Rose finally felt a sense of purpose as she delved into the work assigned by Karen. The task was complex, but she approached it with determination, knowing that this was what she was meant to do. Hours passed, and the silence was broken only by the sound of her pen moving across the page.
As the sun began to set, casting a warm glow over the office, Rose took a break, stretching her arms above her head. She glanced around the spacious room, feeling grateful for the opportunity to work in such a beautiful environment. The only thing missing was Julian, whose absence she couldn't help but notice.
Just then, the intercom beeped, and Karen's voice came through, "Rose, please come to the boardroom. A meeting is about to start."
Rose quickly gathered her things, wondering who would be attending the meeting and what it would be about. As she entered the boardroom, she was greeted by a sea of familiar faces, including Karen, Alex, and several other executives.
The chairperson, a stern-looking man with a thick beard, stood up, surveying the room before beginning the meeting. Rose listened intently as he discussed the company's latest developments and future plans.
As the meeting progressed, Rose found herself growing more and more uncomfortable. The discussions were heated, and the tension between the executives was palpable. She tried to focus on the topic at hand, but her mind kept wandering back to Julian and his enigmatic behavior.
Alex, on the other hand, seemed to be enjoying himself, frequently interjecting with witty remarks and sarcastic comments. Rose couldn't help but chuckle at his antics, which earned her a few curious glances from the other executives.
Despite the tension, the meeting eventually wrapped up, and the executives began to disperse. As Rose packed up her things, Karen approached her, a mixture of curiosity and amusement on her face.
"Well, Rose, I think you survived your first board meeting," she said, smiling.
Rose nodded, still trying to process everything that had happened. "Yeah, I guess so. It was...enlightening."
Karen laughed. "I'll say. You're certainly not one to blend into the background, are you?"
Rose shrugged, feeling a little self-conscious. "I just try to stay focused, I suppose."
Karen nodded. "I see. Well, just remember to keep your wits about you around here. It can get...lively."
AI Horde
The morning sun filtered through the curtains of Rose's modest home, casting a warm glow over the living room where she and Daniel sat, anticipation evident in their postures. Both were dressed and ready, uncertain of when Julian's driver would arrive. The silence between them was punctuated only by the occasional rustle of clothing or the distant chirping of birds.
Daniel, unable to contain his nerves, began pacing, his fingers fidgeting with the buttons on his shirt. "Do you think they'll expect me to know everything on the first day?" he asked, more to himself than to Rose.
Rose glanced up, a hint of amusement in her eyes. "Is this your first job?" she teased, knowing full well that Daniel had prior experience at a reputable law firm.
Daniel chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Whatever."
Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of a car pulling up outside. Daniel peeked through the window and saw a sleek black vehicle parked at the curb. He stepped outside to greet the driver, who informed him that he was there solely to pick up Daniel.
After a moment's hesitation, Daniel turned to Rose. "Looks like this is my ride. See you at the office?"
Rose nodded, offering a reassuring smile. "Good luck."
With that, Daniel entered the car, which soon disappeared down the street, leaving Rose standing alone on the porch. She sighed and returned inside, where Aunty Adeline was sipping her morning tea.
"He's off, then?" Adeline inquired.
Rose nodded, pouring herself a cup of tea. "Yes. Now we wait for my turn."
An hour passed, filled with idle chatter and the occasional glance at the clock. Finally, a knock echoed through the house. Rose opened the door to find another impeccably dressed man in black.
"Ms. Rose? I'm here on behalf of Mr. Carter Jr.," he said, reaching out to take her bag.
Rose hesitated for a moment before handing over her belongings and following him to the car. The ride was smooth and silent, the cityscape blurring past the tinted windows.
Upon arrival, Rose stepped out of the vehicle and found herself in front of a towering glass building, its modern architecture exuding opulence, above on the building a write up placed elegantly written Carter enterprise. She entered the lobby, her eyes wide with awe at the marble floors, high ceilings, and sparkling chandeliers.
Lost in admiration, she walked past the receptionist without noticing until a gentle tap on her shoulder brought her back to reality.
"Miss? Are you here to see someone?" the receptionist asked with a polite smile.
Rose blinked, momentarily flustered. "Yes, sorry. I'm Rose. I was brought here to see Mr. Julian."
The receptionist's eyes widened slightly at the casual mention of Julian's name. "Please have a seat while I confirm your appointment."
As Rose settled into a plush chair, the lobby doors opened, and Alex strolled in, his usual swagger on full display. He exchanged flirtatious banter with the receptionist until his gaze landed on Rose.
