Chapter 6

Three months had passed, and they were, without a doubt, the worst months of my life. I had left my father’s company, hoping to find a fresh start, a place where I could prove myself on my own terms. But I hadn’t expected this—being turned down by every company I applied to. My résumé was impressive, yet somehow, nobody seemed to be hiring. The rejection emails became a routine, a painful reminder of my new reality.

But last week, everything changed. Yvonne, my best friend and saving grace, had called me with a glimmer of hope. “There’s an opening for a P.A. at TerraLink,” she had said excitedly. It was the break I had been desperately waiting for. Without wasting a second, I drove straight to the TerraLink building, heart pounding with the possibility of finally achieving my dream. My father had always refused to let me work there, insisting on keeping me under his wing. But this was my chance, my one shot at independence.

To cut the story short—I got the job. Today was my first official day, and despite the nerves fluttering in my stomach, I was excited to be back in the game.

I dressed carefully, wanting to make a strong first impression. My outfit—a deep burgundy two-piece suit—was both professional and empowering. The pencil skirt hugged my curves just right, and the blazer fit like a glove over a crisp white blouse. I completed the look with black pointed heels and a sleek handbag. My hair was pulled back into a slick ponytail, and my makeup was subtle yet polished. I needed to look every bit the confident professional I was trying to convince myself I could be.

The early morning air was crisp and refreshing as I stepped out of my car, inhaling deeply to steady my nerves. The TerraLinkbuilding towered before me, a sleek structure of glass and steel that shimmered under the morning sun.

Inside, Katie, the bubbly receptionist who had helped me during my interview, greeted me with a warm smile. “Good morning, Vera! Wow, you look amazing!” she gushed, her eyes sparkling with genuine admiration.

I couldn’t help but smile back. “Good morning, Katie. You’re too kind. But look at you! That dress is stunning,” I complimented her, genuinely impressed by how effortlessly she carried herself.

Katie waved off my compliment with a laugh, her blonde hair bouncing around her shoulders. “Stop it, or I’ll start blushing,” she teased. Then her tone shifted slightly as she leaned in closer. “Mr. Railway isn’t in yet, so you’re perfectly on time. But just a heads up—he’s… particular about things. Especially with new hires.”

I frowned slightly at her cryptic warning but nodded. “Thanks for the tip, Katie. And I’d love to grab lunch with you later,” I added with a grateful smile.

She gave me an encouraging wink. “You’ve got this, girl. Good luck!”

I took a deep breath and headed for the elevator, nerves prickling under my skin. The topmost floor loomed ahead of me, and I tried to remind myself that I had done this before—I had been a P.A. for my father, after all. But this was different. This was my chance to prove myself on my own terms.

The elevator doors slid open with a soft ding, and I stepped out into the spacious executive floor. I made my way to my new office, which was modest but well-appointed. I hadn’t had a chance to add personal touches yet, but it already felt like a place where I could belong.

“Time to get to work,” I whispered to myself, trying to shake off the lingering nerves.

Thirty minutes later, I was balancing a steaming cup of black coffee in one hand and Mr. Railway’s meticulously organized schedule in the other. If there was one thing I had quickly learned, it was that the man was busy—five meetings in one day? I would have collapsed from exhaustion just reading the list.

I took a steadying breath as I approached his office door. I knocked twice, my heart thumping loudly in my ears.

“Come in,” a deep voice called out from within.

I pushed the door open and stepped inside, forcing a confident smile. “Good morning, sir,” I began, but the words died in my throat when I looked up and locked eyes with the man behind the desk.

My entire world tilted on its axis.

There he was—the man from that unforgettable night. The one I had hoped to forget, yet couldn’t stop thinking about. The man whose touch still lingered on my skin like a brand. The same piercing green eyes, the chiseled jawline, the commanding presence that made my knees weak.

Oh my God. It was him. The one-night stand I never expected to see again.

For a split second, I was frozen, memories of that night flooding back with vivid intensity. The heat, the passion, the way his hands had roamed over my skin as if he couldn’t get enough.

He seemed just as taken aback, but only for a heartbeat. His eyes flashed with recognition before his expression turned to stone, cold and impassive.

“You’re my new P.A.?” His voice was as smooth and controlled as ever, but I could sense the underlying tension. My cheeks burned with humiliation, but I forced myself to stand taller.

“Yes, sir. Veronica Maslow,” I managed to say, my voice miraculously steady despite the chaos inside me. I approached his desk, praying my legs wouldn’t betray me. “Here’s your coffee, sir,” I added, setting the cup down with a trembling hand.

He glanced at the cup briefly before his gaze flicked back to me. “Pure black, freshly brewed. No cream, no sugar, no nonsense,” I assured him, reciting his preferences like a mantra. I had tasted it earlier to make sure it was perfect. The bitterness still lingered on my tongue, and I silently wondered how anyone could drink something so harsh.

He nodded curtly, his eyes lingering on me for a fraction too long, as if trying to unravel the enigma of our past encounter. But then he blinked, and it was as if a shutter had fallen behind his gaze.

“Your efficiency will be tested,” he said in that infuriatingly calm tone. “I expect nothing less than excellence.” He rattled off a list of instructions for the day, each task more demanding than the last.

I nodded, scribbling notes, determined not to show any weakness. But inside, I was crumbling. How could he pretend not to remember? Did I mean so little to him?

“Yes, sir. I’ll take care of it,” I said, my voice betraying none of the turmoil swirling inside me.

“Good. You’re dismissed.” His tone was final, and with a flick of his wrist, he waved me off.

I turned and walked out of his office, fighting the urge to look back. The moment I was out of sight, I sagged against the wall, clutching my chest as if to keep my heart from leaping out. My fingers trembled as I pulled out my phone and called Yvonne.

“This better be good. I’m with a client,” she hissed into the phone.

“Yvonne, it’s him,” I whispered frantically. “The guy I slept with that night!”

“What?” she gasped. “Are you sure?”

“I’m staring at him right now!” I hissed back. “And guess what? He’s my boss.”

“Wait, are you talking about Neil Railway?” she squealed, almost forgetting to keep her voice down. “Vera, you’re in deep trouble.”

The weight of her words sank in, and I knew she was right. I had unknowingly walked into the lion’s den, and now there was no turning back.