Emily's POV
The office was buzzing with chatter.
A colleague tapped me on the shoulder.
"Morning, Emily"
"Good morning"
"Congratulations on being the Staff of the Year, Third time in a row!"
"Thanks"
I got to my workspace and settled down. Clara appeared behind me with a coffee in her hand.
"You're early, Emily!", she said, raising an eyebrow. "Never took you as an early type".
"So as you."
She raised an eyebrow. "So what happened?"She asked.
"I don't get it, what do you mean?"
She leaned closer. "Last month, you were looking like you were going through a hard time. And today you seem different in a good way."
"You're just imagining things," I told her.
"You know I'm not! Tell me, did something good happen?"
I remembered Lucas's gaze, his hands on my skin, the way he looked at me, and touched me.
"You are right, something's changed."
Clara opened her mouth in shock and her eyes widened like a kid given candy. "You met someone. Give me all the tea."
"No," I said too fast. "I mean—no."
She laughed. "I'm not convinced by that".
Just before I could reply to her, a sudden hush fell across the room.
"That must be the new executive." Clara said.
"Everyone, please move to the conference room now" one of the HR executives called out.
"Why does it feel like someone's about to be fired?" someone asked behind me.
"Maybe because that's what is about to happen. If you had heard of him before. He is ruthless!"
Clara leaned toward my ear. "If he's ugly, I am submitting my resignation letter". I almost laughed, only Clara makes small jokes even in the toughest moments.
The HR Manager stepped in and closed the door behind her. "Thank you everyone for coming together on short notice".
"Like we had a choice", Clara said while rolling her eyes.
The door opened again and I didn't turn around, I didn't know why. The room got silent, no whispers but total silence.
And he walked in, like he owned the place.
My pulse started racing.
Lucas Reed
The man I was with last night…was my new boss.
***
An email notification came in around 3:30 pm.
From: Lucas Reed
Subject: Strategy Meeting- 4:30 pm
Attendance is mandatory
"Why are you being called into a strategy meeting? That's for those on a senior level."
"I don't know"
"I am sure you know why." She said suspiciously.
***
Lucas stood at the head of the table in the conference room. Employees from Finance, Marketing, and Operations were present.
And there was I- from the Client Relations Office.
"Why is she here?" I overheard someone whisper.
"The CEO specifically requested her," another replied.
"Let's start the meeting," he said.
There was a presentation from each department. Lucas paid keen attention to each report. I stared into his eyes and they were cold.
The Finance Head stepped forward to present. Lucas cut in with a question while he was in the middle of his presentation. "Is that really the reason-Or just an excuse?"
"Why are you pushing the fault onto the operations department?"
The manager looked shaken already, his hands trembled,as he tried to correct himself properly.
"We are understaffed Sir"
"No you are just incompetent and inefficient," Lucas retorted.
There was tension in the room. "Emily"
"Mr. Reed," I was shocked but composed myself immediately.
"Your department handled the client retention right?"
"Yes Sir"
"How many major accounts did we lose?"
"Three Sir"
"And why is that?" he asked, his eyes piercing into my soul.
"There was a breach in communication from the management above and it resulted in issues."
He paused. "You are saying there is failure in leadership?"
"No," I replied immediately. "There was miscommunication."
His eyes were challenging me and I didn't step back.
"What is the solution then?" He asked me.
"Approval power should be shared among other departments at lower levels to enhance faster decisions."
There were murmurs around the room.
He leaned back into his chair. "Implement them", he ordered.
"Now next"
***
The meeting was over and everyone was packing up.
"Emily, stay," Lucas called out.
I could see the curiosity in the eyes of my colleagues as they were leaving.
When the last person left and shut the door, there was absolute silence in the room that was once filled with chatter.
"You were really bold," he said.
"I was only answering your question."
"You directly challenged the management openly."
"You asked for it when you put me in that tight spot."
He smiled. "Nothing scares you right."
"Yeah"
"That confidence," he said slowly, "will either protect you or put a target on your back."
"From who?"
He didn't say anything at first, he paused.
"My brother"
"You have a brother?"
"Yes," he answered. "And he might join the company soon," he added.
His eyes darkened as he mentioned his brother.
"Is that a threat?" I asked him.
"I am just warning you, Emily."
I folded my arms, confused. "Why are you here exactly?"
"That's none of your concern."
"Everything that involves this branch is my business."
He stepped closer but this time not touching.
"Do you really think you understand what's going on?" he asks softly.
"No"
"Good, you-"
A knock interrupted as he was talking.
It was his assistant.
"The board is on line one,sir ."
The board, which is from the headquarters and may even include the founder of the company.
" I'll take it," his assistant left us.
Lucas slowly exhaled.
"You should go," he said.
I didn't budge.
"Emily."
"What?"
"You don't want to stand too close to me when things get complicated."
"And are they?"
"They always are."
I remained silent, debating whether I should keep up with the stubborn act or not. But for a second, I wasn't looking at CEO Lucas Reed but just Lucas without the professional mask. He looked like he carried a heavy burden.
"Go," he said.
***
I returned to my desk and the air felt different. Clara rushed to me as I had just sat down.
"Tell me, what happened?"
"He has a brother," I told her.
She blinked her eyes.
"Okay and what about it?" She asked
"There's a high chance of him coming."
"Why does it sound like a problem?"
I couldn't tell her it was just my gut. I saw how his face changed. He looked scared and tired at the same time.
***
It was a few minutes to closing time and I could not wait to jump on my bed. Today has been a rollercoaster.
My phone vibrated on the table. A message from an unknown number popped up.
Unknown:
Stay away from him.
I looked up instinctively toward his office. My heart started pounding loudly.
Another message came in from the same number
You have no idea who you're dealing with.
I typed back before I could think.
Who is this?
The reply came almost immediately.
Ask him what happened to his mother.
My blood ran cold.