Chapter 2

Maya

I froze in the doorway.

This couldn't be happening.

My last chance, and I think I just ruined it.

"Close the door behind you"

He ordered

He sat at his chair, impatiently tapping the desk with his fingers.

I hid my hands in my blazer still freezing from the cold rain.

"Sit."

I slowly sat down, clutching my wet portfolio, water still dripping from my hair onto my lap.

He barely glanced at my resume before tossing it aside with clear disdain.

"Explain to me why I should hire someone who shows up late, looks like she swam here, and has the manners of a feral cat"

"Because I'm good at what I do, Sir. And because people who actually have to survive in this city know more about what works than men who sit in glass towers counting money".

He raised an eyebrow.

"Bold"

Looking around, I pointed at one of Thorne's new luxury condo projects in Brooklyn in my view from the window.

"That design is structurally fine but socially bankrupt. You ignored the East River wind patterns. Those towers are going to create a wind-tunnel effect on the street level....shops will empty out, people won't want to walk there. It will turn out to be a beautiful glass tomb that kills the neighborhood around it".

To my surprise, he actually looked interested. He rested his chin on one hand before saying anything.

"Most applicants agree with what I say. You called my project a glass tomb".

"With all due respect, I may be desperate for a job, but I'm not stupid. I won't lie to you just to get a paycheck ".

Easy to say when my bank account was begging for mercy.

The man was quiet for a moment like he was debating something. Then he opened a drawer in his desk and slid a folder toward me.

"The architect position has already been filled. But I have another offer for you"

I opened the folder. The words written boldly,

'Personal Assistant to Eric Thorne'

"Let me guess, you're Eric Thorne?"

I asked slightly annoyed

"Yes... I am"

"Okay" I replied sarcastically

I skimmed through the pages, the salary offer made my eyes widen. Triple what I expected.

"Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. I don't accept excuses. I don't tolerate emotions or complaints. You will be available whenever I need you. Can you handle that, Miss Carroway?"

My mind screamed "Run!"

This man is extremely terrifying. The thought of being around him everysingle day would be torture.

But then I thought about my dad's failing health, Sofia's future and my eviction notice waiting for

me at home .

I had no choice.

I picked up the pen.

"Where do I sign?"

A slow, dangerous smile spread across Eric Thorne's face.

I signed my name quickly before I could lose my nerve.

He stood up and walked around the desk until he was standing right behind me. So close that

I had to tilt my head back to look at him.

"Congratulations... you're hired"

he said, voice low.

"The signing bonus will be transferred to your account by the end of today".

I looked away before he could see my reaction. This money was going to buy me time.

He turned facing me, leaned closer to me then placed one hand on the arm of my chair, trapping me in place.

His cologne lingered between us, expensive but impossible to ignore.

His next words came out slow.

"From this moment on, Maya, you don't just work for me."

His eyes dropped to my mouth before returning to my eyes.

"From here on out, your time belongs to me"

I'm screwed.

I sat on the subway in my still-damp clothes, gripping my phone as the $50,000 signing bonus notification popped up with a text from Mr Thorne ;

"Buy yourself a nice blazer too"

Of course he'd mock my outfit.

On the bright side, Dad's next chemo round was covered, Sofia's housing balance was paid and I could cover my rent, for the first time in months I could actually breathe.

For the next couple months, I spent my entire day by Mr Eric's side. It was nothing but hell.

Mr Eric wakes me at 4:15 a.m. every single morning with a call "the car is outside. Don't waste my time."

I roll my eyes each time.

I sit in the car with him through morning traffic while he barked orders at me like I was a servant.

Whenever I serve him his morning coffee, he yells that it's either "too hot" or "too cold" and I'm sick of it.

I completely every report until my eyes burned and stayed until past midnight, only to be told;

"Redo the entire framework and change the manuscript" which stay up to do. Yet I'm still expected back at his penthouse door by dawn.

He never thanked or acknowledged me. He just stared at me with pure contempt, like my existence and personality offended him.

But I fought back every single time.

By the fifth day I was running on pure rage and zero sleep.

It was 11:47 p.m.

The Thorne Building was completely empty except for us. I carried the final tablet into his office and dropped it on his desk without a word.

Eric didn't even look up at first. He swiped through the renderings slowly, deliberately looking for something to criticize. I already knew what was coming.

"Too big!"

he snapped, circling his finger around the central park space.

"Shrink the green area by forty percent."

"Add more retail. Grass doesn't make money, Miss Carroway. Pretty designs don't keep buildings profitable".

"The park isn't just grass!"

I shot back, stepping closer even though every instinct screamed to back away.

"It's the only place people can actually breathe in that concrete monster you're building....Shrink it and the wind tunnel from those towers will make the entire plaza unusable. It'll be another one of your beautiful, soulless glass tombs that nobody actually lives in."

I huffed

He stood up slowly.

The chair scraped loudly behind him. He walked around the desk until he towered over me. His eyes burned with hatred.

"You have a lot of nerve don't you?"

"I don't pay you to give me lectures about soul and community and your pathetic little dreams,"

he added, voice low.

"I pay you to shut your mouth and do exactly as I say. You are an assistant, nothing more. You exist to make my life easier, not to challenge me with your

worthless opinions. Remember your place."

