Vindication of the Cold CEO

Today was supposed to be just another Monday, but Celeste Marshall could already feel her stomach doing backflips the moment she stepped out of the elevator. The air in Sterling Enterprises was so crisp and clean it almost smelled like money itself. The kind of place where people walked like they had gold bars in their pockets and secrets in their eyes.

She adjusted her blazer, trying not to think about how expensive everyone’s shoes looked compared to her perfectly decent okay, maybe slightly worn black pumps. Six months without a stable job and now she was here, about to start the biggest contract of her career. A whole events planner gig for the most prestigious firm in the city. The kind of job people bragged about at dinner parties.

Her focus? Stay professional, keep her head down, and deliver flawless work. Her reality? The moment she thought about who she’d be reporting to, she could already feel trouble brewing. Julian Sterling. Thirty, CEO, and the kind of man whose picture could stop a girl mid-scroll on I*******m. Sharp jaw, ice-cold stare, and the kind of tailored suit that whispered you can’t afford me.

She told herself she didn’t care. She told herself she was here to work, not to daydream. But that didn’t stop her pulse from picking up when his office door came into view.

His assistant, a polished woman with red lipstick and a no-nonsense expression, looked up.

“Ms. Marshall?”

“Yes.”

“You can go in. He’s expecting you.”

Celeste inhaled. Straightened her posture. Stepped inside.

Julian Sterling was seated behind his desk, flipping through documents like the fate of the world depended on it. He didn’t look up immediately, which gave her a moment to take him in. The man was unfortunately better looking in person. Perfectly styled dark hair, crisp white shirt, sleeves rolled up just enough to show his watch and veins. His entire presence radiated I am not here to make friends.

Finally, his eyes lifted to meet hers, and wow… she wasn’t prepared for that. Cold. Assessing. The kind of gaze that made you feel like he already knew your entire life story, including your N*****x password.

“Ms. Marshall,” he said, voice smooth but detached. “You’re late.”

Her eyebrows twitched. “It’s 9:00 exactly.”

“I prefer people to arrive early,” he replied without missing a beat.

Okay… so this was how it was going to be.

“I was told to start at nine, Mr. Sterling.”

“I run my own schedules.” He set the file down. “From now on, you’ll be working from this office directly.”

She blinked. “Excuse me?”

“I don’t like remote coordination. If you’re handling our upcoming events, I want you accessible. Here. Every day.”

Her mouth opened, closed, then opened again. She had agreed to this contract under the impression she’d be able to split her work between home and on-site visits. Working here daily meant… being in his line of sight daily. That wasn’t exactly in her survival plan.

Still, her voice stayed even. “If that’s your requirement, then I’ll adjust.”

His lip twitched barely. “Good. We’ll be running through the first event’s concept now.”

The next thirty minutes were a blur of him firing precise, sharp questions while she scribbled notes like her life depended on it. He didn’t waste words. Every instruction was clear, every criticism sharper than the edge of his cufflinks. Yet, buried in all that frost, she could tell he was paying attention. Not just to her work, but to her.

When the meeting wrapped, she stood, ready to escape the chill of his office. But just as she reached for the door, his voice stopped her.

“Ms. Marshall.”

She turned.

“You’re here because I expect excellence. Not excuses. Don’t disappoint me.”

She forced a polite smile. “I don’t plan to.”

“Good. We understand each other.”

She walked out, head high, but inside? She was already exhausted. And intrigued. And maybe, just maybe, dangerously aware of how quickly a man like Julian Sterling could melt every rule she’d set for herself.

And the worst part? He knew it too.