ugh. But this one? Thi

ues. I slapped it off with more force than necessary and blinked at the ceiling, stomach already ti

d bought on discount with a matching tie that Mia said made my hair "pop lik

chewing feel like a chore. By 6:45, I was out the door, suitcase in hand, trying

was easy enough. Gett

space. I squeezed in beside a man who apparently hadn't taken his bath in weeks and held onto the rai

it ha

nd splashed a good third of it onto my chest. Right on the new suit. Of course. I

the guy mumbled,

eak smile. "I-

oul was actively try

I did was smear it around and make it look

my suitcase as I dragged it off the platform, knockin

ted t

TION LTD, my nerves had tangled themselves into a solid knot in my gut. I clutched the handle of

re. The receptionist was beautiful in that intimidating, bone-structure-for-days kind

ver, and immediately pressed something behind her eyes

he asked, voice as

s Ch-Charlie Bennett. I'm, uh... I'm supposed t

ower this time. Her expression barely changed, bu

re that a

-y

or pass to access the top floor. I a

. I gave her a wobbly smile and took a

d ever felt in my life. The receptionist had barely looked up from h

d, her voice flat. "Someo

back of my neck. Not exactly the best first impression I was hoping for. I was still thinking about the train ride

my attention. I looked up, and there she was tall, sharp suit, professional, like s

dn't quite match the sternness in her eyes. "I'm Mrs. Harrison

ng over the cup of water on the ta

caping her lips. "No need to apologize. First da

I nodded, trying not to loo

he elevator. I scrambled to follow her, barely managing

elf to breathe. "Yeah

, and the doors slid open instantly. We

It's where everyone takes their breaks. You'll find it on the lower leve

eria with sleek tables, a coffee bar in the corner, and the sound of quiet chatte

around. It was way fancier than the di

area. "You'll find all kinds of snacks in here, but don't get carried aw

ly. "I'll try not

e heading back into the elevator. This time

ing, legal. All the behind-the-scenes stuff that keeps the projects running smoothly. Your floor, the 21st, is the ex

nd was still buzzing with the cafeteria and all the ne

er else comes up. You'll need to keep your phone on you at all times-he'll need you to be available

"I'll tr

gain, this time heading st

ere adorned with abstract art, and there was a calm, professional atmosph

each step. "Here we are. This is where Alex's office is, and where yo

exactly how I imagined a CEO's office would l

will give you access to the 21st floor," she said, handing it over

it into my pocket as she handed me another item my worker ID. She also gave me a file of docume

week. Make sure you go over everything. And one more thing " She pulled out her pho

re typing in my number. "Than

Charlie. I know first days are nerve-wracking, but you're in good hands. Alex is easy t

ease. She didn't seem like someone who would wast

e he's waiting for you. Just remember, no matter how nervous y

lights as I headed toward Alex's office. It didn't

re sweaty, my heart was somewhere between my throat and my stomach, and I was pretty sure I was about

me a calm voi

n in his mid-thirties, sleeves rolled up, leaning back in his chair with a tablet in one hand and a half-empty coffee cup in the other. His bro

setting the tablet down and st

ah. I'm Charlie. Hello.

ffered his hand. "Relax, it's n

rm, firm grip. No judgment in his eye

d. "It's... really

ir across from his desk. "First day's always a

folder of documents Ella had gi

his chair, "tell me a bit about yo

ere. In Business Administration." I cleared my throat. "Well, techn

id, nodding.

the organizational side of things. And s

sed brow. "A man a

completely embarrassed myself yet. "I figured

und here, we love people who love the boring

ronizing it was casual, like we were just talki

"where do you see yo

aded qu

think I'd like to move up, maybe manage a team? Eventually. I'm still figuring

on't have to have it all figured out ye

"I was worried you'd expect a

. "Most of them sound rehearsed and way t

th spread in my chest. Maybe I

ll be helping me manage schedules, track projects, make sure Nathan doesn't double-boo

. manageable." It didn't, but

inting at me with a half-grin, "just own it and fix it. I don't

ked. "

't call me Mr. Ford. Makes me feel like I should be holdin

. Okay

ied nod. "I think we'll get

uch lighter I felt after jus

ould work w

that dynamic in mind: Charlie's still trying to figure Mia out, she's intimidatin

brain had officially declared a shutdown. I kicked the door shut behind me, clutch

ttle of Coke, the other holding a slice of greasy pizza. The takeout bags were spread across the coffee table like batt

look up whe

ce sharp and uninterested. "I was about

nsure if I was supposed to lau

Her eyes scanned me, like she was checkin

ng at my wrinkled collar. "

the open pizza box. "Help yourse

allow me whole. I still wasn't sure how to act around Mia. We'd only been living together f

d, without sounding p

ice and tried not to drop cheese on the paperwork in

w. "You cry in t

halfway through. I cleared

rning back to the T

her, like someone who had already made peace with murder do

again before the si

t the guy I'm directly assistin

e again, eyebrow

ot scary. Doesn't talk down to you. Made me feel like I wasn't

ot

"What?! I-I don't- I

d. "That m

n't sa

azed look people get when they meet someone com

urning. "I'm not glowi

picked up a box of noodles like she

I took a breath. "I haven't

?" she asked

. I don't know. Like he's the kind of guy w

nds like someone you need to

r... at least not t

lifting a finger without look

ked. "

Her voice had the same tone as a drill sergeant explaining how to clean a rifle. "Sta

a great way to get

doormat. Or the guy who ends up fixing the

eally the "push back harder" type. I was more the "a

aid, "Look. You're new. You're awkward. You're... you." Her eye

ank

them think you're soft. Then sur

me. But in that way where I also wanted her t

p that in mi

r food. "You'll be fine. Ju

p talk,"

What can I say?

, then slowly said, "Are you sure

if I were, you'd already be

chewing my pizza

Day one?

re

he universe decided

absolutely hadn't done, by the way). I actually arrived at the building a full ten minutes

once-over but didn't say anything this time-probably because I

een light flash, and stepped in, feeling like a certified adult

small speech in my head-"Good morning, Alex," very original, I know-and straightened m

I th

ce where the air smells expensive and the carpet looks too nice to walk on. There were glass doors to my left, a hallw