The Cold Handsome Devil

Ezra glanced at the diversity of ties neatly arranged in his drawer while fastening the cuffs of his shirt. His finger traced the fabric until it settled on a sleek black tie, a choice he loathed but felt compelled to wear as the ceo. The tie, he believed, lent him an air of authority and a certain coldness that he thought was necessary for his role. At the office, he rarely smiled, reserving his humor solely for his sister, who was the only person capable of breaking through his stoic façade.

It had been three years since he last saw her, yet memories of their time together lingered, though he doubted he would recognize her if they crossed paths again. In the year following her disappearance, he had tirelessly searched for her, sharing a sketched picture and even enlisting the help of the police, but when their efforts yielded no results, he resigned himself to the idea of locking away his softer side. He took to heart Scott's advice: "You won't get hurt if you don't fall in love." This mantra transformed him into a man who shunned emotional connections, especially at the club, where he became increasingly distant, avoiding even the most seemingly innocent women. To him, they were deceptive, appearing sweet and demure while hiding their true natures.

Known as The Cold Handsome Devil in the office, he was aware of the moniker but chose to ignore it, embracing the persona that kept him safe from the pain of vulnerability.

Ezra found the saying, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy,” to be quite annoying. He firmly believed that mixing work with play only led to financial loss, which he absolutely could not stand. As a result, he dedicated himself to his job, spending Friday nights at the club with his friend for a few drinks, only to return home and dive back into work. The thought of losing money was something he loathed so much that he wouldn’t hesitate to end a relationship if it meant protecting his finances; he had done it before and wouldn’t shy away from doing it again.

Recently, Queen’s Company was on the lookout for a new designer, and Ezra was tired of hiring only those who were already established in the industry. He knew that such individuals often struggled to follow company policies or prioritize growth. Instead, he asked his secretary to dig up some resumes that his father had overlooked years ago when he was still at the helm.

After sifting through the applications himself, Ezra was quick to accept some candidates while dismissing others. However, when he stumbled upon a file with the name Emma, he felt a mix of intrigue and hesitation. The name reminded him of someone who had betrayed his trust, making him want to reject her outright. Yet, as he reviewed her design work, he found himself impressed; her style aligned perfectly with the company’s vision, making it difficult for him to ignore her potential.

Ezra instructed his secretary to compile the names of the applicants he had approved so he could send them emails regarding their new positions. While some of these candidates were already employed elsewhere, he felt assured that they would leave their current jobs to join his team at Queen's Business. Just as the elevator doors slid open, his secretary stepped into his penthouse, a space he had moved into just a week before taking on the role of ceo. This transition was partly prompted by his father's advice to embrace his new responsibilities fully, reminding him that a true leader must act the part.

“Your coffee, sir,” Milan announced as she approached him in his meticulously organized office, where he had established a strict no-eating policy to maintain professionalism. He preferred meals to be enjoyed at the dining table, especially when his sister came to visit.

Milan placed the steaming cup of coffee on the table in front of him, but Ezra remained focused on the files in front of him, casually asking, “What time is the meeting scheduled for today?”

When she replied, “10:00 am, sir,” he quickly glanced at his watch, realizing they needed to leave soon.

“We should get going.” he said, finally looking up and catching Milan’s gaze with his striking ocean-blue eyes, a detail that never failed to captivate her. He set the documents aside, stood up, and as he exited his office, Milan grabbed his bag and followed closely behind.

Milan felt like a distant presence as they stepped into the elevator together. Ezra had always found it uncomfortable when someone breathed too closely to him; it was a sensation he loathed. It was as if the traumatic event from three years ago had fundamentally altered his personality, making him more guarded. He particularly disliked it when a girl leaned in too close or lingered with a kiss after a night out at the club, especially when they ended up in his bed. Interestingly, he never used his own bedroom for these encounters. Instead, he had chosen a specific room for such occasions, knowing that the chance for a sleepover at his place was often fleeting. Regardless of the hour—be it 2 a.m. or 3 a.m.—he always arranged for a driver to ensure they got home safely.

