Welcome, Ms. V.

The next morning, Gracelyn stood in front of the tall building with the company name written boldly and in capital letters.

The Sinclair Corporation.

She glanced at her watch. It was only 7:15 am.

She was early. Good impression for a first timer.

Taking in a deep breath, she made her way to the door.

Heads turned almost immediately as though they were anticipating her.

Gracelyn stepped inside.

Her outfit was simple. A pair of wide-leg ivory pants hugged her waist perfectly, flowing elegantly down to her ankles. Her matching sleeveless top was minimalistic, and paired with black stilettos that clicked softly against the floor, drawing everyone’s attention to her.

Nothing about her outfit screamed for attention, yet she commanded it effortlessly.

Her hair was tied into a neat low bun, exposing the delicate curve of her neck and jawline. Her face carried no heavy makeup, just a clean look that enhanced her natural beauty.

People noticed her immediately. The moment she stepped in, she became the center of attention.

“Welcome, Ms. V.”

“Morning, ma’am.”

“Good morning.”

The staff at the ground floor greeted her politely.

Gracelyn gave small nods in response as she walked past, her expression composed.

She neither smiled nor frowned.

She simply acknowledged their greeting, and minded her business.

But whispers followed behind her footsteps.

“She’s really beautiful.”

“I swear… she looks like a model.”

“But how did she suddenly get an office on the executive floor?”

“Exactly.”

A few desks away, a group of women leaned closer to each other.

One of them scoffed quietly.

“Please. Don’t act like you don’t know how things work.”

Another giggled.

“Right? No one jumps that high overnight unless they… you know.”

She raised her brows suggestively with a mischievous smile on her face.

“Maybe the CEO likes pretty faces.”

“Or maybe she knows how to keep him entertained.”

The group burst into hushed laughter.

Gracelyn’s steps slowed.

Then stopped.

For a moment, she stood still with her back to them.

Silence overshadowed them.

Then, her stilettos turned slowly.

She walked back toward them, slowly.

The girls froze when they realized she was approaching.

Gracelyn stopped right in front of them.

Her expression was calm.

Then a small smile appeared on her lips. Cold and dangerous, enough to send shivers down their spines.

“You know,” she began softly, her voice smooth, yet causing them to hold their breath, “this right here…”

She gestured lightly between them.

“…is exactly why some people spend their entire lives stuck on the ground floor.”

The girls stiffened.

The surrounding staff quietly pretended to work, but their ears were fully tuned in.

Gracelyn tilted her head slightly.

“There’s something fascinating about people like you.”

Her eyes scanned their faces one by one.

“You see someone climbing higher… and the only explanation your small, dull minds can come up with is that she must have spread her legs to get there.”

A sharp breath escaped one of the girls.

Gracelyn’s smile widened slightly.

“It never occurs to you that maybe… just maybe… she worked harder than you.”

Silence.

“Or that she’s smarter.”

Another pause.

“Or that she’s simply. Better.”

The girls’ faces were turning red now.

“But I suppose it’s easier to blame success on sleeping around than to face the fact that you’re just mediocre.”

The words landed like slaps to their faces, their heads lowering in embarrassment.

Gracelyn leaned slightly closer to them.

“If you spent half the energy you waste gossiping on actually improving yourselves, maybe…just maybe, you’d move beyond this stage in your lives.”

Her gaze hardened.

“But then again…”

She straightened slowly.

“People like you prefer envy over effort.”

The air was suffocating.

“And that,” she finished coolly, “is exactly why you’ll remain right here… watching others rise.”

Her eyes lingered on them for one last moment.

Then she turned, and walked away.

The room remained frozen for several seconds.

Then murmurs erupted.

“Wow…”

“Did she just—”

“Those girls deserved that.”

“They bully everyone.”

“I’ve been waiting for someone to shut them up.”

The same group of girls sat there speechless, their humiliation burning across their faces.

Meanwhile, Gracelyn continued walking as if nothing had happened.

Her expression had already returned to neutral, as though the entire confrontation had been nothing more than a passing inconvenience.

Then she reached the elevators.

There were two sections.

The public elevators and one private elevator.

Everyone in the company knew it.

The CEO’s elevator.

Even the CEO’s wife, Ellen, had never used it before.

People feared it.

They respected and avoided it, considering how the CEO would react.

Gracelyn didn’t hesitate.

She pressed the button.

Gasps erupted quietly behind her.

