Become my secretary

Selena sighed in relief the moment Julian disappeared down the hallway. She had expected him to flip out about her climbing the gate or make some harsh remark that would cut through her like a blade, but instead, he had been almost… calm. Calm in a way that made her skin crawl with unease.

She bit her lip as her father’s words echoed in her mind: You’ll be forgotten. Your career will end. The thought of losing everything she had worked so hard for made her chest tighten.

“Should I talk to him?” she whispered to herself, glancing toward the direction he’d gone. “Would he even listen?”

Before she could overthink it, her feet moved on their own, following him down the hallway. She hesitated at his door, taking a deep breath before pushing it open slightly.

Her heart skipped a beat.

Julian stood in the middle of the room, his back to her, unbuttoning his shirt. The fabric slid down his shoulders, revealing taut muscles and smooth skin. Selena’s face heated as she froze, unable to tear her eyes away.

“You planning to stare all night, sweetheart?” Julian’s deep voice broke through her trance, and he turned his head slightly, catching her gaze. His lips curled into that infuriating smirk that she hated so much.

“I—I…” She stammered, her cheeks burning.

He turned fully to face her, his shirt hanging open, the faintest hint of his toned chest visible beneath. He leaned casually against the edge of the bed, his dark eyes locking onto hers.

“Well, well. To what do I owe this little visit? Feeling ready to serve me as a wife, perhaps?”

Selena’s embarrassment evaporated, replaced by instant rage. She glared at him, her fists clenching at her sides.

“In your dreams.”

His smirk widened, the wicked glint in his eyes making her stomach twist. “Oh, you already serve me as a wife in my dreams,” he said casually, his tone dripping with mockery.

Her mouth opened, but no words came out. Anger surged through her, but it was tangled with something else—something she refused to name.

“Cat got your tongue?” Julian teased, pushing off the bed and stepping toward her.

Selena instinctively stepped back, but he closed the distance between them in two strides, his towering presence overwhelming her.

“What do you want?” he asked, his voice softer now but no less dangerous.

“I…” she started, but the words she had prepared vanished as he raised a hand.

His fingers brushed her cheek, and her entire body froze. His touch was hot, sending an unwelcome shiver down her spine. Her breath hitched as she looked up at him, her wide eyes meeting his dark, predatory gaze.

Her face was hot to the touch, and he noticed. His smirk turned into something darker, more wicked, as he leaned in, his lips hovering just inches from hers.

“You’re burning up,” he murmured, his voice a low growl. “Are you nervous because of our closeness?”

“No,” she lied, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Liar,” he whispered back, his breath brushing against her lips.

Selena’s mind screamed at her to step away, to push him off, to do something—but her body betrayed her. Her knees felt weak, her heart pounded in her chest, and she couldn’t seem to remember why she had come into his room in the first place.

He slid his hand down from her cheek to her jaw, tilting her head up so that she couldn’t look away from him. His thumb brushed over her lower lip, and she sucked in a shaky breath, her eyes fluttering shut for just a second before snapping back open.

“Julian…” she said his name like a warning, her voice trembling.

“Yes, sweetheart?” he drawled, his smirk widening.

“Let me go,” she managed, though her voice lacked the conviction she wanted it to have.

His gaze dropped to her lips, lingering there for a moment before moving back up to her eyes. “And what if I don’t?”

Selena swallowed hard, her breathing uneven as she felt the heat radiating off him. His proximity was suffocating, intoxicating, and utterly maddening.

“Why are you doing this?” she asked, her voice barely audible.

He chuckled softly, the sound low and dangerous. “Because you’re irresistible when you’re angry.”

Her breath caught in her throat as his hand moved to the back of her neck, his fingers threading through her hair. He leaned in even closer, his lips almost brushing her ear.

“Do you hate me?” he whispered, his voice sending a shiver down her spine.

“Yes,” she said quickly, but it sounded more like she was trying to convince herself than him.

“It's fine,” he said, his voice dark and velvety. “Hate me all you want.”

Selena pushed Julian away, her hands trembling with disgust and rage. “Don’t touch me,” she spat, stepping back as if he had burned her. Her breath was uneven, and her heart hammered in her chest.

Julian raised an eyebrow, his smirk returning. “Disgusted, are we? You seemed too frozen to move a moment ago.”