"Well, well, what brings the fun-killer here?" he quipped, his tone more playful than mocking.
The receptionist informed him of Rose's purpose, and Alex's eyebrows shot up. "Interesting," he murmured before approaching Rose.
"Miss Ice Queen herself. What brings you here, sunshine? Lost your way to the library?"he began, flashing a charming smile. "Did you miss me already, or are you here to file a complaint about my irresistible charm?"
Rose rolled her eyes. "Do you ever take a break from being insufferable? "you harass every woman that walks in or just the ones who clearly don't want to talk to you?"
"Ouch. That almost hurt. You still got that spice. I missed that."
"You didn't even know me well enough to miss me."
He leaned closer, voice low and teasing. "That's the problem, darling. I was hoping to fix that."
Rose couldn't help but rolled her eyes
But then—like a needle scratching across a record—a cold, commanding voice cut through the air.
"Step aside."
Alex froze, recognizing the voice instantly. He turned slowly to see Julian standing behind him, his expression unreadable.
His presence swallowed the space the moment he entered. Dressed in an immaculately tailored black suit, with his dark eyes fixed on Rose, he radiated an aura that made everyone else in the room feel like background noise.
Rose stood up, and Julian tossed his bag to Alex. "Prepare her desk," he instructed.
Alex nodded, a sheepish grin on his face, and retreated.
Julian turned to Rose, a rare smile gracing his lips. The receptionist's eyes widened in surprise; such expressions were seldom seen from Julian.
He gestured for Rose to walk ahead, and she complied, leading them to the elevator marked 'VIP.' Julian followed, caught up quickly and, to her surprise, took her bag.
"I can carry it myself," she murmured.
"But I prefer to carry what's mine," he replied, voice low.
Inside the elevator, the atmosphere was thick with unspoken tension. Suddenly, the elevator jolted to a halt, and the lights flickered before settling into the dim glow of the emergency backup.
Upstairs, Alex noticed the elevator's sudden stop and the absence of floor indicators. Concerned, He was seconds away from calling maintenance when a text popped up.
Julian: "Leave it for 10 mins."
Alex blinked. What?
Then a call.
Julian's voice was sharp and irritated. "Why the hell did the elevator stop? I need it fixed. Now."
Click.
Call ended.
Before Alex could even digest the contradiction, another message arrived.
Julian: "Ignore the call."
Alex blinked again. Then smirked.
He marched to the tech room and told the staff, "Don't fix the elevator until I say so."
"But sir! Mr. Carter is inside!"
"Exactly," Alex said, peering into the monitor. What he saw made him chuckle. "Turn off the camera."
"What if he's in danger?"
"Julian? Please. That man is danger. Just do it."
Once alone, Alex switched to the hidden camera feed. His curiosity was now burning a hole in his chest.
Back in the elevator, Rose shifted uncomfortably. "Technical issue?" she asked.
Julian nodded. "Seems so."
The confined space and dim lighting brought memories flooding back to Rose, shared bed, shared secrets, and unspoken feelings. She glanced at Julian, who was watching her intently.
"Thinking about something, dolcezza?" he asked, his voice low and smooth.
She looked away, a blush creeping up her cheeks. "Just hoping this elevator gets fixed soon."
Julian stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. "You know, I didn't plan for this to happen," he murmured, his eyes locked onto hers. "But I'm not complaining."
Rose's heart pounded in her chest as Julian reached out, gently tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. The elevator's dim light cast shadows across his face, highlighting the intensity in his eyes.
"You're dangerous," she whispered.
"Only when you make me want to be," he replied, his voice barely audible.
Rose's heart raced as Julian leaned in closer, their faces inches apart. The dim lighting in the elevator amplified the tension between them, making every breath and heartbeat seem amplified. His proximity, coupled with the unspoken desire in his gaze, sent shivers down her spine.
"Dangerous in what way?" she managed to ask, her voice trembling slightly.
Julian's thumb brushed against her cheek, a feather-light caress that sent sparks through her body. "In the sense that being near you makes me lose control," he admitted, his voice husky with emotion. "Makes me want things I shouldn't."
Rose's breath caught in her throat as Julian's lips hovered mere millimeters from hers. The air between them seemed to crackle with electricity, and she couldn't tear her eyes away from his. "And what things would those be?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Julian's eyes darkened, a sultry promise lingering in their depths. "Things that would ruin us both if we let them," he murmured, his warm breath fanning across her lips.
