The morning sun spilled through the glass façade of Knight Enterprises, catching every inch of its sleek marble floors and steel accents. The place glimmered like it had been polished by angels—or by interns who feared for their lives.
Lily Carter power-walked across the lobby, clutching her bag with the intensity of someone headed into battle. Her heels clicked too fast against the marble, her blouse was tucked unevenly, and her ponytail had already sprouted a rebel strand that refused to stay put.
Still, she was determined.
Today, she would not screw up.
No tripping over her own feet.
No spilling coffee on expensive suits.
No Marvel fanfiction appearing in Alexander Knight's schedule.
Today, she was going to be Professional Lily.
Or, at least, that was the pep talk she repeated to herself in the elevator like a mantra.
By the time she reached the executive floor, she was practically vibrating with forced confidence. She tossed her bag onto her desk and pulled up her notes.
Step one: Coffee.
-----------------------
She had learned the hard way that Alexander Knight did not mess around with coffee.
"Black. No sugar. No cream. No nonsense," he'd told her on Day One, his tone sharp enough to slice her enthusiasm in half.
It had echoed in her brain ever since, like the world's most terrifying ringtone.
So today, she marched to the espresso machine with the focus of a surgeon.
Black coffee. No sugar. No cream. No nonsense.
The machine whirred, hissing steam into the air as it filled the cup. Lily watched it like a hawk, nodding in approval. "Yes, good job, machine. You and I are a team."
She placed the cup on a tray and turned—only to collide with Melissa, the receptionist, who appeared like a horror-movie jump scare.
"Morning, rookie," Melissa said sweetly, eyeing the coffee cup. "Got his poison ready?"
Lily clutched the tray to her chest. "Yes. And don't call it poison."
Melissa smirked. "Oh, right. Sorry. His elixir of eternal damnation."
Lily rolled her eyes. "Ha-ha. Very funny."
But Melissa wasn't done. "So, have you heard? The betting pool's heating up."
Lily froze. "What betting pool?"
Melissa leaned closer. "How long you'll last. The accountants say you'll quit before Friday. HR thinks you'll break down crying in the bathroom first. Personally? I'm giving you until the end of next week. You've got… spunk."
Lily nearly dropped the tray. "What is wrong with you people?!"
Melissa shrugged. "Corporate survival. We make bets so we don't cry."
Lily muttered under her breath as she marched toward Alex's office. "I'll show them. I'll last. I'll last so hard they'll have to give me a trophy."
-----------------------
She slipped into Alex's office like a nervous spy, setting the coffee on his desk with exaggerated care.
"There you go, Mr. Knight," she announced proudly. "One perfectly serious, no-nonsense coffee."
He didn't look up. He was typing at his laptop, sharp blue eyes focused, every keystroke precise and purposeful.
Without a word, he reached for the cup and took a sip.
Lily held her breath.
One second. Two seconds.
He didn't spit it out. He didn't scowl. He didn't even pause.
He just… kept drinking.
Lily blinked. Wait. What?
"That's… good, right?" she asked nervously.
Alexander set the cup down, finally lifting his gaze to pin her with his stare.
"This is not my usual order."
Lily's stomach dropped. Oh no. Oh no no no—
"I—I knew it," she stammered. "I'm fired. It was the whipped cream, wasn't it? Or the sprinkles? Or—oh God, did it have cinnamon?"
His eyebrow arched. "Whipped cream."
Her soul left her body. "I swear it wasn't intentional! Unless… unless you like whipped cream? Do you? Because if you do, I can totally make that your regular—"
And then it happened.
The tiniest twitch at the corner of his mouth.
Almost invisible. Barely there. But Lily saw it.
Alexander Knight… smirked.
She froze, wide-eyed. "Did you—did you just—?"
"Sit down, Miss Carter," he said flatly, returning to his laptop. "Before you combust."
Lily slumped into the chair across from him, her heart racing.
Did she just… break the Ice King?
-----------------------
The rest of the morning was a blur of schedules, phone calls, and Lily trying not to drown in spreadsheets.
By noon, whispers were already circling the office.
"Did you see her walk in with his jacket this morning?" someone muttered near the water cooler.
"Maybe he didn't fire her because they're—" another voice whispered dramatically.
Lily slammed her folder shut, glaring. "We're not anything!"
The employees scattered like startled pigeons.
Melissa sauntered over, sipping her iced latte. "Denial. Classic stage one."
Lily groaned. "Why does everyone in this building think I'm dating him?!"
Melissa smirked. "Because you're the only one who hasn't run out crying yet."
-----------------------
Later that day, Alex summoned her to accompany him to an investor pitch.
Lily straightened her blazer nervously in the elevator. "So, uh, just to confirm—I sit there, take notes, and don't cause an international incident, right?"
"Correct," Alex said without looking at her.
She exhaled in relief. "Okay. I can do that. I'm basically a ninja of professionalism now."
He finally glanced at her, unimpressed. "You're more like a grenade with a faulty pin."
"Hey!"
The elevator doors slid open before she could defend herself.
The conference hall was packed with suits and high heels, investors mingling under chandeliers, glasses of champagne in hand.
That was when Lily saw him.
Sebastian Brooks.
He was tall, striking, with dark hair and a smile that could probably convince you to hand over your wallet willingly. Unlike Alex's sharp edges, Sebastian radiated charm—too much charm.
"Knight," Sebastian greeted smoothly, his voice dripping with practiced warmth.
"Brooks," Alex replied, clipped and cold.
The tension between them was instant, electric.
Sebastian's gaze flicked to Lily, and his smile widened. "And who might this be?"
Lily adjusted her blazer awkwardly. "I—I'm Lily Carter. His assistant."
Sebastian chuckled. "Assistant. Of course. Interesting choice."
Before Lily could react, Alex's tone dropped several degrees colder.
"She's efficient," he said firmly.
Lily almost choked. Efficient?! Me?!
Sebastian raised his glass in mock salute. "Well then. Good luck today. You'll need it."
He walked away, but not before flashing Lily a smile that sent a chill down her spine.
----------------------- The Meeting
The pitch began, and the atmosphere turned razor-sharp. Charts, figures, projections—all laid out like weapons on the battlefield.
Sebastian's presentation was smooth, practiced, every word polished to perfection. He charmed the investors effortlessly, making jokes, drawing laughs.
Then it was Alex's turn.
Gone was the cold silence. He stood tall, voice strong, slicing through every one of Sebastian's points with brutal efficiency. His logic was airtight, his delivery commanding. Where Sebastian was silk, Alex was steel.
Lily sat frozen in awe, scribbling notes so fast her hand cramped.
Halfway through, she caught Sebastian's eyes on her again. He smiled—too long, too knowingly.
Alex noticed. His jaw tightened, his words sharpening like knives.
By the end of the session, the investors were nodding at Alex's proposal. Sebastian's smile didn't falter, but there was a glint of annoyance in his eyes.
As the meeting adjourned, he leaned close enough for only Alex to hear.
"This isn't over."
Alex's expression didn't change. "It never is."
-----------------------
On the ride back, Lily hugged her notepad to her chest. "Okay, that was… intense."
Alex didn't reply. His gaze was fixed out the window, sharp and distant.
"So, uh…" Lily tried again. "That Sebastian guy. He seems… nice?"
Alex finally turned, pinning her with his stare.
"Men like Sebastian don't smile unless they're hiding teeth."
Lily shivered, clutching her bag tighter.
For the first time, she realized Alexander Knight's ruthlessness wasn't just about arrogance.
It was survival.