Chapter 7 - First day disaster

(Gloria)

I took in a deep breath, gripping the leather strap of my bag as I stared up at the massive glass tower of Montclair Advertising. My very first day.

The weight of my mission pressed upon my shoulders. This wasn’t just a job, it was a game of survival, and the stakes were very high. Somehow, I need to walk out of here with a ring on my finger, given by none other than the CEO.

I walked inside, my heels clicking against the polished marble floors, trying to blend in with the sharp dressed employees who looked like they belonged in Forbes magazine.

I didn’t. But I definitelywould.

Before I could find my way to the HR office, a sharp voice cut through the air toward me.

“You. New girl.”

I turned to see a pretty woman in a fitted black dress and stiletto heels that looked capable of stabbing someone. Her sleek black hair was pinned into a perfect bun behind her head, her brown eyes cold and assessing.

“Follow me,” she ordered, already walking away.

I blinked. Wow, no introduction? No ‘Welcome to Montclair Advertising’? Just ‘follow me’?

I hurried after her. “And you are?”

She gave me a sideways glance like I was wasting her time. “Kate. The CEO’s personal assistant.”

Oh. Her.

The woman Eleanor had warned me about.

She led me through a set of towering double doors without knocking.

“Your new secretary is here,” she announced flatly.

I stepped inside after her, and froze.

No. Freaking. Way.

Sitting behind a massive desk, his sleeves rolled up and tie loosened, was him.

Gabriel Montclair.

The man whose drink I’d spilled all over his expensive suit that night at the club. The man who had promised to deal with me.

His piercing blue eyes lifted from his laptop and landed on me.

His face was unreadable. His expression? Devoid of amusement.

I forced a tight lipped smile. “Wow. Small world.”

Gabriel’s jaw tightened. “You.”

Kate’s perfectly arched brow lifted in surprise. “You two know each other?”

Neither of us answered her, the air between us was thick with unspoken words. I straightened my shoulders. “We’ve met.”

“Briefly,” Gabriel said, his voice clipped.

Kate glanced between us, her eyes narrowing. “Huh.”

Gabriel shut his laptop and leaned back into his chair, his arms crossed. “So, you’re my new secretary.”

“Looks like it,” I said, lifting my chin.

His blue eyes glinted. “You planning to spill a drink on me here too?”

I gave him an innocent smile. “Depends. Are you planning to be an ass again?”

Kate sucked in a breath.

Gabriel’s gaze darkened, irritation clouding his features..

He leaned forward. “Watch your attitude, Williams. You work for me now.”

His voice was calm, but the warning was there, clear as day. I wanted to snap back, but Eleanor’s words rang in my head. Keep it professional, gain his trust.

I took in a deep breath. “Duly noted, sir.”

The corner of his mouth twitched like he knew I was forcing the politeness, but he let it slide.

“Kate will show you around,” he said, dismissing me with a wave of his hand.

Kate smirked at me. Yeah, she was going to make my life hell.

I followed her out of the office, biting my tongue. As soon as we reached my desk, she dropped a towering stack of papers in front of me.

“Photocopy all of these,” she said, her voice sugar sweet. “And don’t mess up.”

I stared at the pile. Seriously? This had to be some kind of punishment.

But I refused to let her see me sweat.

I forced a smile. “Of course.”

Kate walked off, and I carried the stack to the copy room.

I found the massive, hightech machine and started feeding in the papers, pressing the button.

The machine purred to life.

Then I noticed something weird.

The screen flashed: SENDING DOCUMENTS.

I frowned. Sending to where?

I pressed the cancel button. Too late.

A notification popped up: Documents forwarded.

No. No, no, no.

Panic surged through me as my throat tightened in fear.

“Hey, new girl,” a voice called from the doorway.

I turned to see a guy peeking in. “Did you just send a bunch of classified files to the IT department?”

My stomach dropped to the floor.

I swallowed hard. “Uh… possibly?”

The guy winced. “Yikes. They’re freaking out. You might wanna fix that.”

Fix it? My hands were sweaty, my heart pounded.

I hurried out of the room, nearly tripping over my own feet as I raced toward the IT department. The moment I stepped inside, a woman with thick glasses glared at me from behind a desk.

“Tell me you didn’t just forward confidential files,” she demanded.

I hesitated. “…I could tell you that.”

Her nostrils flared. “Do you have any idea what you just did?”

“Um. Not entirely?”

She exhaled sharply. “Those files contain sensitive information. If they end up in the wrong hands…”

A deep, dangerous voice interrupted her.

“What the hell is going on here?”

I froze.

Then slowly, I turned.

Gabriel Montclair stood in the doorway, his arms crossed, gaze like ice. My mouth went dry.

The IT woman immediately straightened. “Mr. Montclair, sir, there was a… situation.”

His piercing blue eyes locked onto mine.

“What. Did. You. Do?” he demanded.

I let out a nervous laugh. “Funny story…”

“Not in the mood for funny.” His voice was sharp. “Talk.”

I swallowed. “I may have… accidentally sent some files to the wrong department.”

His jaw clenched. “Which files?”

I hesitated, I didn’t know.

The IT woman answered for me. “Financial reports. Some project blueprints.”

Gabriel’s expression darkened.

I rushed to explain. “It was a mistake! The machine…”

“Don’t blame the machine,” he cut in coldly. “This is your fault.”

I bit my lip. “I can fix it.”

“Can you?” His voice was pure ice.

Before I could answer, the door swung open.

Kate strutted in, her gaze sweeping over the tense scene before settling on Gabriel. “Is there a problem?”

Gabriel didn’t hesitate. “Fire her.”

What?

My stomach dropped again, lower.

Kate smirked, looking like Christmas had come early for her. “With pleasure.”

Oh no. No, no, no.

I panicked, my mind racing. Eleanor had warned me to hold on to this job. And if I got fired on day one, I’d lose everything.

Without thinking, I gasped dramatically and stumbled backward, reaching out for nothing.

Gasps echoed around me as I collapsed onto the floor.

Someone shrieked. “Oh my God!”

A few people rushed forward. Someone else whispered, “Did she just… did she faint?”

Kate groaned. “You have got to be kidding me.”

I kept my eyes closed, willing myself to look as lifeless as possible.

The silence stretched.

Then, Gabriel’s deep voice cut through the chaos.

“Oh, for God’s sake.”

And just like that, I knew, he wasn’t buying it. But I wasn’t about to open my eyes and confirm it. I stayed perfectly still.

Let’s see him fire an unconscious woman.