She glared at him, her voice sharp. “You’re vile. I came here to discuss something important, not to deal with your advances.”

He tilted his head, crossing his arms. “And what might that be? What pressing matter brings you to my room unannounced?”

Selena squared her shoulders, forcing herself to appear unaffected by his taunts. “I married you as you wanted. And you promised to help me. I need you to take my name off the blacklist and fix my career.”

Julian’s expression shifted, his smirk fading as his dark eyes narrowed.

He leaned back slightly, studying her. “Blacklist?”

“Yes,” Selena said impatiently. “Ever since the case was dropped, I’ve been blacklisted in the industry. No directors, no producers, no one will even speak to me. That’s your doing, isn’t it?”

Julian laughed, a dry, humorless sound. “You think too highly of me, Selena. I never blacklisted you.”

She froze, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. “Then who did?”

Julian shrugged nonchalantly, though his gaze was sharp. “I may have sabotaged a few of your movie deals—yes, guilty. But if no one is willing to give you work even after your name was cleared, that’s not on me. Perhaps your reputation speaks for itself.”

Selena opened her mouth to retort but stopped, her words dying in her throat. She hated to admit it, but he wasn’t entirely wrong. The case had left a permanent stain on her name, even if she wasn’t guilty.

Julian leaned closer, his voice dropping to a mockingly sympathetic tone. “Let me guess. You thought you’d come to your husband, bat those pretty lashes, and I’d wave a magic wand to fix everything?”

Her fists clenched at his condescending tone, but she forced herself to stay calm. “I thought you might honor your promise.”

He snorted, his resentment finally surfacing. “Honor? Do you really think a spoiled princess like you knows the meaning of that word?”

Selena blinked, taken aback by the venom in his voice.

Julian’s jaw tightened as he continued. He thought in his head. ‘Help you? You want me to help the girl because of whom I lost my mother? The girl whose father erased every trace of her crimes while I stood over a casket? That’s what you want from me?’

“Why don't you ask your daddy to help you?” Julian snapped, stepping closer. “Or wait, even daddy can't help you this time.”

Selena was silent, her eyes stinging. She refused to cry in front of him, refused to give him the satisfaction.

Julian laughed bitterly. “And now you come crawling to me, asking for help. Is this all the Frost princess is? So brave, aren’t you?”

She swallowed hard, forcing herself to meet his gaze. “If you hate me so much, then why marry me?”

His eyes flickered with something she couldn’t quite name before he composed himself. “Because watching you fall is more satisfying than any other thing.”

Selena clenched her fists, feeling anger replace the shame bubbling inside her. “Fine,” she said through gritted teeth. “You win. I don’t care why you’re doing this. Just tell me what you want.”

Julian studied her for a long moment, his gaze calculating. Finally, his lips curled into a sinister smirk. “Prove yourself, Princess.”

She frowned. “What does that mean?”

He took a step back, gesturing to the room around them. “You want my help? Then show me you’re more than just a spoiled brat who’s used to getting her way.”

Selena’s confusion deepened, and she crossed her arms. “And how exactly do you expect me to do that?”

Julian’s smile widened, and she instantly regretted asking. “It’s simple,” he said, his tone laced with amusement. “You’re going to be my personal secretary.”

Her eyes widened in shock. “What?”

“You heard me,” he said smoothly, leaning against the desk. “I want you to work for me. No more fancy dresses, no more red carpets. Just you, a desk, and endless paperwork.”

“That’s ridiculous,” she snapped. “I’m an actress, not some assistant.”

“Not anymore, you’re not,” Julian said coldly. “Unless, of course, you’d rather sit here and do nothing while your career dies a slow, painful death.”

Selena glared at him, her heart pounding with anger and humiliation. “And what do I get in return?”

Julian’s smirk returned. “If you do your job well, I’ll use my resources to help rebuild your career. Consider it your salary.”

She stared at him, her mind racing. The idea of working under him, of subjecting herself to his every whim, made her stomach churn. But what choice did she have?

“Fine,” she said after a long pause, her voice barely above a whisper.

Julian raised an eyebrow, clearly pleased with her answer. “I’ll have the contract drawn up by tomorrow. And Selena?”

She looked at him, her anger still simmering.

“I can't wait for you to work for me. It'll be so much fun.”

Selena stormed out of the room, her mind reeling. As much as she hated him, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she had just made a deal with the devil.