Chapter 2: The Vale Name

Lena’s POV

The next morning, I stood in front of the tallest building I had ever seen before, and I wondered if I had made a terrible mistake.

The glass tower disappeared into the clouds. I tilted my head back until my neck hurt.

"Vale Enterprises," I whispered to myself.

The name was written in silver letters across the entrance, I knew that name and everyone did.

The Vale family owned hotels, banks, technology companies, real estate, and other businesses I could never afford to shop in. I was standing outside their headquarters for a job interview, a job I had never applied for.

I tightened my fingers around my handbag. "Just go inside," I whispered to myself again. Immediately my stomach tightened.

I walked toward the revolving doors, and the security guard stopped me. "Miss,” the security guard said. I froze. "Yes,” I replied calmly.

"Can I help you,” he said softly. "I'm here for an interview,” I whispered. "With whom?" He asked quickly. I looked at the message on my phone. "Mr. Adrian Vale,” I responded very quickly.

The guard's expression changed, not much, but not enough for him to notice and allow me in. "Adrian Vale?" He asked quietly. "Yes,” I replied.

He studied me very closely. "Do you have an appointment with him?" He asked again. "That's what I was told,” I replied gently. He looked at his screen. "What's the name?" He asked. "Lena Brooks,” replied quietly.

His fingers moved across the keyboard, a few seconds passed, and then he looked at me again.

"Twenty-sixth floor,” he said. "Thank you,” I murmured. He stepped aside, I walked through the doors, my heart was beating too fast and I had expected an office work in my entire life.

But I hadn't expected a place that looked like it belonged to another world. The lobby was enormous with marble floors and high ceilings. People in expensive suits moving quickly in every direction.

I suddenly became aware of my clothes. My black skirt was clean, but it wasn't expensive. My blouse had been ironed twice, and my shoes were the cheapest pair I owned.

I looked like someone who had walked into the wrong building. Suddenly, a woman behind the reception desk looked up.

"Can I help you?" She asked politely. "I'm here to see Adrian Vale,” I muttered. She paused for a moment. “Mr. Vale?" She said. "Yes,” I said.

"Do you have an appointment with him?" She asked vigorously. "Apparently,” I whispered. She looked at her computer. "Lena Brooks?" She asked. "Yes,” I said.

Her expression became unreadable. "Twenty-sixth floor, private elevator,” she said. "Private elevator?" Lena asked. She pointed toward a hallway. "At the end,” she replied.

I swallowed very hard. "Thank you,” I said. I walked away before she could see how nervous I was. The elevator doors opened immediately, I stepped inside but there were no buttons.

I frowned.

A small screen lit up. "Identification,” it said.I almost laughed. "You have got to be kidding me,” I muttered. Suddenly, a voice came through the speaker. "Please state your name, Lena Brooks,” it whispered. There was a pause at the moment. "Welcome, Miss Brooks,” it said.

The doors closed, and I stared at my reflection. I looked terrified. "Get yourself together,” a voice came through the speaker again.

The elevator moved so smoothly that I barely felt it, and then the doors opened. A woman was already waiting for me patiently. "Miss Brooks?" She asked softly. "Yes,” I answered immediately.

"I'm Mr. Vale's assistant. Follow me,” she said.

I nodded.

We walked through a quiet hallway. Unlike the lobby, this floor was almost silent. No phones ringing and no people talking.

Just expensive paintings and glass walls. I glanced at the assistant.

"Can I ask you something?" I said quietly. “You can,” she replied gently. "Is this about a regular job?" I asked curiously. She stopped, and I nearly walked into her.

"What do you mean?" She asked. "The person who called me said it was a private position,” she said. "That's correct,” I said. "But she didn't explain what kind of position,” she added.

The woman looked at me for a moment. "I think Mr. Vale would prefer to explain that himself,” she said.

My stomach tightened.

"Is there something I should know?" Lena asked again. She smiled politely. "You'll find out soon,” she said quietly.

That answer did nothing to calm me, and she stopped in front of a large black door.

"He's expecting you inside,” she said. I stared at the door for a couple of times. "Now?" I asked quickly. "Yes,” I said.

She walked away, I took a deep breath, and then knocked. "Come in,” a deep voice echoed. It was calm and cold, so I opened the door.

The first thing I noticed was the windows, it covered almost the entire wall, giving a perfect view of the room.

The second thing I noticed was the man standing beside him, Adrian Vale. I had seen his face in magazines, on television, and online before now. But photographs hadn't prepared me for him.

He was taller than I expected, dressed in a dark suit that looked perfectly fitted. His hair was dark, his face sharp, and his expression impossible to read.

