Aliyah's three days off had ended. She'd spent nearly every hour at the hospital—watching her father, feeding him, quietly hoping.
She tried calling her mother, Serena, but her phone was always unreachable.
Still, there was a small, guilty relief in that—she wasn't quite ready for that conversation anyway.
That morning, she slicked her hair into its usual ponytail and slipped on a soft yellow blouse with white petal buttons, fitted to her curves.
Her floral skirt hugged her waist and flowed gently over her hips, brushing just below her knees.
By the time she walked out the door, she didn't just look ready for work—she looked unforgettable.
She walked to the back of her car and observed her slightly crushed bumper.
That jerk didn't even bother to call… she reflected, before slipping into the driver's seat.
When she got to work, her coworkers gave her the same judgmental looks they always did—eyes lingering a little too long with whispers.
She had grown used to it.
She made her way to her desk, tucked in a corner of the open-plan office, a small cubicle surrounded by low walls and the hum of ringing phones and typing keyboards.
Her desk was neat as always, papers stacked in one corner with a few personal touches—a framed photo of her and her father on the edge and a small potted plant for a touch of green.
She pulled her chair out and sat down, setting her bag beside her.
Another eight hours of torture, she thought.
"The CEO wants us to gather in the conference room for the announcement of the new COO," their office manager announced in a sharp voice, her tone leaving no room for questions.
Aliyah stood up, her movements sluggish as she joined the others, making her way to the conference room.
A coworker caught up with her. "I heard your dad's condition worsen?" Alice asked in a straight face.
"I'm sorry, Liyah," she added, her expression softening for a moment. "Maybe it's for the best. At least then you can spend money on more expensive clothes, instead of all those hospital bills."
Aliyah increased her pace, leaving Alice behind her without a word.
By the time she entered the conference room, the staff had already settled in silence.
Moments later, the door opened, and in walked the CEO—Mrs. Evans, the commanding younger sister of Mr. Damon Sinclair.
At her side was someone Aliyah hadn't expected to see. Alexander Sinclair.
Their eyes locked across the room, his expression was unreadable—hers, wide with surprise.
"I'd like to formally introduce Mr. Alexander Sinclair," Mrs. Evans said, her voice steady. "Étoile Management's new Chief Operating Officer."
Aliyah barely heard the rest, drowned out by the thoughts in her head.
Her mind raced back to the other day—to how she'd spoken to him, the attitude she gave, the assumptions she made.
And now, here he was… her new COO.
Alexander didn't leave his office after the conference room introduction.
He was still adjusting to the new environment—one he'd deliberately avoided for most of his life. In the past, he rarely set foot in Étoile, always keeping a careful distance from anything tied to his father.
Remaining out of reach, focusing on his own firms, had been his way of preserving peace, especially when it came to Damon Sinclair.
But now something tugged at his attention.
He wanted to know more about her.
What had pushed her that far to the rooftop, the secrets and pressures in these halls that could drive someone to the edge, although his curiosity was deeper.
There was something that pulled him in.
She wasn't his type—far from it. He preferred polished, self-assured women who fit into his world. Aliyah was raw, unpredictable—chaos he never let in.
It left him feeling conflicted.
He hated being drawn to things that didn't belong in his controlled world—yet somehow, they always pulled him in.
Alexander sat at his desk, tapping a pen against his notebook—he needed to know Aliyah's role in the company better.
He picked up the phone and dialed the Office Manager in the Human Resources department. The phone rang twice before a sharp, professional voice answered.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Sinclair. How can I help you today?"
"Afternoon," Alexander replied, leaning back in his chair. "Back in the conference room. The staff who was wearing a yellow shirt, or was it a blouse? With her hair in a ponytail…"
"That would be our administrative assistant, Aliyah Archer," she quickly replied.
Aliyah… The name echoed in his mind.
She does look like an Aliyah, he thought.
He wanted to ask more about her, but changed his mind in a swift second.
"Send her in," he said calmly.
A few minutes after the call, Alexander heard a soft knock on his office door.
Soft, just like her body, he told himself.
"Come in," he sounded as professional as he could.
Aliyah entered quickly, closing the door behind her.
Alexander's gaze lifted, and for a moment, he simply looked at her, really looked.
Up close with nothing distracting him, he realized how feminine her figure looked.
There was something both soft and strong about her—delicate, but not fragile.
He felt an urge to ask about the rooftop, but he stopped himself.
He let out a low chuckle. "I'm really sorry for bumping into your bumper," he said, then paused, realizing the awkward repetition. That made him laugh a little harder.
Aliyah's face was unreadable and straight.
"Mr. Sinclair," she finally spoke, her voice flat.
Unpleased by her formality, Alexander straightened up and cleared his throat. "I'll have my assistant reach out shortly to settle everything about your car."
"There's no need, sir." Her voice was low but clear.
"You don't seem too thrilled about your new COO, Miss Archer," he said, watching her closely.
Alexander felt an urge to be closer to her.
He stood and stepped closer, stopping just inches from her.
Up close, his height made her seem small beside him.