Chapter 2: The Interview Disaster

Lily Carter burst into the lobby of Knight Enterprises, slightly out of breath, clutching her resume folder to her chest.

The first thing she noticed was the silence.

The place was nothing like the bustling corporate offices she had seen in movies. Instead, it was sleek, modern, and eerily quiet. The floors gleamed with black marble, and towering floor-to-ceiling windows bathed the space in soft morning light. Employees dressed in perfectly tailored suits moved with precision, their heels clicking against the polished floor.

Everything about this place screamed discipline, perfection, and power.

And here she was—wrinkled blouse, slightly messy hair, and a panicked expression that completely ruined any illusion of professionalism.

Great first impression, Lily. Absolutely fantastic.

She swallowed her nerves and approached the front desk, where a blonde receptionist sat, typing away on a keyboard.

"Hi! I’m Lily Carter. I have an interview for the Personal Assistant position with Mr. Knight," she said, forcing a smile.

The receptionist—whose nameplate read Melissa—barely spared her a glance before scanning her screen.

"Your interview was scheduled for 8:00 AM. It’s now 8:07."

Lily winced. "I know, I know, but technically I got here on time, I just—"

"Mr. Knight does not tolerate lateness."

The warning was crisp, final, and terrifying.

Lily felt her stomach drop. "So... am I disqualified already?"

Melissa finally looked at her—and smirked. It was the kind of smirk that said, Oh, honey, you don’t know what you’re in for.

"Take a seat," she said smoothly. "Mr. Knight will see you shortly."

Lily exhaled in relief and turned toward the waiting area.

As soon as she sat down, she took a deep breath, gripping her folder tightly. She needed this job. Badly. If she didn’t get hired today, she’d have to move back in with her overly dramatic, passive-aggressive mother, and that was NOT an option.

So, she needed to impress Alexander Knight.

But judging from every single employee in this building acting like they were terrified of him, that would be easier said than done.

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Just as Lily was starting to feel the nerves crawl up her spine, something shifted in the air.

A faint ding echoed from across the lobby as the executive elevator doors slid open.

Instantly, every employee straightened in their seats, lowered their voices, or stopped typing altogether. The energy in the room changed—from routine workplace chatter to tense, suffocating silence.

Lily didn’t need to guess why.

Because there he was.

Alexander Knight.

She had seen pictures of him online—every business magazine had covered his rise to power—but nothing had prepared her for his presence in real life.

He was tall, broad-shouldered, and effortlessly intimidating, dressed in a perfectly tailored charcoal suit that probably cost more than her entire year’s rent. His sharp jawline and piercing blue eyes could’ve belonged to a runway model, but the sheer power radiating off of him made it clear—he was no pretty boy. He was a shark, a man who built an empire through sheer ruthlessness.

His expression? Cold. Unreadable. Lethal.

He didn’t acknowledge anyone as he walked across the floor, his strides purposeful and unwavering. The employees practically held their breath as he passed, afraid to even look at him wrong.

Lily felt her pulse skyrocket.

This is my future boss?!

Melissa, the receptionist, gestured toward Lily with a knowing smirk.

"Mr. Knight, your interview candidate has arrived."

Alexander Knight finally turned his gaze on her.

The moment their eyes met, Lily felt her stomach flip.

His icy blue eyes swept over her in one swift motion—assessing, calculating, unimpressed.

Without saying a word, he turned and started walking away.

Melissa gave Lily a pointed look. "Follow him."

Lily scrambled to her feet and hurried after him, gripping her folder for dear life.

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Lily rushed inside just as the elevator doors slid shut, sealing her alone with the most intimidating man on the planet.

The silence was thick.

She tried to sneak a glance at him, but the moment she did, he spoke.

"You’re late."

Lily jumped slightly at the deep, smooth yet sharp voice.

She turned to him, blinking. "I—uh—technically, I arrived at eight!"

Alexander gave her a blank stare. "Your interview was at 8:00. You arrived at 8:07."

She gulped.

"I—okay, yeah, but seven minutes isn’t that late."

His eyes narrowed slightly, like he was trying to decide whether she was stupid or just reckless.

"In my world," he said, his voice cool, crisp, and authoritative, "seven minutes is the difference between sealing a deal and losing a billion-dollar contract."

Lily stared. Did he just compare my tardiness to losing a billion dollars?!

She opened her mouth to respond, but the elevator dinged, and he was already striding out.

Lily let out a silent scream of frustration before chasing after him.

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Alexander’s office was a masterpiece of modern design—black marble floors, sleek glass walls, and a panoramic view of Los Angeles.

It was as cold and meticulously organized as the man himself.

"Sit," he said, already lowering himself into the imposing leather chair behind his massive desk.

Lily sank into the chair across from him, feeling like a criminal on trial.

He extended his hand. "Resume."

She quickly handed it over, watching as his piercing eyes scanned the document. His expression remained unreadable, but the slight raise of an eyebrow told her he wasn’t impressed.

"You have no PA experience," he noted.

Lily sat up straight. "No, but I’m a fast learner! And I’ve worked in fast-paced environments before."

His gaze flicked back to the paper. "Marketing degree. So why are you applying to be my assistant?"

"Because I need a job."

For the first time, his eyes lifted to hers.

There was a long silence.

Then—**to her complete and utter shock—**he smirked.

It wasn’t a friendly smirk. It was the kind of smirk that said, Oh, this will be fun.

"You’re persistent," he murmured, closing the folder.

Before she could respond, he pressed a button on his desk.

A tall woman walked in.

"Rachel, draw up the paperwork. Miss Carter is hired. Probationary period: one month. If she’s still standing after that, we’ll reconsider."

Lily’s jaw dropped.

Wait. WHAT?!

Rachel nodded and left.

Lily turned back to Alexander, still processing what just happened.

"I—I got the job?" she asked, stunned.

His smirk deepened.

"Let’s see how long you last."