Chapter 9

“Well, Ms. Monace, I believe I've seen enough.”

My heart gave an unexpected leap.

“I like your profile, and your approach to problem-solving is exactly what I'm looking for. You're hired.”

For a moment, I could only stare at him.

“I'm... hired?”

Victor chuckled.

“Yes. Unless you've suddenly changed your mind about working here.”

“No! I mean, no, sir. Of course I haven't.”

I caught myself and straightened in my chair.

“Thank you for the opportunity. I won't disappoint you.”

“I'm counting on that.”

He offered me another smile, but this time, there was something different about it.

Something difficult to read.

As I reached for my bag, Victor spoke again.

“One more thing, Ms. Monace.”

I looked up.

“Your resume says you've been working independently for some time. What kind of work did you do before moving to New York?”

There it was.

The question I'd been hoping to avoid.

I kept my face composed.

“Various business and administrative projects. Nothing particularly relevant to this position.”

It wasn't exactly a lie.

But it certainly wasn't the truth.

Victor studied me for a few seconds, as though weighing my answer against something he couldn't quite put his finger on.

Then he nodded.

“I see.”

He didn't press further.

Yet as I thanked him and prepared to leave, I had the uncomfortable feeling that he hadn't believed a word of it.

And for the first time since entering Haulette Tower, I wondered whether accepting this job had been a wise decision.

***

After Sevra left, the office fell silent.

Victor remained seated, his fingers resting on the closed file.

“Michael.”

“Yes, sir?”

“Find out everything you can about Sevra Monace. Her previous employment, business connections, financial history. Anything that can be verified.”

Michael hesitated.

“May I ask why?”

Victor lifted his eyes.

“Because a woman who finishes a practical assessment in thirty minutes, analyzes every question before answering, and stays perfectly composed while someone tries to humiliate her isn't quite what she claims to be.”

He opened the file again, studying Sevra's photograph.

“There's something she's not telling us.”

Michael nodded.

“I'll look into it.”

“Quietly. I don't want her to know we're investigating her.”

“Understood.”

As Michael turned to leave, Victor's phone vibrated on the desk.

A message from one of his most trusted men appeared on the screen.

URGENT: We may have found a lead on the missing weapons network. The name connected to the latest shipment is Monace.

Victor's expression hardened.

For several seconds, he didn't move.

Monace.

The surname was uncommon enough to catch his attention, but that alone proved nothing. He needed more information before drawing conclusions.

He locked his phone and looked toward the door through which Sevra had disappeared.

The woman who had returned his passport at JFK.

The woman he had encountered again at the cafe.

The woman he had just hired.

Could those encounters really have been coincidences?

A faint, dangerous smile touched his lips.

“Interesting, Sevra Monace.”

He had intended to offer her a job because he wanted her close.

Now, it seemed, there might be another reason to keep her within his reach.

And Victor Haulette had never been a man who walked away from a mystery once it had caught his attention.

***

That morning, I woke up earlier than usual. After all, it was my first official day at Haulette Corporation.

I stood in front of the mirror for a while, studying my reflection. Lately, the constant worries weighing on my mind had begun to show on my face. I looked more tired than I would have liked.

Who knows? Maybe things will finally start looking up for me.

I straightened my shoulders and gave myself an encouraging smile.

Come on, Sevra. You've got this!

Leaving the narrow alley where I lived, I hailed a taxi and headed straight for the Haulette building.

When I arrived, I spotted Michael, Victor's assistant, entering the lobby around the same time.

"Good morning, Mr. Michael!" I greeted him with a smile.

"Good morning, Ms. Monace. And welcome to Haulette."

"Thank you."

"Wait here for a moment, please. I'll come back down and take you upstairs."

"Of course."

While Michael headed upstairs, I turned to the receptionist and gave her a friendly smile. She had been about to welcome me when Michael arrived, so I hadn't wanted to seem rude by ignoring her.

A short while later, Michael returned with a name tag in his hand.

"Here you go."

I took it and glanced down at the words printed on it.

Secretary to CEO.

My new title.

I pinned it to my blouse, feeling a small flutter of excitement in my chest.

My new life at Haulette Corporation had officially begun.

Michael started by showing me around the building, taking me through several departments, including Marketing, Finance, and, of course, Human Resources, where Anne worked.

The moment I stepped into the HR department, I could tell she wasn't particularly pleased to see me.

I couldn't blame her for being surprised, though.

The day after my interview, Victor had instructed Michael to keep my employment records. When Anne received the paperwork, she'd discovered that I'd been hired as the CEO's secretary.

I could only imagine her reaction.

Of all the positions I could have landed, I'd ended up with the one closest to the most powerful man in the company.

And judging by the look on her face, she wasn't taking the news very well.

Michael seemed to notice the tension, too, because he didn't linger in the HR department. He quickly moved on and showed me the cafeteria, where employees could grab lunch or relax during their breaks.

"This place is lovely," I remarked, looking around.

"It is, isn't it?" Michael agreed. "The view is one of the best things about this floor."

I glanced out the windows, taking in the impressive view.

"But don't get too comfortable, Ms. Monace. You probably won't get to spend much time here."

I turned to him.

"Why not?"

"Because you're the CEO's secretary. You'll probably have to accompany our boss during lunch."

"Oh..."

The response slipped out before I could think of anything else to say.

Michael chuckled at my expression.

"Relax. He may be strict, but he's a good man."

I gave him a small, somewhat awkward smile.

Somehow, that doesn't make me feel any less nervous.