CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER ONE

MIRANDA'S POV

My heart pounded like a drum as I approached the colossal AD company's building, my hands trembling with fear. The Owner's notorious reputation for being merciless made my blood run cold, and I knew that confronting him would be a test of my bravery.

Taking a deep breath, I shut my eyes and uttered a desperate plea, praying for a miracle. But as I stepped into the opulent hallway, my hope began to evaporate. The atmosphere was thick with apprehension, and I could sense a thousand pairs of eyes on me, each one more menacing than the last.

The other candidates' eyes were like sharp daggers, piercing through me with an intensity that made my skin crawl. This was my one shot to prove myself, to make a name for myself in this cutthroat competition.

As I took my seat, my palms slick with sweat and my forehead beaded with nervousness, the tension in the room was palpable. I could feel it weighing down on me like a heavy blanket, suffocating me with its pressure.

The minutes dragged on like snails, each one more agonizing than the last. Doubts crept into my mind, taunting me with the possibility of failure. Was I really cut out for this?

But I refused to let my fear consume me. With a deep breath, I steeled myself for the challenge ahead, determined to come out on top no matter what.

My legs felt like lead as I entered the interview room, my heart racing like a runaway train. The other candidates glared at me like a pack of ravenous beasts, ready to pounce on any weakness I showed.

The air was thick with tension as I took my seat, my palms slick with sweat. This was it, the make or break moment that would determine my fate.

The interview dragged on, each question feeling like a trap waiting to ensnare me. I fought to keep my composure, but the pressure was suffocating.

And then, in a voice like thunder, the interviewer delivered the verdict. My breath caught in my throat as I waited for the words that would change my life forever...

Alexander's sour mood only added to my growing anxiety. My heart pounded as I waited for his verdict - would my dreams finally come true, or would they remain forever out of reach?

With a menacing glare, Alexander scribbled something in his notebook. I held my breath, waiting for him to speak.

"How many people are left outside?" he growled, his voice low and dangerous.

My voice barely above a whisper, I replied, "Only six, sir... sir."

Alexander's piercing eyes bore into mine. "Introduce yourself, miss?" he demanded.

"I'm Miranda James," I replied, my tone dripping with sarcasm as I tried to mask my fear.

Alexander leaned in closer, his voice almost predatory. "Do you have work experience?"

Sweat dripped down my forehead as I answered, "Yes, I worked as a receptionist."

"Good!" Alexander's eyes narrowed. "For how long?"

My palms began to sweat as I replied, "Six months and three weeks."

As I spoke, I couldn't help but feel the weight of his gaze upon me. His sneer turned into a sinister smirk, and I knew I was in trouble. Sweat dripped down my back as I desperately searched for the right words to impress him.

Suddenly, he leaned forward, his eyes narrowing as if he was about to pounce. "And what makes you think you can handle the pressure of this job?" he growled.

My heart raced as I struggled to come up with an answer. This was it, the moment of truth. I took a deep breath and steadied my nerves. "I thrive under pressure, sir," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

For a moment, there was silence. Then, he leaned back in his chair and smiled. "Well, Miss Miranda, it seems you might just have what it takes after all," he said, his tone surprisingly approving.

I let out a sigh of relief, my whole body shaking from the adrenaline.

His cold, piercing gaze bore into me as he demanded an explanation. "What is the meaning of teamwork?" he spat, his voice dripping with disdain.

I hesitated, unsure of how to respond. "It's when everyone works together on a project," I stammered, but he cut me off with a dismissive wave of his hand.

"Enough," he growled, scribbling something in his notebook. My heart raced as I wondered what he was writing.

"Miss Miranda James," he said, his eyes narrowing to slits. "Who was your former employer?" I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his gaze on me like a heavy blanket.

"Brown Wayne," I muttered, my annoyance mounting at his trivial line of questioning.

But then, he hit me with a question that left me hanging on the edge of my seat.

"What is your best wish for AD?"

he asked, his voice laced with mystery and intrigue. I leaned forward, desperate for his response, but he remained stoic and unreadable.

Sweat dripped down my forehead as the questions kept coming. I knew this was my chance to impress my potential employer, but my nerves were getting the best of me. I wondered if I could hold on for much longer.

Suddenly, his piercing eyes locked onto mine and he spoke,

"She's hired."

My heart leaped with excitement, but then he added,

"But there's a catch."

My mind raced with possibilities. What could this catch be? My palms grew clammy as he revealed that I had to work as his maid for a week.

I couldn't believe it. Was this some sort of cruel joke? I had worked so hard to get to this point, and now I was being asked to do menial labor?

My heart was pounding as I stepped into my new office, taking in the grandeur of it all. But my moment of happiness was short-lived when I received a call from Alexander, demanding my presence in his office immediately.

My fear intensified as he berated me for being three minutes late, threatening to fire me if I ever made the same mistake again. He then sent me to his house to retrieve a file from his house.

As I entered the house, I was struck by the beautiful decorations in the living room. But my awe was quickly replaced by terror when I heard a voice ask,

"Are you one of his flings?"

I couldn't let his words distract me, I had a job to do.

As soon as I secured the file and expressed my gratitude to the elderly man, I hastened towards the exit.

But my escape was cut short when I abruptly bumped into someone.

My heart raced with anxiety, but I didn't spare the person a glance.

As I tried to leave, a car began tailing us. Panic set in as the driver muttered,

"We're being watched."

The tension built as the driver swerved to the left, and we were thrown off the road. Two men got out of the car behind us, shouting at us to get out of the car.

My mind raced with fear as I wondered what they were going to do to us. Suddenly, the driver pulled out a gun and fired a warning shot. The men stopped in their tracks, fear in their eyes, and started running in the opposite direction. We sped off, leaving them behind.

As we pulled into the company's parking lot, I saw my boss waiting for me. His angry expression made me feel like I was in trouble. He snapped at me, demanding to know what took so long. I tried to explain what had happened, but he cut me off, collected the documents and walked away.

My heart raced with anticipation as I sluggishly made my way to my office, wondering what other dangers awaited me.