They have branches all over the States and Europe. Even one in London, from what I learned from the other applicants for the assistant job.
Security lets me in once I give him my name.
My head is held high as I walk past the vast creamy white walls. Everyone here looks prim and proper—elegant, too—and I think I did a decent job of dressing the part.
I’m wearing a white button-down that’s tucked into a black pencil skirt. I also wore my only good heels that I save for professional settings, such as this one.
My hair is gathered in a ponytail and I put on natural-looking makeup and peach-colored lipstick.
My phone case is the same color. My key chain, too.
I kind of never got over my obsession with that fruit. Even though it nearly killed me when I was a child.
After a trip to the Human Resources department, I sign the trial contract and get my temporary access card. Diana, a kind middle-aged woman, tells me to head to the seventh floor, then gives me an ‘I hope you make it’ look.
But I don’t understand why she shakes her head as I leave her office.
The occurrence keeps puzzling me as I take the lift to the seventh floor.
I try to breathe deeply since it calms my nerves. Then I touch my pendant that shares the color of my eyes. The one I’ve worn for the past sixteen years.
You can do this, Nicole.
You have to. For your own and Jay’s sakes.
When the lift stops, I get out with a small smile on my face.
There’s an open area for interns where many of them are busy typing at their computers or reading documents.
But that’s not what I’m here for. Diana told me to head to the second office on the left.
All the junior partners and associate attorneys have glass walls, but the one I’m walking to has the blinds drawn.
I straighten my back, walk through what I suppose will be my office until I reach another door, then knock on it.
“Come in.”
The deep voice with a British accent causes a foreign feeling to constrict my chest and I pause.
No. It’s only my stupid imagination that I can never manage to control. There’s no way in hell it’s him.
That would be just tragic.
And cruel.
And every negative word in the dictionary.
Chasing that ominous thought away, I push the door open and freeze.
My heart drops to the base of my stomach and I cease breathing when my gaze meets those blue eyes that stole from the sun, sky, and the stars.
It is him.
The man who ruined my life as much as I ruined his.
Daniel Sterling.
2
NICOLE
This is a trick of my mind.
A cruel twist of my imagination.
A nightmare.
Yes. That’s all this could be about. A nightmare. If I wake up now, it’ll all be over.
If I wake up now, I’ll be drenched in sweat and have tears in my eyes, but it’ll be an illusion.
I’m not actually facing Daniel after eleven years of running away and trying to erase everything about him from my memory.
So I blink once, twice, but he’s still crystal clear in front of me. Like a hurricane that’s growing in intensity with the mere purpose of hitting me.
Breaking me to pieces.
Tearing me apart.
His presence is no different than being crushed over and left to perish. Not only is it imposing, but it also tugs on strings I thought I cut off a long time ago.
Strings that are currently vibrating inside me for the mere fact that I’m right in front of him again.
The last time I saw him, we were only eighteen, but he’s older now, more masculine. All man.
His jaw has squared and his hair that used to fall haphazardly all over his forehead is styled with subtle elegance. It’s become darker, too, as if he made it his mission to kill any light strands that streaked it.
The way he sits behind his desk is laced with nonchalance, but it’s not lazy—more like commanding. It’s like he’s a powerful king who expects everyone in the court to bend to his royal decree.
He leans over, places his elbows on the table, and interlinks his fingers at his chin. It’s a habit he used to do whenever he was deep in thought or angry. I’m not sure which feeling is more prominent right now, because his face is a blank slate.
His eyes, that I used to predict his mood through, are expressionless, muted, almost as if someone stole the stars from within them and blocked the sun. The only thing that remains is a bottomless blue, like a starless, moonless night.
And they’re zeroed in on me with a cool that chills me to my bones. Maybe cool isn’t the right word. There’s a coldness in there, an icy quality that’s meant to freeze me to death.
He used to have the type of beauty that brought me peace and calm. Now, it’s savage, unrestrained, and with every intention to hurt.
I’m not fooled by the way he looks. By how he wears his tailored gray suit like a supermodel or how he sits majestically like some lord. I’m not fooled by his unperturbed expression or seemingly calm façade. Because it’s just that.
A façade.
A way to pull me forward like prey, then pounce on me, devour my flesh, and crunch my bones.
“Are you going to stand there all day?”
I flinch, partly because my illusion that this is a dream is long gone. He’s right there, in person, and waiting. And partly because of his voice. It’s so deep but laced with a velvet-like quality. Which makes him sound approachable when he’s anything but. He also sounded disapproving just now, as if I’m a worthless rock in his shoe.
“Either come inside and close the door or get out. Leave your access card at HR while you’re at it.”
I force myself out of my haze and close the door with clammy, trembling fingers.
This job is important, not only for me but also for Jayden.
So what if I feel like dissociating from my own skin or digging my own grave? What if I feel like turning back, running, and never seeing those blue eyes again?
It doesn’t matter.
Jay’s survival and health do.
If I have to work for Daniel in order to provide for him, then so be it. Besides, there’s no flash of recognition on his features, so maybe he forgot about me.
Maybe he erased everything that happened between us and he’s now a new man who couldn’t give a damn about the past.
The thought tugs on those stupid heartstrings and I inhale deeply to put a halt to my reaction. But it’s all involuntary, pulled out from deep inside me by an invisible force I can’t control.
“Good morning, I’m the new assistant. My name is Nicole Adler.” I’m thankful my voice doesn’t waver and remains calm, almost as neutral as his indifference.
“I don’t care about your name. I’ll forget it once you fail the trial period.” He stares at his luxurious Swiss watch before he slides his icy stare back at me. “And it’s half past eight, which means you’re late, so there’s nothing specifically good about this morning.”
My stomach contracts and it has to do with his harsh words as much as his voice. I need to get used to it right away if I want to stay professional and keep this job.
“I’m sorry about that, but I had to finish up some paperwork with HR and—”