The elevator suddenly jolted back to life, startling them both. As it began its ascent, Rose stumbled backward, putting some distance between them. Julian followed, his eyes never leaving hers.
Their silence was heavy with unspoken secrets, untold stories, and the weight of their mutual attraction. Rose knew that she had to decide whether to take the risk or retreat, leaving the desire unrequited.
The elevator doors opened with a quiet ding, revealing a polished hallway lined with minimalist art and soft lighting. Julian stepped out first, his stride confident as always, and Rose followed, still slightly in awe of everything she'd seen so far. He led her down the hall until they reached a sleek, frosted-glass door with her name freshly printed on a golden plaque.
"This is your space," Julian announced, pushing the door open.
Rose stepped inside and gasped softly. The office was large, almost too large for one person. Sunlight poured in through a wall of windows, making the glass desk shimmer. Creamy-white walls, light grey furniture with silver accents, a velvet sofa, and a massive indoor plant in the corner gave the office a luxurious yet calming vibe.
"You have good taste," Rose said, genuinely impressed.
Julian smirked, hands tucked into his pockets. "Told you I wouldn't just throw you into a broom closet. Settle in. You're technically my second assistant—think of it as my personal executive liaison. You'll handle reports, board files, assist during meetings."
Rose frowned. "But... you said you needed someone you trust for this position. This can't be it, right?"
Julian leaned in slightly, his voice lower. "You won't understand now. Give it time. For now, just relax. Work can start later. You need anything? Food, drink?"
She shook her head. "I'm okay."
"Good. Karen—my other secretary—will brief you. She'll show you the ropes."
And just like that, Julian turned and walked out, leaving the door open behind him.
Three hours passed. Rose stared at the digital clock, then at the sleek yet untouched files on her desk—none. She twirled a pen between her fingers, resisting the urge to scroll on her phone. She had waited too long for this day to be caught slacking.
Just as she picked up her phone, the door opened.
A woman stepped in—tall, elegant, and dressed in a perfectly tailored black sheath dress. Her hair was obsidian, long and straight, some strands resting effortlessly on her shoulder. Her heels echoed with each step.
"I'm Karen," she said coolly. "Boss's secretary. Your colleague."
Rose stood, instinctively straightening her skirt. "Nice to meet you."
Karen's dark eyes swept the room, then rested on Rose. "Here's your first task. Restricted files. You're trusted—so make sure it stays that way."
She handed over a thick folder with a red tag clipped to it.
"You can finish it tomorrow, but I advise you get it done today. Procrastination piles up. Julian's office is through the large right-hand door across the hall. Boardroom's one floor down, left side. Big double doors. If that's all, I'll take my leave."
And with a final nod, she turned and exited.
Rose blinked at the shut door. "Okay... no tour, just straight-up GPS-style directions. Definitely not the friendly type. But she's got presence. A little scary though."
She pulled the folder close and opened it. Her fingers started moving before she even noticed—marking sections, underlining details, making notes in the margin. She was lost in the flow.
This—this right here—was what she had dreamt of. A proper office. Serious work. Not something her father's house would have ever allowed her to do.
Hours passed.
By sunset, the office was bathed in gold. Rose leaned back and stretched, her joints popping softly.
The intercom buzzed. Karen's voice came through. "Rose, please come to the boardroom. Meeting's about to start."
Rose blinked. A board meeting? On her first day?
She tidied her desk and made her way to the floor below. The boardroom was massive, sleek, and intimidating. Executives filled the table, including Karen, Alex, Julian—and a few unfamiliar faces. A chairperson with a thick beard rose to speak.
Rose sat down quietly, not wanting to draw attention. But curiosity burned inside her.
The meeting kicked off. Numbers were tossed around. Deals. Stocks. Acquisitions. Internal restructuring. And then, tension. The executives didn't hide their disagreements. It was a battlefield in designer suits.
Rose tried to follow everything, jotting down notes, mentally reviewing the files Karen had given her.
Alex, though, was in his own world—cracking jokes, making side remarks, even pretending to yawn exaggeratedly. Rose stifled a laugh at one of his expressions and immediately caught a stern glare from a woman three seats away.
She straightened up. Noted: no laughing in serious meetings.
Eventually, the chairperson adjourned the meeting. People stood, gathering files, murmuring amongst themselves. Karen approached Rose.
"You survived," Karen said, half-impressed.
"Barely," Rose chuckled. "That was intense."
Karen nodded. "That's mild compared to some. You did good—kept your head down. But you don't blend in, Rose. That's... interesting."
Rose gave a small smile, unsure if that was a compliment or a warning.