3. Attraction and Distrust

Jacob's POV

I stood by the window of my office, gazing at the bustling cityscape of Toronto. For some reason, I couldn't shake the memories of my first meeting with my new assistant Rima yesterday and the bustling café filled with strangers. It was strange – I never paid much attention to the women around me, having built a fortress around my heart. I have always preferred fleeting one night stands over relationships, knowing that no woman would ever put up with my relentless work schedule and inability to take a day off, even on weekends.

That fateful day, I was supposed to be working. But, frustrated by the lack of an assistant, I decided to take a break at the café for a change of scenery. I planned to return home and continue working, but as soon as I saw her, my focus shifted. I couldn't help but observe every little detail about her. Her delicate beauty stood out to me, and although she might not meet the standards of the modeling world, there was an allure to her that surpassed any model I had ever encountered.

Rima wore dark jeans, a long-sleeve white sweater, and black converse shoes. Her long, chestnut-brown hair cascaded down her back, ending in gentle waves. She had a layered fringe that really suited her round shaped face. She donned light gold square-framed eyeglasses, but I could still see her mesmerizing hazel eyes from where I sat. As she looked around the café, I noticed a sadness in her eyes that tugged at my heartstrings – it was as if she felt alone in the world, envious of the happiness others shared.

When I saw her resume fall from a stack of papers and realized she was job hunting, I didn't even think about it – I wanted her to have this job. My eyes scanned her lack of experience, and the CEO Jacob Snow would have never looked twice at this resume and decided to hire the person. I had about 30 candidates to interview tomorrow, and they were all filtered to my needs – at least three years of experience, marketing knowledge, and a decent amount of work done, especially in Canadian marketing – and she had none of those. But still, something within me urged me to hire her.

I liked her before I met her, but after that, when I actually did meet her, talk to her, and interact with her, I admired her. That alone baffled me completely because I had never felt anything like that towards any woman, let alone a woman who just happened to walk by me without even trying to catch my attention.

When she had the panic attack yesterday in the car, I felt an instinctive need to protect her. As I held her hands, an electric current seemed to pass between us. Surprisingly, I had never experienced this sensation with any other woman before. I used to think that touching hands was a simple, mundane act—not the magical connection portrayed in movies or books. But with her, it was different. I didn't want to let go, yet I didn't want to make her feel more awkward than she already did after recovering.

When I inquired about the reason behind her attack, it was clear she was trying to hide something. She definitely harbored a secret, but what kind? She seemed to be a secretive person, or perhaps she just didn't trust easily. Regardless, I was determined to earn her trust.

Why was she so special? I had had nearly twenty assistants before her, yet I had never thought even a fraction of the things that crossed my mind since meeting her.

Upon arriving back at the tower where I lived, my housekeeper Tessa greeted her and showed her around the flat. I retreated to my penthouse, not wanting to make her uncomfortable, but I couldn't help but worry. What if she had another panic attack? It was a serious condition that could turn fatal if she didn't know how to control it. I considered asking Tessa to stay with her in the guest bedroom but ultimately dismissed the idea. She was strong, and I had to believe she would be okay.

When I saw her today morning, all bright and excited for her first day, her radiant smile betrayed her happiness. None of my other assistants had ever appeared so enthusiastic on their first day, probably because I had been a strict and demanding CEO to them. Yet, something about her made me soften.

She was a little nervous, uncertain about her new role, and made a few mistakes here and there. Normally, I would have berated an assistant for such errors—even on their first day—sending them away in tears without remorse. But with her, I was entirely different, and it shook me to my core. What on earth was happening to me?

A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts and my analysis of my unusual behavior towards this person I had only met yesterday. I cleared my throat and said in a stern tone "Come in." I needed to regain control of myself, or she would think I was being too friendly and get the wrong idea about who the real CEO Jacob Snow truly was.

Rima walked in, wearing a long-sleeved black dress with a slightly flowy skirt that ended just below her knees. It was a simple dress, really, but on her, it looked anything but ordinary. She informed me that Mr. Demir and his assistant had arrived and that Zach was on his way. She asked if she should attend the meeting with me.

"Yes, make sure you take notes on your iPad and pay attention to the presentation" I said firmly.

She nodded, fetched her iPad, and returned to hold the door open for Mr. Demir and his assistant. We exchanged greetings and handshakes before taking our seats at the conference table. Zach began his presentation on a marketing campaign for their tourism company. If they liked it, we would sign a one-year contract with them. Mr. Demir's tourism company was quickly becoming a leader in Toronto, so it was crucial to impress him.