They reached his car and Milan unlocked the door for him, allowing him to slide into the back seat while she took her place in the front. Throughout the ride, Ezra maintained a quiet demeanor, rarely engaging in lengthy conversations with his staff. Milan was the exception; her deep understanding of his work and her awareness of his schedule made her the only person he felt comfortable talking to for any length of time. Once they arrived at the garage, the driver parked, and Milan was the first to step out. She opened Ezra’s door, and as he emerged, he paused to gaze at the front of the company building. A smile crept onto his face, a reflection of the pride he felt for the progress he had made since taking on the role of ceo.

When Ezra stepped into the company, an eerie silence enveloped him; it was as if everyone had vanished into thin air. The mere presence of the new ceo sent shivers down the spines of his employees, who had heard the whispers about him. They believed that once you locked eyes with Ezra, you would be irresistibly drawn to him, yet he would remain unattainable, leaving you to grapple with heartache.

Milan trailed behind Ezra as he headed toward the elevator, acutely aware that no one dared to share the ride with their boss unless they were prepared to face the consequences of losing their job.

“He’s so incredibly handsome, and he hasn’t aged a day! If only he noticed me, I’d gladly become the mother of his child,” a young woman exclaimed to her friend, both of them part of the design team that had been at Queen Fashion Company long before Ezra took the helm.

Her friend rolled her eyes, reminding her, “Keep dreaming! Do you even know what they call him? The ‘cold, handsome devil’ for a reason! Just looking at him can drive you mad.” She paused, thoughtfully sucking on her teeth, then added, “Now that I think about it, I’ve never seen him bring a woman into the office.”

The first woman quickly countered, “What about that one from yesterday? The one in the short silver dress that barely covered her? I get that this is a fashion company, but some people really need to learn how to dress appropriately.”

“Oh, that woman? She’s a famous actress. Gia, you must know the main lead who starred in 'The Way We Fell in Love,' right?”

After a moment of reflection, Gia’s eyes lit up as she recalled, “Yes, I remember! Her name is Ellie. Ellie McBeth. I’ve seen so many of her movies. But what brought her here yesterday?”

“She’s in town for the premiere of her new film. Naturally, she came here to pick out a dress. This place is the go-to for many actresses and models looking for custom designs.” Floria took a deep breath.

Gia, lost in her aspirations, pondered, “One day, I’ll be part of the elite team creating dresses for models and actresses, and then Ezra will finally notice me.”

Floria chuckled, linking her arm with Gia’s as they stepped into a different elevator, one that Ezra hadn’t taken.

Meanwhile, Ezra settled into his chair and glanced at Milan, curiosity evident in his face as he began to loosen his tie. Once it was free, he tossed it onto the table, prompting Milan to quickly hang it up.

“What’s on your mind, sir?”

“I’m wondering about the girl who hasn’t arrived yet.”

“Which one, sir?”

“The one named Emma. Are you sure she agreed to our request? It’s been a week.”

Milan corrected him gently, “Actually, it’s only been three days.”

Ezra frowned, “So why isn’t she here? The others have already resumed.”

“She had sent a message explaining that personal matters were causing her delay, but she would be in the office by tomorrow morning.”

Ezra turned his striking blue gaze toward Milan, his expression intense. If she had been bold enough, she might have leaned in and kissed him, but the risk of losing her job kept her in check. She understood Ezra well; he was not one for physical contact, as it seemed to unsettle him.

“Her work is exceptional,” he asserted, his tone firm. “I think we should have her design the outfits for the upcoming fashion show. What’s your take on that?”

Milan shook her head, a hint of disbelief in her voice. “S–sir, Miss Facer is just starting out. We have to follow the rules. She needs to begin at level 1, just like everyone else, before she can create dresses for celebrities.”

Ezra leaned back in his chair, dismissing her concerns with a wave of his hand. “Let’s be honest here. You’ve seen her designs too. She’s more talented than many at level 6.” Level six was the pinnacle of design at Queen's, where the most prestigious dresses, including those worn by royalty, were crafted. He gestured for her to leave. “You can go now. I’ll call you when I need you.”

“Yes, sir,” Milan replied, exiting his office.

When she was gone, Ezra glanced at the clock; it was only 9: 50 a.m., leaving him with ten minutes before his morning meeting. He rummaged through his drawer for a pen, then stumbled upon a file he had forgotten about. He pulled it out and realized it was Emma’s resume. “What made me put this here?” he wondered aloud, flipping it open to examine her portfolio. A smile crept across his face as he admired her artwork; he was genuinely excited to meet her.