Chapter 3: On My Desk

The outer office wasn’t empty.

That was the first problem.

I sat behind a desk larger than my old kitchen table, surrounded by three assistants who seemed determined not to acknowledge my existence.

Not once did they look at me.

It was as if I were invisible.

Or contagious.

Probably both.

9:03 a.m.

I had been “filing” for exactly three minutes when the intercom on my desk crackled.

“Opaline. My office. Now.”

The three assistants froze.

None of them looked at me.

But somehow, I knew they were listening.

I pushed my chair back and stood.

My legs were still shaky from the morning. I smoothed my skirt, took one careful breath, and walked toward the glass doors.

Ignis was on a call when I entered.

He didn't look at me.

He simply lifted one hand and pointed toward the spot in front of his desk.

Rule one.

I swallowed and knelt.

His office was almost unnaturally quiet except for his voice.

Low.

Controlled.

Dangerously calm.

“—I don't care what the board thinks, Gareth. If the numbers aren't clean by Friday, I pull the funding. Is that understood?”

Gareth.

The investor mentioned in the contract.

Ignis's eyes flicked toward me for half a second.

Then he returned his attention to the call.

“Hold on.”

He muted the phone.

His gaze settled completely on me.

“Rule one,” he said quietly. “No sound. No unnecessary movement. No reaction. Can you manage that while I finish this call?”

I nodded.

He unmuted.

“Gareth. I'm back.”

For the next several minutes, he discussed quarterly projections, investments, and numbers that meant absolutely nothing to me.

I tried to focus on the carpet.

Then I felt his hand against my knee.

My breath caught.

I immediately lowered my gaze.

Don't react.

That was the rule.

His hand remained there for a moment before moving away.

The message was clear.

He was testing me.

Not my skills.

My control.

“Your proposal is weak,” Ignis said into the phone. “And your tone is worse.”

His gaze remained on his computer screen, as though I wasn't sitting there beneath his desk.

“Gareth,” he continued, his voice turning colder, “I'm going to say this once. You don't threaten me in my own building.”

Silence.

Then Ignis smiled without humor.

“You have until five.”

He ended the call.

The office fell completely silent.

He looked at me.

“Stand.”

I rose.

My hands were trembling slightly, but I kept them at my sides.

“Did you break Rule One?”

“No, sir.”

“Good.”

He stood and came around the desk.

He stopped directly in front of me.

Too close.

I caught the faint scent of cedar and something darker.

“You didn't react,” he said.

I said nothing.

“You wanted to.”

My cheeks heated.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

“But you didn't.”

He lifted my chin with two fingers, forcing me to meet his gaze.

“Control,” he said. “That's what matters here.”

Then he released me.

“Back to the outer office.”

I nodded.

“There is a file on your desk. Finish it before noon.”

I started toward the door.

“No mistakes.”

I stopped.

“Yes, sir.”

I walked out.

The moment the glass door closed behind me, my knees nearly buckled.

I grabbed the edge of my desk before anyone could notice.

The three assistants suddenly became very interested in their computers.

But I'd heard the whisper before I sat down.

“She was in there for ten minutes.”

Another voice answered quietly.

“I know.”

I pretended not to hear them.

On my desk was a file labeled:

Q3 PROJECTIONS.

I opened it.

One sheet.

Random numbers.

No company information.

No actual projections.

My stomach sank.

Another test.

Of course.

I picked up a pen and studied the page.

If Ignis wanted to know whether I could follow instructions, fine.

I'd give him his answer.

I began working.

At 10:36, my phone vibrated.

Unknown number.

I glanced around before checking the screen.

One message.

I saw what he did. We need to talk.

My stomach dropped.

For several seconds, I couldn't breathe.

Someone had seen me enter his office.

Someone had been watching.

I deleted the message immediately.

Then I stared at my phone.

My hands felt cold.

Who was it?

One of the assistants?

Security?

Someone from the board?

Or someone who knew exactly what Ignis Heliox was doing behind those glass doors?

I locked my phone and forced myself back to the file.

Don't react.

Don't ask questions.

Don't talk.

Rule one.

Except this time, I wasn't sure Rule One was enough to protect me.

At 11:47, the intercom crackled.

“Opaline.”

My spine straightened.

“Lunch is cancelled. Stay at your desk.”

Of course.

I stared at the speaker.

“He doesn't want me out of his sight,” I whispered.

Then I immediately regretted speaking aloud.

At noon exactly, the door to Ignis's office opened.

He walked out with his suit jacket perfectly fitted, his tie slightly loosened.

He stopped beside my desk.

“File?”

I slid it toward him.

“Done.”

He opened it.

Two seconds.

That's all he needed.

His eyes moved across the page before he closed the folder.

“No mistakes.”

He looked at me.

“Good.”

For the first time, all three assistants looked up.

Surprise flashed across their faces.

Ignis noticed.

His gaze moved toward the woman on my left.

“Something to say, Ms. Rook?”

She immediately lowered her eyes.

“No, Mr. Heliox.”

“Good.”

He returned his attention to me.

“Stay late tonight.”

My heart skipped.

“For what?”

His expression didn't change.

“Training.”

The word settled heavily between us.

“Seven p.m.”

I nodded.

He turned and walked away.

The moment he disappeared behind his office door, the whispers began.

“Training,” one assistant muttered.

Another gave a quiet laugh.

“Right.”

I didn't look at them.

I couldn't.

My phone was still beside my keyboard.

The anonymous message remained in my mind.

I saw what he did. We need to talk.

I had no idea who sent it.

But I knew one thing.

Someone was watching me.

And tonight, at seven, I would be alone with Ignis Heliox again.

Only this time, I wouldn't be walking into his office completely blind.

Because someone else had started playing the game.

And I had a terrible feeling they knew the rules better than I did.