Anastasia was up earlier than usual. Her sleep had been light, restless even. The mysterious message from last night kept echoing in her mind.
"Don't trust anyone. Especially the one who calls you his wife."
She hadn't replied. She didn't know how to. All she did was stare at it until her screen went dark.
But this morning, she buried it.
There was no time for fear. She had work to do, goals to meet, and freedom to chase.
She dressed quickly, chose a neat blazer, fixed her hair into a tidy bun, and added just a touch of gloss.
With a final look in the mirror, she whispered to herself, "You can do this," then grabbed her bag and headed out.
The house was quiet. Too quiet. She made her way down the stairs and out the front door without bothering to check if Mason was awake.
But as she walked through the garage, she noticed his driver standing by the car.
He nodded politely, "Good morning, ma'am."
"Morning," she replied with a small smile, entering her own car.
As she started the engine, a strange feeling made her glance into the rearview mirror and there he was. Mason.
He was standing near his car, watching her, but said nothing.
'Why is he watching me?' she thought. 'Why do I care?'
She hit the gas, her heart suddenly racing. 'I need to get to the office first. We can't be seen walking in together.'
Her car sped out of the gate and she didn't look back.
By the time Anastasia arrived at the office, she had already rehearsed everything she needed to do today. No room for mistakes.
She stepped out, smoothed her blazer, and walked straight to the elevator. Just as she reached to press the button, she heard a cheerful voice behind her.
"Good morning, Anastasia!"
She turned to see Sandra walking toward her with a smile.
"Morning, Sandra," she replied and they entered the elevator together.
"You look tense," Sandra said, raising an eyebrow.
"Long night," Anastasia replied shortly.
Sandra didn't press further. They reached their floor, and the moment they stepped into the office, the atmosphere was different, louder, faster.
The department chief walked in and clapped his hands to get everyone's attention.
"Listen up, everyone! We have a huge target today. No slacking. I want progress reports by end of day. Get to work!"
The staff scattered back to their desks.
The chief's eyes scanned the room before landing on Anastasia's desk. He walked toward her slowly.
Anastasia noticed and quickly stood.
"Yes, sir?" she said, trying to sound composed.
"What are you working on?" His voice was calm, but his presence made everyone alert.
"I'll be working on the proposal from the last board meeting… the COO assigned it to me."
"Are you sure you can handle it?" He raised a brow.
'This is my chance. I have to make this count,' she thought.
"Yes, sir. I'm confident. I'll make sure it's a success."
"Very well," he gave a slight nod. "Get to it."
Once he left, she sank into her chair, releasing a breath she didn't know she was holding.
Before she could gather her thoughts, Sandra appeared at her desk.
"What are you working on?" she asked, her voice low. Anastasia then slid the document toward her.
"Wow," Sandra's eyes widened. "This is huge."
"I know," Anastasia replied, scanning the first page again.
"Are you handling it alone?"
"Apparently," she said with a half-smile. "I'll do my best."
Sandra leaned in slightly, pulled out a small notepad, and scribbled a name. She tore off the piece of paper and handed it to Anastasia.
"Who's this?" Anastasia asked.
"He's the CEO of Alfonso Group. Our company's been chasing him for a partnership for over a year. If you get him to invest in your project… you'll be a star."
Anastasia stared at the name on the paper: "Alfonso Martinez".
She blinked, then looked up at Sandra. "Even our top guys couldn't convince him. What makes you think I can?"
"Well," Sandra shrugged with a smile. "You've got something they don't."
"Like what?"
"Heart.... Honesty. And a damn good reason to win."
Anastasia held the paper tightly.
"You never know until you try," Sandra added before returning to her desk.
Alfonso Martinez. The name echoed in her mind.
'He's the key,' she thought. 'If I land this deal… I can secure my place here. I can break free. I can pay Mason back. I can walk away for good.'
But her heart was racing again. Because she knew what it meant to approach someone like him.
Alfonso was known to be ruthless, sharp, and nearly impossible to impress.
He didn't fall for flashy presentations or empty promises. He wanted results, vision, and authenticity.
And if she messed this up… it could destroy everything. Still, she sat up straighter, opened her laptop, and began typing her ideas.
