CHAPTER 5

Amelia Carter spent the entire night staring at the contract.

Not reading it.

Staring at it.

There was a difference.

Reading meant she was searching for information.

Staring meant she was trying to convince herself that the decision in front of her wasn't as terrifying as it felt.

The contract sat on her small kitchen table beneath the weak yellow light.

A simple stack of papers.

Yet somehow, it felt heavier than anything she had ever held.

Because signing it meant entering Alexander Kingston's world.

A world of money.

Power.

Secrets.

And people who didn't hesitate to destroy others to get what they wanted.

Amelia had spent her entire life avoiding people like him.

People who lived in penthouses while others struggled to pay rent.

People who could solve problems with a phone call.

People who never had to count every dollar before buying groceries.

But now she was considering working directly beside one.

The irony almost made her laugh.

Almost.

Her eyes moved toward the bedroom door.

Behind it was her mother.

The woman who had sacrificed everything for her.

The woman who had worked two jobs when Amelia was younger so she could have better opportunities.

The woman who still apologized every time Amelia spent money on her.

Then she thought about Noah.

Her brother.

The boy who pretended not to worry even though Amelia knew he did.

The truth was simple.

She needed this job.

Not wanted.

Needed.

And that was the part she hated.

Because needing something gave it power over you.

Amelia picked up the pen.

She hesitated.

Then she signed.

___________________________________________________________________________________

The next morning, Amelia woke up before her alarm.

She had barely slept.

Her mind kept replaying everything Alexander said.

"You are about to enter a world you don't understand."

"I know what desperation looks like."

"I want you to choose."

She still didn't know what to think about him.

He was cold.

Intimidating.

Almost impossible to read.

But he had given her a choice.

That mattered.

After getting dressed, Amelia checked herself in the mirror.

Today was her first day at Kingston Holdings.

She couldn't look nervous.

She couldn't look afraid.

She couldn't let anyone there think she didn't belong.

Even if part of her believed exactly that.

She grabbed her bag and walked toward the kitchen.

Her mother was already sitting at the table.

"You signed."

Amelia stopped.

Again.

"How do you know?"

Evelyn smiled.

"You have the same face you had when you decided to do something dangerous as a child."

Amelia laughed softly.

"I was eight."

"You climbed a tree taller than our house."

"I wanted to get my kite."

"You almost fell."

"But I didn't."

Her mother smiled.

"Exactly."

Amelia poured herself coffee.

"It's a good opportunity."

"Is it safe?"

The question surprised her.

She looked at her mother.

"What makes you ask that?"

Evelyn looked down.

"I don't know."

But Amelia knew.

Her mother was hiding something.

Again.

"Mom."

"It's nothing."

That answer bothered her.

Because everyone kept saying that.

Nothing.

Everything was always nothing.

But nothing was the reason people suffered.

Nothing was the reason secrets existed.

Before Amelia could ask more, Noah entered the kitchen.

"You got the job?"

His eyes immediately went to the contract on the table.

Amelia smiled.

"Yes."

He grabbed her into a hug.

"That's amazing."

She laughed.

"Noah, I can't breathe."

He released her.

"Sorry."

Then his expression became serious.

"Wait. Where?"

Amelia hesitated.

"Kingston Holdings."

The excitement disappeared.

"Kingston?"

"Yes."

"Alexander Kingston?"

"You know him?"

Noah looked uncomfortable.

"Everyone knows him."

"That's what everyone keeps saying."

"That's myBecause it's true."

He sat down.

"He's not exactly known for being easy to work with."

Amelia raised an eyebrow.

"Neither am I."

Noah smiled.

"That's my sister."

For a moment, everything felt normal.

Then Amelia looked at the clock.

She was running late.

"I have to go."

Her mother reached for her hand.

"Be careful."

Amelia nodded.

"I will."

But as she left the apartment, she couldn't ignore the strange feeling in her chest.

Everyone warned her about Alexander Kingston.

Nobody explained why.

___________________________________________________________________________________

Kingston Tower looked even more intimidating on her second visit.

Yesterday, Amelia had been too nervous to fully look around.

Today, she noticed everything.

The polished marble floors.

The expensive artwork.

The employees walking quickly with tablets and folders.

Everyone moved with purpose.

Nobody wasted time.

She approached the reception desk.

The same receptionist looked up.

"Miss Carter."

Amelia noticed she already knew her.

"Good morning."

"Mr. Kingston is waiting for you."

Waiting.

Again.

That word.

Amelia followed the familiar path to the executive floor.

When she arrived, Victoria Hale was already there.

"Good morning, Amelia."

"Good morning."

Victoria handed her a badge.

"Your access card."

Amelia looked at it.

Her picture.

Her name.

Already prepared.

"You work fast."

Victoria smiled slightly.

"We have to."

"Because of Mr. Kingston?"

"Because of the company."

Amelia wasn't convinced.

Victoria pointed toward the hallway.

"Your desk is outside his office."

Amelia stopped.

"Outside?"

"Yes."

"So I will be..."

"His assistant."

"Right."

She looked toward the huge office door.

The idea suddenly became more real.

She wasn't just working at Kingston Holdings.

She was working directly for Alexander Kingston.

The man everyone feared.

Victoria noticed her expression.

"First day nerves?"

"Maybe."

"Everyone gets them."

"Even you?"

Victoria smiled.

"Especially me."

That surprised Amelia.

"You work with him."

"Exactly."

Before Amelia could ask more, the office door opened.

A man walked out.

Tall.

Confident.

Perfectly dressed.

Alexander Kingston.

His eyes immediately found Amelia.

"You're early."

Amelia checked the time.

"I thought I was five minutes late."

"You are."

She blinked.

"What?"

A pause.

Then she realized.

He was joking.

Or at least...

Trying to.

It was difficult to tell.

Victoria looked away, hiding a smile.

Alexander walked toward her.

"The schedule is on your desk."

"Okay."

"You will review my meetings, organize documents, and accompany me to today's conference."

Amelia nodded.

"Understood."

He looked at her for a moment.

"You seem calmer today."

"I slept."

"Good."

"That sounded like approval."

"It was."

Amelia almost smiled.

Almost.

Then Alexander handed her a folder.

"Your first assignment."

She accepted it.

"What is it?"

"Review these documents before noon."

She opened the folder.

There were hundreds of pages.

Her eyes widened.

"Before noon?"

"Yes."

She looked at the clock.

9:15 a.m.

"You expect me to finish all this?"

Alexander looked at her calmly.

"Yes."

Amelia stared at him.

Then at the folder.

Then back at him.

"Are you testing me?"

"No."

"Then what is this?"

"Your job."

For a moment, they simply looked at each other.

Then Amelia nodded.

"Fine."

She turned toward her desk.

But before she walked away, Alexander spoke.

"Amelia."

She looked back.

"Yes?"

His expression was serious.

"One more thing."

"What?"

"Do not trust everyone in this building."

The warning caught her off guard.

"Why?"

Alexander's eyes moved briefly toward the employees outside.

Then back to her.

"Because not everyone here wants you to succeed."

Before Amelia could respond, he entered his office and closed the door.

Leaving her standing there with a folder full of documents...

And a warning she didn't understand.