Chapter one(The New job)

Aurora Avery Brooks

I sat on the bench in the reception area, waiting for the receptionist to call my name. This wasn't just an ordinary company—it was the biggest in Boston. They had messaged me that I would be having an interview today with their CEO.

Well, I had applied for a job on their website… It was just me trying my luck, but boom—luckily, I got a message, and today is the interview. Every single time I took a glance around the place, I felt out of place.

My heart was beating fast.

 And I looked like a nervous wreck.

Every worker that passed by looked so neat—way out of my league. I pray I get the job. I really need that salary to pay off my mother's surgery, clear the debt I owe Dexter, and take care of my daughter, Aria. The little peanut I was earning at the coffee shop down the road could do little or nothing for now.

That was the first job I had gotten when I came back to Boston. Speaking of Boston, I shut my eyes at the bad memories it brought back. I’m just going to keep a low profile for now.

My phone beeped. I pulled it out to find a message from my friend, Emme:

  /Fighting! You got this. I’ll come over tonight after work. And again, remember to gist me about how hot he looks. I heard the CEO of the Pierce Group is damn smokingly handsome./

Ugh... sick.

I cringed. I was praying to get hired, and she's talking about some rumored cold, heartless CEO. The quietness in the company confirmed the rumors.

“Ms. Brooks?”

My head suddenly jerked up at the mention of my name.

I stood up from the chair and hurried to the receptionist’s desk. She was a young girl, probably around my age or a little older... anyone.

“Yes,” I gulped, nervously. 

She frowned and looked at the computer in front of her before staring back at me. “You have an interview with Mr. Grey today.”

Mr. Grey? I don’t know who that is.

I gave her a confused chuckle. “I’m having an interview with the CEO. That’s—”

“That’s Mr. Grey,” she cut in sharply. I nodded instead, and she rolled her eyes.

Already getting bad energy.

She eyed me up and down, scowling. I watched her dial a number and press the phone to her ear.

“Good morning. Someone is here to meet the CEO,” she said to whoever was on the other side of the phone, her eyes still raking over me.

“Name?”

“Aurora Avery Brooks,” I answered politely. She grimaced, mumbled my name to the person, then replied, “Okay,” and ended the call.

  She turned to face me, her expression scrunched up as if my presence annoyed her. “Follow your right, then take the first elevator to the third floor. You’ll meet a man—Mr. Liam. He’ll direct you to the CEO’s office,” she said in a dismissive tone.

“Thank you,” I said, walking away in the direction she had given.

My heart picked up another racing beat at the mention of the CEO’s office. Last night, Emme and I had searched for a picture of the CEO online but found nothing. It’s like he kept his identity hidden. Why?

Well, I had no idea. The only thing I knew was that he was the grandson of the well-known multi-trillionaire business tycoon, Leonard Pierce.

I breathed out and did as she instructed. As soon as the elevator opened, I was greeted by a warm smile. It was a young man, probably in his early thirties, clad in a sleek black suit. He had brown, messy hair, and the way he smiled at me made my knees weak.

He was handsome.

  "Hi, I’m guessing you’re Aurora Brooks,” he said. I nodded. “Okay. I’m Liam Reynolds.” Before I could speak, he beat me to it. “Hurry, Mr. Grey is waiting in his office.”

I gulped and nodded, allowing him to lead the way. Soon, we stopped in front of a black glass door. Liam knocked twice, and a deep, husky voice echoed from inside.

“Come in.”

The echo of that voice sent a thrill of electric shock down my spine. There was something familiar about it—like I had heard it somewhere before.

  Liam pushed the door open and stepped aside for me to walk in. I pushed away the confused thoughts and entered. He closed the door gently behind me and motioned for me to step further in. I did, and in front of a floor-to-ceiling window stood a huge, muscular, tall man with short, curly jet-black hair.

He had his back to us, and again, the hairstyle seemed familiar—reminding me of someone special.

Now, my heart was drumming faster.

Liam stopped inches from his desk and bowed slightly. “Mr. Grey, she is here.”

And slowly, the man began to turn around. I could feel my body trembling slightly—unsure if it was due to anxiety or something else. But as the man fully faced me, I went completely numb.

Blood drained from my face. Those piercing green eyes locked onto mine, and I gasped in disbelief. My legs trembled, staggering me back a bit.

In front of me, clad in a sleek suit, looking rich and sophisticated, was none other than my ex-lover... Jaxson.

The man I thought I would never see again.