Chapter 6: First Impression.

Bella pov.

It was morning already, I barely had any sleep in anticipation of tomorrow and agony from the pain of these past days.

I got up and freshened up, putting on my neatly ironed corporate wear. I accessorised, did a very light makeup needing to look very appealing to the eyes.

I stared at the mirror for moments making sure I hadn't missed the slightest details. After observing for a while I gave a light smile as I sprayed my perfume on feminine spots giving off a very soft, sweet and cool fragrance then I was ready to go. I left the hotel feeling like a queen bird free from it's cage.

I stood outside the office building, taking a deep breath to calm my nerves. I had spent hours preparing for this moment, researching the company, and perfecting my professional attire.

As I walked in, I was immediately struck by the modern decor and bustling atmosphere, I was so shocked I didn't notice all this yesterday. I made my way to the reception desk, where a friendly face greeted me.

"Hi, you must be Bella! Welcome to the team. I'm Karen, the HR manager. Let me show you to your desk."

As I followed Karen, I couldn't help but notice the curious glances from my new colleagues. I felt a flutter in my chest, hoping to make a good impression.

We reached my workstation, and Karen introduced me to my team members. That's when I saw him - Alex, the CEO, standing by the window, his eyes fixed on me. For a moment, our gazes locked, and I felt a jolt of electricity run through my veins.

But as quickly as it began, the moment ended. He turned back to his conversation, leaving me feeling both intrigued and intimidated. I pushed the feeling aside, focusing on getting settled and starting my new job on the right foot.

I settled into my new workstation, taking a moment to organize my desk and familiarize myself with the computer system. Karen, the HR manager, had given me a thorough tour and introduction to the team, but I was eager to get started on my actual tasks.

As Alex's secretary, my first order of business was to report to his office and receive my assignments for the day. I took a deep breath, smoothing out my dress and making my way to his office.

I knocked on the door, and his deep voice called out, "Come in."

I entered, trying to exude confidence. Alex looked up from his papers, his eyes narrowing slightly as he took in my appearance.

"Good morning, Bella. Welcome to your first day as my secretary."

I smiled, trying to break the ice. "Good morning, Alex. I'm excited to get started."

He nodded curtly, gesturing to the chair in front of his desk. "Please, sit down. I have a few tasks for you to tackle this morning."

I sat, pulling out my notebook and pen, ready to take notes.

"Firstly, I need you to schedule a meeting with the marketing team for this afternoon. Then, I need you to prepare a report on last quarter's sales figures. And finally, I need you to book a flight to New York for my trip next week."

I nodded, scribbling furiously as he spoke. "Got it. Anything else?"

He leaned back in his chair, his eyes seeming to bore into mine. "Just one more thing, Bella. Discretion is key in this role. I expect confidentiality at all times."

I felt a shiver run down my spine at his intense gaze, but I nodded firmly. "Of course, Alex. I understand."

'This would be harder than I thought he seemed more friendly yesterday. 'I guess he is a work serious type.' I thought to myself.

As I turned to leave, I couldn't help but sneak a glance at Alex. He was still sitting behind his desk, his eyes fixed on some papers in front of him. I felt a sudden surge of confidence and decided to turn slightly back to him.

"Alex?" I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

He looked up, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Yes, Bella?"

I took a deep breath, trying to sound casual. "I just wanted to say... you look very handsome today."

For a moment, he seemed taken aback. Then, a hint of a smile played on his lips. "Thank you, Bella. That's... unexpected."

I felt my cheeks flush, but I tried to play it cool. "Just thought I'd say it. Have a great day, Alex."

With that, I turned and quickly exited his office. Complementing my CEO must be very absurd but I didn't have the liberty of time. I need Alex to fall for me quickly and cause of this I am going to be bold and quirky as possible.

As I walked back to my desk, I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and accomplishment. I had taken a risk by complimenting Alex, but it felt liberating. I settled into my chair and started working on the tasks he had assigned me, but my mind kept wandering back to his reaction.

A few minutes later, my phone buzzed. It was Alex's extension. My heart skipped a beat as I picked up.

"Bella, can you come back to my office for a moment?" he asked, his voice low and smooth.

I felt a flutter in my chest. "Of course, Alex. Right away."

I made my way back to his office, wondering what he wanted to discuss. When I entered, he looked up from his papers and smiled.

"Bella, I have to say, I'm impressed. Your boldness is... refreshing. I think we're going to get along just fine."

My heart soared, 'it worked!' I registered at heart.

"Yes definitely." I replied

As the morning wore on, I found myself glancing at the clock every few minutes, eager for lunchtime to arrive. I had been working diligently on the reports Alex had assigned me, and I was proud of the progress I had made.

Just as I was finishing up a particularly complex spreadsheet, Alex emerged from his office. "Bella, it's time for lunch. You've been working hard this morning."

I smiled, feeling a sense of accomplishment. "Thank you, Alex. I'm glad I could make a good impression."

He nodded, his eyes lit up. "You certainly have. Which brings me to... would you like to join me for lunch?"

My heart skipped a beat. I hadn't expected him to ask me to lunch! But then I realized he was just being kind, and I shouldn't read too much into it, my heart shouldn't be the one skipping it should be his.

"Actually, Alex, I was thinking of asking you the same thing," I said, trying to sound casual. "Would you like to eat lunch with me?"

He raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by my boldness. But then a slow smile spread across his face. "I'd love to, Bella. Let's go."

'Alex do you usually eat your meal's in the cafeteria?" I was moved to ask.

"Yeah I do but I eat alone in the VIP area, just decided to give eating with someone a try today." He stated .

"You know what! let's eat out, what do you say?" I let out

"Okay" he replied.

I took him to a bistro I had seen on my way to work, it was very close to the company. As we settled into our seat the warm sunshine and gentle breeze making for a perfect lunch setting. We ordered sandwiches and salads, Alex shared stories about the office, regaling me with tales of past triumphs and mishaps. I listened intently, my eyes locked on his.

As he spoke, I decided to try the "triangle method" I had read about – maintaining eye contact, nodding to show interest, and tilting my head to build rapport. I gazed deep into his eyes, my expression engaged and fascinated.

Alex seemed to open up, sharing more and more about himself. He spoke about a particularly challenging project, his eyes clouding over as he recalled the obstacles they had faced. I nodded sympathetically, my eyes never leaving his.

As he talked, I could sense a connection building between us. It was as if the rest of the world had melted away, leaving only the two of us, lost in conversation.

At one point, Alex caught me staring at him, my gaze intense. He paused, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Bella, you're very... focused," he said,

I felt a flush rise to my cheeks, but I didn't look away. "I'm just interested, Alex," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

He held my gaze for a moment, then nodded and continued his story. I knew I had him hooked. The triangle method was working its magic!

Alex already seemed interested in me from yesterday so that made everything so easy, today was my first day at work and Alex and I were already bonding. This was all part of my strategy,

'First I was going to go all in with my false feelings, hinting at it with my every move then stop completely, making him confused was my second.' I thought as I gave a light smile as I broke the stare to take a bite from my meal