Chapter 1

Lenore's POV

“We need to talk, Dad. I faced my dad in our big, old house, filled with the smell of books and wood. I took a deep breath and said, “Dad, I want to make my way. I don’t want people to think I’m just a rich kid.”

My dad looked at me, surprised. “Lenore, you have everything here. Why go out into the tough world?”

“Because I need to show that I’m more than just a heiress. I want to work for my success,” I replied, feeling strong.

We argued back and forth, our voices echoing in the room. But in the end, my dad’s eyes softened. “Okay, Lenore. If you want to learn, go ahead.” He gave me a card. “Start with this company. Show them what you’re made of.”

I looked at the card—Knight Industries. It belonged to Dad's friend, so I heard. “But Dad, I can't work at a friend's company; this isn't what I want to do.

“The only way I can let you have your way is if you apply there. More objections, and I'd have you grounded," my dad said without looking at me.

I felt like my dad knew something he wasn’t saying. The Reed name was powerful, but Knight Industries was like a giant. It was a company I always thought I would bring down once I started my own.

At night, I applied online for a secretary job at Knight Industries. I used a different name, ‘Lena Reed’, and made up some of my past jobs. I wanted to start from the bottom and show my real worth later.

The next day, I walked into the company, ready to work hard. But surprisingly, there was a long queue of people waiting for the job. Unsure of what next, a woman stopped me by the door and asked me what I was there for. I told her I applied for a job and led me to sit amongst the crowded people. She asked for my name, and I told her. “Lena Reed, I said, and she gave me a tag asking me to sit and wait to be called on.

I stood there, in Knight Industries, feeling like a tiny fish in a vast ocean. My heart was thumping so loud, I was sure everyone could hear it. I was ‘Lena Reed’ now, not Lenore, the heiress of Reed Enterprises. I had to prove myself and show that I wasn’t just some rich kid riding on her daddy’s coattails.

The office was buzzing like a beehive, people rushing about, papers flying. It was loud, and it looked like everyone was trying to get their work in order. A huge man walked out with his tie partially loosened and signaled to the woman who gave me the tag. “Ms. Reed,” she called out, and I nearly jumped out of my skin. “Come with me." I followed the woman and entered the office, and there he was—the man had peeped out earlier. He had this aura like he owned the place—well, he did—but it was more than that. He was the perfect example of my dream man, and my eyes couldn't resist looking at him. He was seated like he was the king of his castle, and we were all just living in it.

His office was like something out of a movie, all sleek and shiny. He handed me a file, his eyes locked on mine. “Summarize this. You’ve got half an hour.”

My mind raced as I flipped through the pages. Numbers, charts, and words seemed to dance before my eyes. I scribbled down notes, my hand cramping up. Time was slipping away, and I could feel his gaze burning into my back.

“Time’s up,” he announced, and I handed him my summary, trying to keep my hand from shaking. He read it, his face giving nothing away. Then, out of nowhere, he said, “Something is wrong, can you explain your CV?

My heart raced. Did my dad tell him who I was? Or was this just the first challenge I had to face? “My CV explains it all, sir; I intend to work hard if you hire me," I said and fumbled with my hands.

“I'm sure that's not an answer to my question, Miss—he looked at my CV and looked back at me before he said "Reed." With your academic qualifications, you should aim to be the head of a company, so why want to be a secretary? He asked, this time staring intensely at me.

“Well, I mumbled, my voice shaking. I—the door opened, and the woman who gave me the name tag came in, interrupting us.

“My apologies, sir, for intruding, but Mr. Donovan is here; should I ask him to wait? She asked and waited for his signal.

“Send him in," he said to her, and she left. I thanked the woman under my breath because any more words and I would have been caught.

“You can leave now; you'll be informed in due time if you are hired," he said and ushered me out.

As I made my way to leave, my eyes briefly screened the nameplate on his table and saw “Trent Knight, CEO.

“Trent, not so bad," I smiled and thought to myself. He gave me a soft smile before I left, and that weirdly made my heart flutter.

I walked out of there on cloud nine. But then, bam! I ran into Mr. Donovan, my dad’s arch-enemy. “Lenore Reed, what are you doing here?” he sneered.

I had to think fast. “Oh, I’m just helping a friend,” I lied smoothly. He seemed to buy it, but I knew I was walking on thin ice.

“How's your father doing? Does he seem well? He asked me.

“Yes, he is," I replied and increased my pace. He would be the worst person to find out I was here. I can't afford to have my identity blown. I walked faster and did not look back, hoping he wouldn't have anything else to ask.

The woman who walked me into Trent's office stopped me. “Excuse me, you can't wear the application tag out of the office.”.