Amanda barely slept that night. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Greyson Black's piercing gaze, heard the weight of his words: Don't disappoint me. It was both a warning and a challenge, and she wasn't sure which unsettled her more.
The next morning, she arrived at Black Enterprises early, determined to prove herself. The office buzzed with quiet efficiency — assistants moving briskly, phones ringing, the hum of ambition filling the air. Yet when Amanda stepped into Greyson's private floor, the atmosphere shifted. It was quieter, sharper, as though the very walls carried his authority.
Greyson was already there, standing by the window with a cup of black coffee in hand. The skyline stretched behind him, a kingdom he seemed to own. He turned when she entered, his expression unreadable.
"You're early," he said.
"I wanted to be prepared," Amanda replied, her voice steadier than she felt.
He studied her for a long moment, then gestured toward a stack of files on his desk. "Preparation is good. Execution is better. These are contracts for the upcoming merger. Organize them, highlight discrepancies, and have a summary ready by noon."
Amanda nodded, taking the files. As she settled at her desk, she felt his gaze linger — not intrusive, but watchful, as though he were measuring her every move.
Hours passed in a blur of paperwork and concentration. Amanda lost herself in the rhythm of sorting, analyzing, and typing notes. When she finally looked up, Greyson was leaning against his desk, arms crossed, observing her.
"You're thorough," he said. "Most assistants would have skimmed. You didn't."
Amanda flushed slightly. "I thought accuracy mattered."
"It does. More than you know." His tone softened, just barely. "Most people in this building want power. You... you want to prove yourself."
Amanda hesitated, unsure how to respond. "Is that a bad thing?"
Greyson's lips curved into something that resembled a smile, though it carried a shadow of sadness. "No. It's... refreshing."
The silence stretched between them, charged with something Amanda couldn't quite name. She felt the weight of his presence, the intensity of his focus, and for a moment, the office seemed smaller, the city beyond the glass fading into nothing.
Then, as if catching himself, Greyson straightened. "That will be all for today. Go home, Miss Evans. Rest. Tomorrow will be harder."
Amanda gathered her things, her pulse quickening. As she left his office, she couldn't shake the feeling that beneath Greyson Black's polished exterior was a man far more complex — and far more dangerous to her heart — than she had imagined.