“She’s not serious…”

“She wouldn’t…”

But she did.

The elevator doors slid open.

Gracelyn stepped inside, and the doors closed.

The entire ground floor exploded into whispers.

No one had ever dared to use the CEO’s elevator, and this woman had just walked in without hesitation like it belonged to her.

They wondered how the CEO would react if he found out.

Not long after, the glass doors opened again.

Rexander Sinclair walked in.

The atmosphere instantly shifted.

They all straightened, as though they were in a military camp.

His presence carried authority that filled the room.

He walked with confidence, Maverick beside him reviewing something on a tablet.

They all greeted him in unison, and he walked past them to the elevator.

Then he paused.

His eyes shifted toward the elevator panel.

The private elevator indicator was moving.

Up.

His gaze darkened slightly.

His voice was calm as if he was trying to control his anger.

“Who used my elevator?”

The receptionist stiffened.

Her voice trembled slightly.

“I–It was Ms. V, sir.”

“Who’s Ms. V?” He asked, completely forgetting about his new partner, who was resuming today.

“Ms. Gracelyn Valkyrie Montclair.”

The entire floor went silent.

Everyone watched him carefully.

Waiting.

Expecting anger.

Expecting an explosion.

But Rex simply stared at the panel for a moment.

His jaw tightened briefly.

Then, the elevator dinged.

The doors opened.

Rex stepped inside without another word.

Maverick followed.

The staff exchanged stunned looks.

“That’s it?”

“He didn’t get angry?”

“He didn’t even react.”

Inside the elevator, silence filled the space.

Maverick glanced at Rex.

“So…”

Rex didn’t look at him. He knew what he wanted to say.

“Say it.”

Maverick cleared his throat.

“Are we… going to address the elevator situation?”

Rex’s expression remained unreadable.

“No.”

Maverick blinked, wanting to say something, but changed his mind.

“…Alright then.”

***

When they reached the executive floor, Rex walked straight into his office.

Maverick followed.

“What do you want to do today?” Maverick asked.

Rex removed his coat slowly in silence.

Then he spoke.

“Go get me the procurement files from last quarter.”

Maverick frowned slightly.

“That’s… not urgent.”

Rex finally looked at him as if his patience was running thin.

“Do it.”

Maverick sighed.

“Fine.”

He left the office.

The moment the door closed behind him, Rex remained still for a few seconds.

Then he stood.

And walked out.

Gracelyn’s office was located near the corner of the executive floor.

He didn’t know why, but he could see her office from his, which meant that he could take a peek at her anytime.

The door was slightly open.

Rex stepped inside.

She was standing by the large floor-to-ceiling window.

Her back faced him.

She didn’t turn, after he walked in, as though she had already sensed him.

“Do you like the office?” Rex asked.

Gracelyn shrugged slightly.

“It’s fine.”

Her tone was indifferent.

Almost cold.

Rex studied her quietly.

“You used my private elevator.”

She didn’t turn around.

“Yes.”

The answer came easily.

As if it meant nothing.

Rex’s voice remained calm.

“That elevator is not public.”

Gracelyn finally turned slightly.

Her expression was unreadable.

“Well,” she said casually, “my office is on the executive floor.”

She crossed her arms lightly.

“I don’t think you expect your executives to use the public elevator with the rest of the staff.”

Her eyes met his directly.

“Or do you?”

The room fell quiet as he never expected her comeback.

“Do you have a problem with it, Mr. Sinclair?” she asked bluntly.

Rex looked at her for several seconds.

Then he said simply, “No.”

Her face didn’t change.

She turned back to the window.

And then, silence took over, once again.

Then Rex spoke.

“If you need anything…”

A pause.

“You can find me in my office.”

Gracelyn didn’t look at him.

“Thank you.”

Her voice was almost absent as if she was lost in her own world.

Rex watched her for another moment.

Then he left.

***

An hour later.

Gracelyn finally stepped out of her office.

The floor was quiet.

She headed toward the coffee area.

Her mind was elsewhere.

She poured herself a cup.

Then turned, and walked straight into someone.

The coffee spilled on her shirt.

Before she could even react, the person suddenly dropped to their knees.

Right in front of her.

“Please!”

The voice trembled.

“I’m begging you!”

Gracelyn froze.

Her eyes slowly lowered.

And when she saw the face of the person kneeling before her, her expression changed for the first time that day.

“You…”