Chapter 1

The elevator ride to the top floor took longer than it should have, even though it only took a few seconds 

Chloe Hart held her planner to her chest, her palms sweaty from being nervous. This was her first day at Rourke Enterprises, the largest private equity firm in the city, and arguably the most Deadly. People didn’t just work here. They survived.

She adjusted the collar of her cream blouse, trying not to look nervous,as she tapped her heels against the marble floor as she waited for the elevator doors to open.

“The top floor,Best of luck,” the security guard had told her downstairs.

She wasn’t sure if he was serious or joking .

The top floor was cold and quiet, this made shivers run down her spine. Everything was polished clean.As she walked into the quiet hallway no receptionist, no chatter, Just tension she looked at the little sunlight coming through the shining glass window.

Her desk was already set up just outside the office of Elias Rourke. The name alone had made her stomach flip when she accepted the offer. He wasn’t just the CEO,he was the most ruthless CEO. The youngest self-made billionaire in the country. Brutal in the boardroom.Rumor had it he once fired a VP for taking a personal call during a meeting.

“Miss Hart?”

Chloe jumped,a bit scared as she turned toward the voice.

A man in a black suit stood behind her. Elias Rourke,In the flesh. Tall, dark-hair, gray eyes and a nice structured body. He wasn’t just handsome,he was charming, in a way that felt unfair.

“You’re early,” he said, looking at the clock . His voice was low, bringing her out of her thoughts.

“I ummm…I like to be early,” she said, stuttering. “Just to make sure I’m prepared.”

He didn’t respond to that. He looked her up and down, assessing her like she was a presentation slide.

“Have you read the confidentiality agreement?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Then come inside.”

She followed him into his office. The walls were lined with shelves of financial reports. The only decoration was a simple silver sculpture on the window shelf.

“I don’t do small talk,” he said, sitting behind the desk without looking at her. “You’ll keep my schedule. Filter my calls. Do not speak in meetings unless I ask you to. I hate being asked if I’ve eaten or slept. And if I’m working late, you don’t stay unless I say otherwise.”

Chloe blinked. “Understood.”

“And if anyone from the board asks to see me without informing me, you shut them down.”

“Of course.”

Elias finally looked up at her again. His eyes were steel-gray. Cold, focused, impossible to read.

“I don’t have time for emotional employees, Miss Hart. If that’s going to be a problem, speak now.”

She met his gaze, steady despite how terrified she was. “It won’t be a problem.”

He nodded . “Good.”

With that, he turned back to his laptop. She stood there for a while, confused if she was supposed to leave. But he didn’t look up again, so she left quietly and shut the door.

She went back to her desk,as she let out a sigh of relief. Her heart was still pounding. But she’d made it through the first conversation without fainting or quitting. That counted for something, right?

Three hours later, the phone on her desk rang.

She nearly dropped her pen.

“Yes, Mr. Rourke?”

“I need the 3rd quarter reports printed and on my desk in ten minutes. And tell security to expect a delivery from Ridgewell Partners.”

“Right away.”

She stood up immediately to find the reports in the hard drive, printing them out.She placed them on his desk and took a step back, he barely looked up.

“Next time, double-sided. Save paper.”

Chloe nodded. “Of course.”

As she turned to leave,his voice stopped her.

“And Miss Hart?”

She looked back.

“Don’t apologize for everything. It wastes time.”

She swallowed. “Right.”

“...That was one of them.”

Later in the day, she looked at him through the glass door of his office. Elias was still at his desk, he had taken his Jacket off and rolled up his sleeves.Jaws tight, no emotions, all his focus was on his laptop. He hadn’t moved in hours.

Chloe hesitated at first. Then, she stood up and made a cup of green tea. She walked into his office and placed it on his desk without a word, then returned to her desk.

He did not raise his head up from his laptop nor did he say a word to her.

But ten minutes later, the cup was empty.

She walked in to check if he needed anything but he gave no response. She walked back to her desk. She kept thinking about why he was so cold.

“Hey girl” she heard a voice, breaking her out of her thoughts.

She looked up to see Nina, the VP of the marketing department, her best friend, walk towards her desk.

Chloe offered a small smile. “Hey”

“ Oh my, you look horrible and terrified” Nina said, with concern in her voice.

“Nothing serious, just really nervous” Chloe replied

Nina snorted. “Classic Rourke, Makes everyone nervous by breathing.”

Then came another voice teasingingly 

“Ladies,” said Gavin King, VP of Strategy, with a slow grin and his jacket walked towards us. “If you’re going to talk about the boss, at least let me know.”

Chloe smiled. Gavin always looked like he belonged on a magazine cover instead of a boardroom. He was the only one Elias seemed to tolerate in long stretches.

“Morning, Mr King,” she said softly.

He smiled. “Don’t let him make you nervous too much , Chloe. He’s just rude but not evil.”

“You’ve never seen him go silent mid-sentence because someone stapled a document wrong,” Nina muttered.

Gavin chuckled. “He’s charming in his own way.”

A door creaked open

His eyes scanned the room.

When his gaze landed on Chloe, her breath cut, her palms became sweaty.

“Miss Hart.”

“Yes, sir?”

“Another Coffee with no sugar. Folder prep for the eleven-thirty with Harrington. Move my one-thirty meeting. And send a reminder to Ridgewell that I don’t negotiate through lawyers.”

“Yes, sir,” she said, already scribbling notes.

He turned without another word and vanished into his office.

She exhaled slowly.

Nina reappeared with a grin. “You’re still standing. That’s more than most.”