Aria Sarmiento clutched her purse as she stepped into the main office of Velasco Empire Holdings. The sunlight bounced off the glass walls, making the space look cold, pristine, and untouchable just like the man she was about to meet.
Her first day as the new executive secretary wasn't supposed to be nerve wracking. She had done her research, memorized every name and department, and even rehearsed a polite smile. But as soon as she saw the man behind the massive mahogany desk, all preparation evaporated.
Lucien Alaric Velasco leaned back in his chair, one ankle resting on the other knee, eyes scanning a report like a predator assessing his prey. He looked up briefly, barely acknowledging her presence, and then returned to his documents.
Aria swallowed. "Good morning, sir," she said, her voice steadier than she felt.
His eyes flicked up, sharp and gray, cutting through her as though he could see every hidden thought. "Miss Sarmiento," he said, his tone flat but chilling. "You're late."
Her stomach dropped. She checked her watch, then glanced at her notes. "I… I arrived at exactly 8:00, sir, as instructed."
Lucien didn't reply. He just stared. Long. Heavy. The kind of stare that made her heart race and her palms sweat. "Sit," he finally commanded. The word was simple, but it carried authority that made her want to obey without question.
Aria perched on the chair opposite his desk, trying not to tremble. She had imagined the first day being awkward, maybe intimidating but never this. Lucien's presence was like a storm contained in a man: silent, dangerous, and full of unspoken power.
"I assume you've reviewed the company protocols," he said, not looking up.
"Yes, sir," she replied, fumbling to keep her notebook on her lap. "I've read all the employee handbooks, the executive schedule, and—"
He cut her off with a hand. "I didn't hire you to recite manuals. You're here because you can handle things the others can't. Don't fail me."
Aria's pulse quickened. The words should have been motivating, but in his tone, they felt like a warning. One wrong move, and she could lose this opportunity or worse.
Over the next hour, she followed him from meeting to meeting, silently observing how he moved through the office: precise, commanding, unyielding. Everyone in the room shifted when he spoke, some visibly nervous, some simply resigned. And Aria realized: this wasn't just a man in charge this was a man who ruled, and she had just stepped into his world.
At lunch, she found herself alone in the break room, trying to steady her racing thoughts. Her phone buzzed a text from her best friend: How's the first day? Surviving the CEO's wrath yet?
Aria smirked nervously and typed back: Barely… he's… intimidating.
Her reflection in the coffee machine glass startled her. She looked tired already. And she hadn't even faced the worst part.
That afternoon, Lucien called her to his office. Her stomach sank as she stepped inside. He was leaning over his desk now, reviewing a file. Without looking up, he said:
"Make sure every client's report is ready for the board meeting tomorrow. And Miss Sarmiento…"
"Yes, sir?"
He finally met her eyes. Gray. Piercing. Dark. Dangerous.
"Do not make me repeat myself."
Aria nodded, heart hammering. She knew this was more than just a warning. This was the beginning of something she couldn't yet name.
And deep down, she feared it and secretly craved it.