Rose stood in front of the tall black building, her hands shaking slightly as she clutched her resume. The glass windows above reflected the grey sky. Her heart thudded inside her chest like a drum. She had heard rumors about the man who owned this place—Arvi, a name spoken in whispers, a man feared by many. But she needed the job. And she had no choice.
Taking a deep breath, she stepped inside. The lobby was cold and silent, too perfect. The woman at the front desk gave her a long stare before pointing her toward the top floor. Rose nodded politely, hiding her nerves behind a forced smile. Inside the elevator, she clenched her hands into fists. You can do this, she told herself.
When the doors opened, a large man in black was waiting. "This way," he said without looking at her. Rose followed, her heels clicking softly against the floor. They stopped in front of a large dark door. He opened it, and she walked inside.
The room was dimly lit, filled with expensive furniture and the faint smell of cigars. Behind the desk sat a man in a dark suit, his face half in shadow. Arvi.
He didn't look up right away. He was reading a file—her file. Finally, his eyes met hers. Cold, sharp, unreadable.
"You're the new assistant?" he asked, voice low, almost bored.
Rose nodded. "Yes. My name is Rose."
"Sit."
She sat, back straight. He watched her for a moment. Then he threw her resume onto the table.
"Perfect grades. Fluent in three languages. Good with numbers. You don't belong here."
"I need the job," she said, quietly but clearly.
He leaned back in his chair, studying her. "You'll follow my rules. No questions. No mistakes. No crying. If you're late even once, you're out."
"I understand."
"You start tomorrow."
She blinked. "I'm hired?"
"I don't waste time."
That was it. No welcome. No handshake. Just orders. As she stood to leave, his voice stopped her.
"One more thing," he said. "Never touch anything that isn't yours. That includes my time."
She nodded and walked out. Her legs felt weak, her chest tight—but she had the job.
What she didn't know was this moment would change everything.
Not just her life.
But his.