayden reminded her. She nodded, not trusting herself to speak.

Frowning, she took the files and left them alone. If he wanted me out of the office, he could have just said so, she thought bitterly.

Navigating the busy office floor, Briana felt the judgmental glances from both male and female staff. Whispers followed her as she made her way to the elevator, the invisible line between the elite and the rest becoming increasingly apparent.

As she stood by the elevator, the man behind the desk greeted her with a smug grin and a condescending tone.

"Ah, you're one of the boss's new hires, right? The flavour of the month?"

She narrowed her eyes at him but turned away as the elevator door saved him from a tongue-lashing.

Upon reaching the 38th floor, she encountered Mark, a senior executive known for his sharp tongue and disdain for newcomers.

"Running errands already, are we?" he quipped, a sly smile on his lips as he took the file.

She met his gaze squarely. "Efficiency is part of the job," she replied calmly.

"Sure, you wouldn't be here if you weren't efficient in what you do." He looked her over from head to toe.

She took a deep breath and relayed Jayden's information to him before leaving.

She didn’t trust herself not to smack that look off his face.

Back in Jayden's office, she found him engrossed in several documents. The bi—ahem, the lady was gone.

"So fast?" she asked, walking into the room.

He grunted, not looking up from his work.

"Here's the document you requested," she said, placing it on his desk.

She moved to the large floor-to-ceiling window in Jayden's office, hoping to let some fresh air in. The choking scent of the woman’s perfume still hung in the air, and Briana needed a breather.

Gently sliding the window open, she let the cool breeze filter into the room, welcoming the relief it brought. The soft rustling of curtains mixed with the muted sounds of the city outside provided a momentary distraction from the stifling atmosphere within the office.

A tired sigh escaped her. It was only the first day, and these fools were already on her neck.

Jayden glanced up, his eyes meeting hers with a silent question on his raised brow.

Without words, she knew he was asking for more than the report. A flood of thoughts clogged her throat, wrestling to get out.

Jayden’s gaze lingered. "Is there anything else?" he finally asked.

She hesitated, her mind wavering between telling him about the workers’ behaviours and risking proving their claims right, or working through things on her own.

"No, that's all," she replied, hoping her voice didn’t betray anything.

The tension hung in the air, and he continued to stare for a while, making her uncomfortable.

"Can you stop that? I already told you there's nothing else," she said, glaring at him.

He infuriated her; she despised how he could figure her out so easily, like she was still the same naive girl from back then. The audacity to act like this after everything drove her mad. And the worst part? The possibility that she might actually need his help.

Jayden returned to the documents with a nod, yet the charged energy lingered. She turned toward the door and sighed. This was the first day, and she was already getting so stressed.