She wouldn't back down...
"Alfonso Martinez…" She glanced once more at the name on the paper and whispered under her breath. "So, you are the key to the success of this project… but how do I get you on board?"
Anastasia had been at her desk for over an hour, her eyes locked on her laptop screen.
She had one earplug in, listening to an interview on the Internet, while her other ear remained alert to her surroundings.
She scribbled notes beside her as she listened to Alfonso Martinez speak in a slow, calm voice.
"Business is never just about money. It's about the people you trust, the risks you take, and the vision you believe in."
She paused the video, leaned back slightly, and whispered to herself again, "So… he values loyalty and vision. He's not just about profits."
She continued to scroll through several news articles about his company, Alfonso Group.
The man was a ghost socially but a lion in the business world. He rarely gave interviews, but when he did, people paid attention.
'Renewable energy, green technology, education… he only invests in things with a future. No wonder our company is chasing him.'
She didn't even notice when the office suddenly fell quiet. Everyone had stood up. Mason Harrington had just entered the floor.
It was the first time in years he had personally stepped into the general staff office.
He didn't say anything at first, just stood near the entrance, his sharp eyes scanning the room.
His assistant, Daniel, followed closely behind him.
Finally, Mason's eyes landed on Anastasia, the only one still seated, completely lost in her research.
Sandra, noticing the awkward scene, quickly moved toward her and gently tapped her shoulder.
"Anastasia," she whispered, alarmed.
Anastasia looked up, confused, then her eyes widened.
Mason was standing there. Staring straight at her.
She immediately jumped to her feet. "Go...good morning, Sir," she said quickly, her voice slightly shaky.
Mason didn't return the greeting. Instead, with his usual cold tone, he said, "Meet me in my office," and turned to walk away.
The whole room released a collective breath once he was gone. Then, Sandra leaned in.
"Girl… what were you doing? That man looked like he wanted to set someone on fire."
"It's fine." Anastasia gave her a tiny smile.
"It's not fine! Mason Harrington wants you in his office. That's never good."
But Anastasia was already walking away while her mind spun with possibilities. 'Is it about the project? Did he hear something? Am I already in trouble?'
She got to his office door and knocked lightly.
"Come in," his voice said from the other side. She walked in quietly, her back straight as she saw Daniel standing at the side.
"Daniel, you can go. I'll call you when I need you," Mason said without taking his eyes off Anastasia.
Daniel nodded and stepped out.
Once the door closed, Mason looked at her for a long moment. She couldn't read his face.
"I called you here to help you save face," he began. His voice was calm but stern. "If you know you can't handle that new project, it's better to back out now."
Anastasia stood frozen for a second. Then her thoughts started racing.
'He doesn't believe I can do it… not even a chance. He thinks I'll fail before I've even begun.'
But she kept her expression steady.
"If I may ask… why do you think I can't handle it?"
Mason leaned slightly against his desk, his eyes never leaving hers.
"Very simple. You're new. You've never led a project, not even a small one. And now they've dumped the most delicate project on your table."
He paused for a second before continuing.
"Doesn't that feel suspicious to you? Someone might be setting you up to fail… just to get to me."
He walked slowly toward her, stopping a short distance away.
Anastasia's heartbeat quickened. She could feel the pressure, but she wasn't going to fold.
"I don't know the history between you and the COO," she said calmly, "but I intend to give this project everything I have. I won't give up before I begin."
Mason narrowed his eyes slightly. There was a pause, and then he spoke.
"Good. But know this, there's no room for failure here. The same board members who applauded you during the presentation… will tear you down if you don't deliver. They'll tear you apart and throw you out."
His words were sharp, cold, but it was the truth and it landed hard. Anastasia felt a chill run down her spine, but she didn't flinch.
"Yes, Sir," she replied. "I understand. I won't fail."
Mason nodded once, returning to his seat.
"You may go now."
Anastasia turned, walked to the door, and stepped out.
The moment the door closed behind her, she finally let out the breath she had been holding in that office.
Her hands were slightly trembling, but her eyes held fire.
'I cannot fail... I have to make this project a success, and I need Alfonso Martinez for that!'
With that thought, she walked back toward her desk and was ready to fight...