5

Sage’s POV

“Who’s this?” Jade Sterling asked, her ice-blue eyes sliding over me like I was a piece of furniture she was considering having removed.

“My assistant, Miss Draven,” Kael said, his tone flat and professional. He gestured toward me without looking.

“She’ll be taking notes.”

“Another assistant.” Jade’s perfectly glossed lips curved into something that wasn’t quite a smile.

“The last three didn’t last long, did they?”

There was a story there, and from the way Marcus shifted uncomfortably, it wasn’t a good one.

“Miss Draven is exceptional,” Kael said, still not looking at me. But I heard something in his voice a note of steel that hadn’t been there before.

“She stays.”

Jade’s expression flickered. Just for a second.

Then that smooth, corporate mask slid back into place.

“Of course. Shall we?”

Everyone settled around the massive conference table.

Kael at the head, Marcus on his right, David Chen next to him.

Jade took the seat across from Kael, her two executives flanking her like bodyguards.

I sat at the far end, laptop open, trying to be invisible.

“Let’s get straight to business,” Kael said, sliding a document across the table.

“The Riverside property. Sterling Enterprises made an offer last week that was, frankly, insulting.”

“That property’s been on the market for six months,” one of Jade’s executives said.

“The sellers are desperate.”

“The sellers are strategic,” Kael countered.

“They know what they have. A prime location, walking distance to three major transit lines, zoned for mixed-use development. Your offer of twelve million is at least eight million short of fair market value.”

“Fair market value according to whom?” Jade leaned forward, elbows on the table. “Your assessment? Or the one that benefits Thorne Enterprises?”

“According to three independent appraisals.”

Marcus slid papers across the table. “All commissioned before we made our offer.”

I typed furiously, trying to capture every word while also watching the dynamics. Jade kept looking at Kael like he was the only person in the room.

Her executives deferred to her constantly.

And Kael… Kael was in his element.

This wasn’t the man who stress-baked muffins at three in the morning.

This was the ruthless CEO who’d built a billion-dollar empire before he turned thirty.

Every word was calculated.

Every gesture deliberate.

It was terrifying.

And kind of hot.

Focus, Sage. Professional thoughts only.

“The appraisals are conservative,” Jade argued.

“That neighborhood’s trending downward. Crime statistics”

“Are being manipulated by your PR team to drive down the price,” Kael interrupted smoothly.

“I have the real data. Would you like to see it?” Jade’s jaw tightened.

“You’ve done your homework.”

“I always do.”

The meeting continued like that for the next hour thrust and parry, attack and defend.

Jade would propose something, and Kael would counter with evidence she couldn’t refute.

Her executives grew increasingly frustrated. David Chen took notes on potential legal issues.

And through it all, Jade kept watching Kael with an intensity that made my wolf bristle uncomfortably.

Around eleven-fifteen, Kael’s phone buzzed.

He glanced at it, and something shifted in his expression.

“Excuse me. I need to take this. Marcus, continue.”

He stood and left the room, and I felt the temperature drop about ten degrees.

Marcus cleared his throat. “So. The Riverside property. I think we can all agree that twenty million is a fair compromise—”

“I’m not here to compromise with your Beta,”

Jade cut him off. Her eyes were on the door Kael had just exited through. “When will he be back?”

“I’m not sure. But I’m authorized to”

“I want to speak with Kael. Not his second.”

Jade’s attention finally shifted to Marcus, then to me.

“Or his assistant.”

The dismissal in her tone made my teeth clench.

But I kept typing, kept my expression neutral.

Marcus handled it better than I would have. “Ms. Sterling, with all due respect, if you want this deal, you’re going to have to work with me. Kael trusts my judgment completely.”

“Does he?” Jade leaned back in her chair, crossing her legs.

“Tell me, Marcus. How long has Miss…” She gestured vaguely in my direction. “What was your name again?”

“Draven,” I said, keeping my voice level. “Sage Draven.”

“Right. Draven.” She studied me like I was a bug under a microscope. “How long have you worked for Kael?”

“A week.”

Her eyebrows rose. “A week. And you’re already sitting in on major negotiations?” Her laugh was light, musical, and condescending as hell.

“That’s… unusual.”

“Miss Draven is a quick study,” Marcus said.

“I’m sure she is.” Jade’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Tell me, Sage. What’s your background? Previous employment?”

I knew a trap when I heard one. “Various positions. Administrative work, mostly.”

“Fascinating.” Jade turned to her executives.

“Gentlemen, let’s take a break. Twenty minutes?”

They stood immediately. Jade rose gracefully, smoothing her skirt. “I need to make some calls. Marcus, perhaps we can resume when Kael returns?”

“Of course.”

She swept out of the room, her executives trailing behind her like ducklings.

The moment the door closed, Marcus let out a long breath. “Well. That was fun.”

“She hates me,” I said.

“She hates everyone Kael shows the slightest interest in.” Marcus rubbed his temples. “But yeah, she especially hates you.”

“Why?”

David Chen, who’d been silent this whole time, finally spoke.

“Because Kael just told us you’re exceptional. In the year I’ve worked here, I’ve never heard him say that about anyone.”

“Not even Jade?” I asked.

“Especially not Jade.” Marcus gathered his papers.

“Those two have… history.”

“What kind of history?”

“The kind that ended badly.” Marcus checked his watch. “I need to find Kael. You okay here for a minute?”

“I’m fine.”

After they left, I sat in the empty conference room, staring at my laptop screen. The notes looked professional. Comprehensive. Exactly what Kael would expect.

But underneath that professional exterior, my heart was racing.

She hates me. She especially hates you.

I didn’t need supernatural senses to feel JadenSterling’s animosity.

