**Chapter 5**
**Ferdinand's Point of View**
I stepped out of my car, slamming the door behind me, while the security guard hurried to park my vehicle. I adjusted my tailored dark jacket and straightened the collar with my usual obsessive precision. My sunglasses hid my eyes, but not the glint of satisfaction crossing my face.
Before me stood my pride: **Maison Bellaflorence**, my textile empire, tangible proof of my power. No competitor had ever matched my innovations or the quality of creations coming out of these walls. It wasn't just a company: it was a jewel, a treasure, an economic weapon that belonged to me, body and soul.
A cold smile brushed my lips. I was untouchable, and every stone of this building testified to my supremacy.
I pulled my phone from my pocket, answered a call, and continued walking toward the main entrance. My stride was confident, measured, fit for a king approaching his throne. Nothing must disturb this daily ritual.
Nothing… except that, on the steps, a **tousle of brown hair** suddenly collided with me.
The shock, light but unexpected, shattered my focus. A dull anger surged immediately, consuming and brutal. How dare anyone touch me? Me, Ferdinand Anton, whom no one approached without invitation?
I stiffened, clenching my jaw. Before me, a young woman bent hurriedly to pick up her things. The wind had risen, scattering her papers in a flurry of white sheets that fluttered like butterflies.
— I'm sorry! Oh my God, pardon… I wasn't looking where I was going!
Her soft, almost trembling voice slipped into my mind like a forbidden melody. I wanted to push her away, crush her, yet it resonated in me with an insistence I didn't understand.
A sheet landed at my feet. I bent down slowly, picked it up, and glanced at its contents. It was her résumé. Perfect, organized, impressive. I lifted my head just as her face fully came into view.
And then, my world tilted.
Her features, her beauty… she resembled **Elise**. Indistinguishably so. My stomach twisted in a mix of rage and pain. I immediately hated this stranger. How dare she carry that face? How dare she awaken my memories?
I hated her already. Hated her enough to want to destroy her.
— I'm truly sorry, she continued, her voice even softer. I… I didn't mean to…
I didn't respond. I stared, jaw clenched, unable to look away. Her hair shone in the sunlight, and her eyes… those pale blue eyes that seemed to pierce my icy armor. Part of me wanted to let her go, spare her the suffering I had sworn to inflict on women. But another, darker, crueler part of me thought she would be perfect for that role.
— Why are you here? I finally asked, in a low, cold voice.
She swallowed, uneasy, but found the courage to answer:
— For… for the assistant secretary interview. But… it's failed.
Her shoulders slumped, and I saw in her eyes the genuine distress of someone who needed this job. I read in her gaze a deep fatigue, a resignation that was not feigned. And I found it amusing.
Her résumé was solid, nearly flawless. Her desperate situation made the whole thing… even more interesting.
Perfect.
— Follow me, I ordered, sharply.
She looked at me, incredulous, lips parted. But I didn't repeat myself. I turned on my heels, and she, hesitant, eventually followed.
The game could begin.
---
**Elenie's Point of View**
When I passed through the doors of **Maison Bellaflorence** again, alongside this man with the icy beauty, I felt all eyes turn toward us. The employees, the secretaries, even the guards… everyone widened their eyes, astonished. I didn't understand why.
Then, a disturbing detail: everyone, without exception, bowed their heads before him. As if his mere presence demanded submission and respect.
I walked beside him, tiny and trembling. My heart pounded so hard it thudded against my chest.
In the elevator, the air became stifling. I heard the clicks of the buttons he pressed with assured gestures. I wanted to ask who he was, but my throat tightened. No sound came out. His presence intimidated me; his aura crushed me.
When the doors opened, we entered a vast floor where workers busied themselves around gigantic machines. The automated looms purred, and the sound of textiles in production filled the air. Everyone bowed almost instinctively at his passage.
— Good morning, sir! they whispered, respectfully.
My mind spun. Who was he?
We took another elevator. I began to lose my bearings, as if this building were a labyrinth designed to disorient me. My breath came short.
Finally, we reached a quiet, isolated floor. In front of us, a massive door opened automatically. I followed the man, my legs weak.
The interior was… indescribable. An immense, modern office, glass from floor to ceiling, offering a spectacular view of **New York**. The city stretched below me, majestic, glittering.
— My God… I breathed, amazed.
I was still lost in admiration when his icy voice broke the silence:
— You're hired.
I thought my heart stopped. My eyes widened, and my hand flew to my mouth, stifling a cry of surprise.
— Hired? I repeated, incredulous.
He showed no emotion. His voice was sharp, distant, like a blade. But it didn't matter! The verdict was out: I had the position.
— When… when do I start? I asked, my voice trembling with excitement. And I'll be the secretary of… whom?
He slowly removed his sunglasses, plunging his cold gaze into mine. My knees almost buckled under the intensity of his eyes. I had never seen a man of such icy beauty, such coldness. He chilled me to the bone, literally.
But I straightened. I could not give up now. Not after everything I had been through.
— It's not important, he replied tersely. You will be Mr. Ferdinand Anton's assistant, the head of this company. He will be here on Monday.
I let out a long sigh of relief. Thank God… at least it wasn't him. That stranger with the arrogant, cold, sharp gaze would not be my future boss. I didn't want to work by his side.
I leaned slightly, hands clasped:
— Thank you for this opportunity. I will do everything not to disappoint my future boss.
He didn't respond. Not a word, not a gesture. The silence became heavy.
I took a breath and added, timidly:
— I… I will leave now.
I moved toward the door. Before I could touch it, it opened on its own with a hiss. I took a step, relieved, when his icy voice cut me off:
— Don't come dressed like some common thing on Monday. If you want to keep this job.
My eyes filled with tears. I said nothing, but every word echoed in my mind like a slap. I left the room, heart heavy but determined.
He didn't know who I was. He didn't know what I had been thro
ugh. And I didn't yet know who he was…
But deep down, I felt that this man was about to turn my life upside down.