Zach delivered the information professionally. I had worked with him and a few other employees on the campaign to ensure it met Mr. Demir's expectations. After Zach finished, I turned to Mr. Demir and asked "So, what do you think?"

He gave an approving nod "I think it was pretty perfect. I'm looking forward to working with you for the next year"

"Should we sign the contract now, then?"

"Sure, let's do it."

I had two copies of the contract prepared and ready on my desk. I retrieved them and checked they were correct. Meanwhile, I could hear Mr. Demir and his assistant speaking quietly in Turkish, Mr. Demir's native language. After signing my part, I passed the contracts over to him. He skimmed through the document, signed it, and handed one copy back to me and the other to his assistant. We shook hands, and I said politely "We'll be doing great things together, hopefully”

"I have no doubts" he replied with a smile.

With Mr. Demir and his assistant gone, Zach left as well, leaving me alone with Rima. I handed her the contract and said firmly "Put this in the contracts file"

"Yes, Mr. Snow… " she responded hesitantly. I stopped on my way to my desk and stared at her "Something on your mind?" I asked curiously.

She hesitated, unsure about what she wanted to say. Finally, she asked "How well do you know Mr. Demir? I mean, is this the first time you've signed a contract with him?"

I explained that we had met at a charity ball, had a meeting to discuss his marketing needs, and that this was our first association with him and his company. I asked her why she was curious.

"Well, when you turned around to get the contracts from your desk, his assistant asked him why he was signing the contract instead of telling you what he was really here for"

My eyebrows furrowed as I processed this information.

"How do you know what they were saying? They were speaking in Turkish"

She shrugged "Well, I speak Turkish as well"

"You're just full of surprises, aren't you? Why wasn't that on your resume?" I asked, pretty damn impressed.

She shrugged again and said nonchalantly "I didn't think knowing Turkish would matter here in Canada, so I didn't include it"

"And you're sure that's what he was saying?"

"Yes, I'm sure"

"What did Mr. Demir say to him?"

"He said he liked the presentation, that's all. I don't know, I couldn't help but feel like he wanted something else from you, but I have no idea what it could be. I don't know whether I should have told you that or if it was even relevant, but it seemed a bit odd, that's all"

I considered her words. I had researched Mr. Demir and found no red flags, but I had a feeling Rima was onto something. There was only one explanation for the words she had translated without them knowing. I hoped it wasn't true because if it was, and he was here for something other than his tourism company, we would have a problem.

"You seem to know what his assistant was talking about" she observed.

I dismissed her thoughts in a firm tone "You must be mistaken. He must have been talking about something else, unrelated to me"

She looked away, a bit disappointed, but quickly recovered "You're probably right. I'll go back to my desk. Do you need anything from me?"

I turned my back on her to return to my desk and said "No, you're free to go"

I sank into my chair, feeling the weight of the situation press down on me. My mind raced, trying to piece together the puzzle that Rima had unwittingly stumbled upon. The dark history lurking behind my last name was a secret I had fought hard to bury. Time and again, people had attempted to exploit my past, seeking connections that would benefit them instead of valuing the successful company I had built from the ground up. Each incident left me feeling frustrated and on edge.

For years, I had managed to remain out of the game, distancing myself from the shadowy figure I once was. I had no intention of being pulled back into that world, and I certainly didn’t want Rima to uncover the truth about the man I used to be. I needed her to let go of any suspicions about Demir’s ulterior motives, to keep her focus on our professional roles and nothing more.

But beneath the surface, something didn’t add up. It was as if Mr. Demir had changed his mind, choosing to keep our business dealings strictly focused on his tourism company. Part of me hoped that was the case—that he had decided to abandon any ulterior motives and simply pursue a professional partnership. However, I couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that there might be more to the story, a hidden agenda that threatened to unearth the skeletons I had locked away.

As I sat there, the silence of the room punctuated by the steady ticking of the clock on the wall, I knew that I needed to stay vigilant. I couldn’t afford to let my guard down, not with so much at stake. The life I had built for myself—the company, the reputation, the future I had envisioned—hinged on my ability to keep my past at bay.

Determined to protect what I had worked so hard to achieve, I steeled myself for whatever challenges lay ahead. I would navigate the treacherous waters of this new partnership with caution, always mindful of the dangers that could be lurking just below the surface.