It radiated off her like coldfire.

And the way she’d looked at Kael…

Not your business, I told myself firmly. He’s your boss.

Nothing more.

Except that wasn’t true, was it? He was also the father of the baby currently making me nauseous at the most inconvenient times.

The door opened. I looked up, expecting Marcus or Kael.

It was Jade.

Alone.

“Miss Draven,” she said, closing the door behind her. “I was hoping we could chat. Just us girls.”

Everything in me screamed danger.

“Of course,” I said, keeping my voice pleasant.

“What can I help you with?”

She crossed to the windows, looking out at the city below.

“I’m curious about you. Kael doesn’t usually hire people without extensive experience. Yet here you are. One week in, already in his inner circle.”

“I don’t know about inner circle—”

“Don’t be modest.” She turned to face me, and her smile was sharp.

“A week ago, you were unemployed. Now you’re sitting in on negotiations worth millions. That’s quite the promotion.”

How did she know I’d been unemployed? I’d never mentioned that.

“I got lucky,” I said carefully.

“Luck.” Jade laughed. “Is that what we’re calling it?” She moved closer, perching on the edge of the conference table.

“Let me give you some advice, Sage. Woman to woman. Kael Thorne isn’t the kind of man who helps people out of kindness. If he hired you, it’s because he wants something.”

“He wanted a competent assistant.”

“Is that all?” Her eyes glittered. “Because from where I’m sitting, it looks like he wants something else entirely.”

My stomach dropped. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“Don’t you?” She stood, smoothing her skirt again. “I’ve known Kael for years. I know how he operates. And I know when he’s interested in someone.”

“You’re mistaken.”

“Am I?” She moved to the door, then paused.

“A word of advice, since you’re new here. Kael goes through assistants the way some people go through coffee. Three in the last year alone. They all thought they were special too.”

She left, and I sat there, shaking.

Three assistants in a year. All fired. And I was supposed to be different?

You are different, a small voice whispered.

You’re carrying his baby.

But he didn’t know that. And when he found out…

The door opened again. This time it was Kael, with Marcus behind him.

“Emergency’s handled,” Kael said, settling back into his seat. “Where’s Sterling?”

“She stepped out. Said she’d be back in twenty minutes.” Marcus glanced at me. “You okay? You look pale.”

“Fine. Just… hungry.”

Kael’s eyes narrowed slightly. “When’s the last time you ate?”

“Breakfast.”

“It’s almost noon.” He pulled out his phone, typed something. “I’m having lunch brought up for everyone. Sterling’s team included.”

“That’s not necessary”

“It’s necessary.” His tone left no room for argument. “Conference calls run long. No one makes good decisions on an empty stomach.”

Ten minutes later, an assistant I didn’t recognize wheeled in a cart loaded with food from that fancy restaurant on the ground floor.

Sandwiches, salads, fruit, bottles of water and designer soda.

Marcus’s eyes lit up. “You got the good stuff.”

“Sterling’s vegetarian,” Kael said. “Make sure the Greek salad is available when she returns.”

He remembered she was vegetarian. Why did that make my chest tight?

Stop it. It’s just business.

Jade returned with her executives at exactly 12:00. Her eyes widened slightly at the spread of food.

“Kael. You didn’t have to—”

“It’s noon. We’re all hungry. Shall we eat and continue?”

The rest of the meeting was less tense with food in everyone’s stomachs.

They hammered out the basics of the Riverside deal—eighteen million, with Sterling Enterprises handling certain permits and Thorne Enterprises managing construction.

It was still heavily weighted in Kael’s favor. But Jade looked satisfied as she signed the preliminary agreement.

“Pleasure doing business with you,” she said, shaking Kael’s hand. Her fingers lingered on his just a fraction too long.

“We should have dinner soon. Catch up properly.”

“I’ll have Margaret check my schedule.”

“Of course.” Her eyes slid to me. “It was lovely meeting you, Sage. I’m sure we’ll see more of each other.”

“Looking forward to it,” I lied.

After they left, Kael turned to me. “Your notes. Send them to me and Marcus within the hour.”

“Yes, sir.”

“And Miss Draven?” He was gathering his papers, not looking at me. “You did well today. Sterling’s notoriously difficult. You handled her questions professionally.”

Pride bloomed in my chest. “Thank you.”

“Don’t let it go to your head.” But there was something almost playful in his tone. “You’re still on probation. Three months.”

“I remember.”

He left, and I sagged in my chair.

Marcus whistled low. “That was intense.”

“Which part?”

“All of it.” He grabbed one last cookie from the catering cart. “But especially the part where Jade tried to intimidate you and you didn’t flinch.”

“I was terrified.”

“Didn’t show.” He headed for the door. “You’ve got spine, Sage Draven. You’re going to need it, working for Kael.”

After he left, I sat alone in the conference room, staring at my laptop.

Three assistants in one year. You’re pregnant with his baby. That changes everything.

Or did it? What if he fired me when he found out? What if he thought I’d gotten pregnant on purpose, to trap him?

My phone buzzed. A text from Margaret: How’d it go?

Survived, I typed back. Barely. Good. Now get back to your desk. He’ll want those notes ASAP.

I gathered my things and headed back to my desk. Through the glass walls of Kael’s office, I could see him on the phone again, pacing like a caged wolf.

Tell him, Margaret had said. Soon.

But how could I tell him when I was barely holding on to this job?

When Jade Sterling clearly wanted me gone? When everything felt so precarious?

I opened my laptop and started formatting my notes, trying to ignore the nausea creeping back up my throat.

Three months probation, Kael had said.

I just had to make it through three months.

Then maybe—maybe—I could figure out how to tell him he was going to be a father.