My hands shook with fury. I lifted my chin and stared straight into those hateful eyes.

"Sir, you pay me to watch you destroy neighborhoods and call it progress,"

I hissed.

"You're so busy counting your billions that you've forgotten what it feels like to be human. Your buildings are dead."

For one terrifying second, something dangerous flashed across his face. He stepped forward until our bodies were almost touching. His hand came up like he wanted to grab me, my thoughts scattered.

His eyes dropped to my mouth for a split second.

Then disgust twisted his features.

He shoved himself away from me violently, like my presence physically repulsed him.

"Get the fuck out of my office!"

He snarled, turning his back on me.

"Go home, we're done here. And if you ever speak to me like that again, I will fire you so fast and make sure your entire family will be homeless by morning. Get out...now!"

I grabbed my bag with shaking hands, walked out and slammed the door so hard the glass rattled behind me.

I hated him with every cell in my body. I have had enough of him already.

I cried the entire way home.

At that moment, the last thing I wanted was to see Eric Thorne again.

But the universe didn't care what I wanted.

Top Recommended Novels

His Rejected Mate for Twelve Years- My Final Escape (Action)

When the Luna Walked Away (Action)

Save First Love, Give Up Son And Wife (Modern )

Chapter 3

The next morning at exactly 10:02 a.m, I was standing moody outside Mr Eric's office holding his usual black coffee when the door burst open.

Arthur Thorne, his uncle stormed in with two lawyers and Eric's terrifying mother, Evelyn, right behind him, they all had a stern look on their faces.

Arthur slammed a tabloid down on the desk.

"Time's up, Eric."

Arthur growled.

"Sign the engagement agreement to Genevieve Beaumont by the end of today or the board triggers the marriage clause. You're done as CEO by Monday."

Evelyn added coldly,

"Genevieve is the only suitable choice and you know it. Stop embarrassing this family."

Arthur folded his arms across his chest.

"You've dragged this nonsense on long enough, Eric. The board has been more than patient."

"The board can wait"

Eric replied coldly.

"No they can't"

Arthur's voice hardened

"The Beaumont merger cannot and will not wait."

At the mention of that family, several of the lawyers exchanged concerned glances.

Evelyn stepped forward.

"Do you have any idea what a Beaumont alliance would mean for this company?"

Eric didn't respond.

"Peter Beaumont controls some of the largest private investment funds in Europe,"

She continued, "That family has influence in several countries. Their name opens doors that even the Thorne name cannot.

Arthur nodded.

"Exactly, marrying Genevieve isn't a sacrifice. It's an opportunity."

"An opportunity for who exactly?"

Eric asked.

Arthur look caught off guard before speaking.

"For everyone."

"That's funny of you to say"

Eric replied smoothly as he leaned on the table.

"Because it sounds more like an opportunity for you."

Arthur grew more vicious then stared right at Eric's face.

"Watch your mouth."

"Or what?"

The tension in the room became suffocating.

Arthur laughed as he stepped closer.

"You think investors are happy right now? You think shareholders enjoy watching the CEO of a multi-billion-dollar corporation reject the Beaumont family over and over again?"

Eric folded his arms, his expression didn't change.

"Sounds like their problem not mine"

Arthur looked like he was ready to explode.

"You're acting just like your father."

The minute he said that, I saw something dangerous flash across Eric's face.

"Careful," he said softly.

But Arthur wasn't done.

"Your father spent years pretending integrity mattered more than power. Look where that got him"

Eric slowly stood.

The whole room felt tense.

"What exactly are you trying to say?"

Arthur smirked.

"I'm saying the company needs a leader willing to make difficult decisions."

"And I'm saying you're getting very comfortable speaking like you're the CEO."

The two men glared angrily at each other.

Neither willing to back down.

Finally Evelyn rolled her eyes and exhaled sharply.

"Enough!...both of you."

She turned toward Eric.

"Son, sign the engagement agreement right now."

"I'm not signing anything."

"Why not?, you and Genevieve were perfect for each other."

That actually made Eric laugh.

"No we weren't," he said. "She never really loved me"

Arthur pointed toward the folder.

"Then how bout this."

He shoved the engagement contract across the desk.

"Because unless you're secretly dating someone else, the board vote happens Monday."

Silence.

Arthur smiled coldly.

"So, what's it going to be, Eric?"

Eric didn't even glance at the papers.

His eyes sliced straight past them and locked onto me like a predator.

As I watched the scene unfold, my stomach felt tight.

With thoughts racing my mind,

"What the hell is happening? Why's he looking at me like that?"

He stood up, walked out the office door and grabbed me firmly by my wrist ...He pulled me inside in front of everyone, the coffee tray still in my other hand.

"I won't be signing anything,"

He said calmly.

Arthur laughed mockingly.

"Then start clearing out your desk, I'll send for someone to assist you."

Eric looked his uncle dead in the eye and spoke with all the audacity he could scrape off the earth.

"I won't be signing it because the information is inaccurate."

He pulled me closer to him.

"I'm already engaged"

The room went silent.

My heart stopped beating. He tightened his grip on my wrist and continued;

"I've been keeping it private to protect her from the press. But since you're forcing my hand..."

He turned to me, then looked straight into my eyes