He turned toward me, and his eyes settled on mine. For some reason, I forgot how to breathe. "Miss Brooks,” he said once. "Mr. Vale,” I greeted. We exchange pleasantries.

He gestured toward a chair. "Sit,” he whispered. I sat, he remained standing, and that made me more nervous.

"Thank you for coming,” he said. "Thank you for inviting me,” I said softly. He picked up a folder from his desk and I noticed my name written on it. “Lena Brook.”

My heart pounded heavily. "You have worked three jobs in the last two years,” he said calmly. I stared at him for a moment.

"Excuse me, how did you know?" I asked curiously. He did not respond, and there was silence at the moment, but after a few minutes he continued, "You currently work at a restaurant in the evenings,” he said quietly. "Yes,” I said. "And a small accounting office during the day,” he added. "Yes,” I said. "You also work weekends at a pharmacy,” he said again.

I slowly leaned back. "How do you know all this?" I asked furiously. Yet no responses, he closed the folder, and after some minutes he said, "We did our research."

"Why?" Lena asked quietly. He didn't answer. Instead, he asked, "How much do you owe?"

I frowned.

"What do you mean?" I asked consciously. "Your mother's medical bills,” he said. My heart stopped. "How much?" He asked again.

I stood up. "I don't think that's any of your business,” I said. "It will be,” he said.

"No,” I said. His eyes narrowed slightly. "Sit down, Miss Brooks,” he said. "I came here for a job interview. Not to discuss my mother's private medical information,” I said.

"You came here because you need money right,” Vale said. The words hit me like a slap, and I stared at him for a while with no atom of words. "That doesn't give you the right to humiliate me,” I said softly.

"I'm not trying to humiliate you,” he said. "Then what do you think you are doing?" I asked quietly.

He finally walked toward his desk. "Offering you something,” he whispered. "A job?" I asked very quickly. "No,” he responded softly.

He sat down, and I remained standing. "Then what?" I asked again. He opened the folder again. "I have a proposition for you,” he said. I laughed nervously. "What kind of proposition?" I asked. “One that will pay you enough money to clear your mother's medical bills,” he said.

My smile disappeared, and he watched me carefully. "Like how much?" I asked quickly. "Enough money," he said. "Nothing is enough,” I said.

"Five hundred thousand dollars won't be enough." Vale said. The room went silent for a moment, and I thought I had heard him wrong.

"Excuse me?" I said. "Five hundred thousand,” he said again. I stared at him for a long moment.

"Why?” I asked. "Because I need something from you,” he said. " Like what?" I asked furiously. He leaned back.

"My grandmother has placed a condition on my inheritance,” he said softly. He stopped at some point, and then I waited for a few minutes. “I must marry,” he said. I blinked. "Okay,” I said.

"My grandmother controls the family trust, and If I don't marry according to her conditions, I lose control of the company,” he said.

I slowly sat down. "And you want me to work for you?" I asked quietly. "No,” he responded quickly. "Then what do you want?" I asked vigorously.

His expression didn't change. "I want you to become my fiancée,” he said. I stared at him for a long moment.

For several seconds, I couldn't speak, and then I laughed, a real laugh, because surely this was a joke. But Adrian Vale didn't laugh, not even a little. "You can't be serious,” I said.

"I am,” Vale said. "You want me to pretend to be your fiancée?" I asked again. "Yes,” Adrian Vale said. "For how long?" I asked. "Six months,” he said. I stared at him again. "You don't even know me,” I said. "I know you well enough,” he said. “Apparently you know everything about me, you don't mean this,” I said.

"I know your circumstances,” he said. "That's not the same thing,” I said. "No,” he said.

His voice softened slightly. "You're right,” he added. I looked at him very carefully. "Then why me?" I asked quietly. For the first time, something changed in his eyes, it was so quick, and I almost noticed it. "Because you're exactly what I'm looking for,” he said.

A cold feeling moved through me. "What does that mean?" I asked carefully. He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he slid a contract across the desk. "Read it,” he said.

I looked down,my name was printed across the first page, I touched the paper, and then I looked back at him.

"Mr. Vale Adrian,” I said once. "I can't do this,” I said. "You haven't read the contract,” he said. "I don't need to,” I said quietly. "You really do,” he said.

He pushed it closer, and I looked at the amount written beside the payment clause, my breath caught, five hundred thousand dollars. Immediately, l remembered my mother's hospital bills, her medication, and her treatment.

Everything I had been fighting for was sitting on a sheet of paper in front of me. But there was something else, a question I couldn't shake. “Why had Adrian Vale chosen me?” No answer came. I looked up, and he was watching me.