Chloe locked her phone screen. The red numbers disappeared into black glass. She placed the phone face down on the cramped laminate desk and pushed back her squeaky chair.

She needed to move. She walked past the humming, heat-radiating printers, heading toward the employee breakroom at the far end of the hall. She needed a coffee to stop the dull throbbing behind her eyes.

The breakroom was completely empty. The fluorescent lights buzzed softly overhead. She opened the overhead cabinet and grabbed a standard, thick ceramic company mug.

She placed the mug under the spout of the large commercial espresso machine. She pressed the glowing green button.

The machine whirred loudly, grinding the beans with a harsh, mechanical screech. The noise completely masked the sound of the heavy breakroom door opening behind her.

Chloe turned around, holding her steaming mug of dark coffee. She gasped audibly.

Julian stood perfectly still in the doorway.

He stepped inside. His expensive, perfectly tailored suit looked entirely out of place against the cheap linoleum floor and sterile lighting of the breakroom.

He reached a hand back behind him. He pushed the heavy door closed until the metal lock clicked shut. They were completely isolated.

He took a slow, deliberate step toward her. The rich, earthy scent of his expensive vetiver cologne cut through the air, completely overwhelming the smell of roasted coffee.

Chloe instinctively backed up. Her heels scraped against the floor until her hips hit the edge of the laminate counter. She gripped the handle of the ceramic mug. Her knuckles turned stark white.

Julian stopped mere inches away from her. He looked down at her. His dark eyes held zero warmth, zero familiarity. It was as if he was looking at a disgusting insect.

He warned her in a low, dangerous voice.

"I told you to stay far away from Poppy," he said, the words vibrating in his chest. "Stop playing your manipulative games, Chloe."

Chloe's jaw tightened until her teeth ached. She stood her ground, refusing to shrink away.

"I have absolutely no interest in you, or your new girlfriend," she stated, her voice tight but steady.

Julian sneered. He leaned in closer, his face inches from hers.

"If you upset Poppy," he threatened, his breath warm against her cheek, the scent of his vetiver cologne suffocatingly close, "I will destroy your career. I will ruin your family. Don't think for a second I don't know exactly how much debt your pathetic, gambling father has racked up this month. I can call in those markers with a single phone call. Do you understand me?"

Chloe's heart broke all over again at his casual cruelty. The man who used to kiss her forehead was now threatening her livelihood. She forced her facial muscles to remain frozen, presenting a stoic, unreadable mask.

Seeing her lack of reaction, Julian scoffed in disgust. He adjusted his pristine cuffs, took a step back, and left the breakroom as abruptly as he had entered.

The moment the heavy door shut, the adrenaline left Chloe's body. Her trembling hands failed her.

Her fingers went numb. She dropped the ceramic mug.

It hit the linoleum floor and shattered into dozens of jagged pieces. Hot, black coffee splashed violently onto her bare ankles and black pumps.

The door pushed open a second later. Ethan rushed in. He had heard the crash from the hallway.

He saw the mess and immediately pulled a thick stack of brown paper towels from the wall dispenser. He dropped to his knees and began wiping the hot liquid away from her shoes.

Ethan looked up and noticed Chloe's pale, shell-shocked face. He stood up, gently gripping her elbow, and guided her away from the broken glass.

He led her out of the breakroom. He bypassed the bullpen and pushed open the heavy fire door to the deserted emergency stairwell.

The door closed behind them, plunging them into the quiet, hollow echo of the painted concrete stairwell.

Ethan handed her a clean, dry tissue from his pocket. His voice was soft and deeply reassuring.

"What did Julian do to you?" he asked, his eyes searching her face.

Chloe shook her head. She gripped the tissue tightly. She refused to explain the humiliating details of her past.

"He just hates me," she whispered, her throat burning.

Ethan sighed heavily. He ran a hand through his neat hair, looking frustrated. He leaned against the concrete wall and revealed a piece of critical information he had just learned from HR.

"Julian isn't just an executive," Ethan said quietly. "He is the newly appointed lead director for the entire Harrison partnership."

Chloe closed her eyes. The crushing reality set in. Her chest felt like it was bound in iron bands. Julian would be her ultimate, direct boss for the next year.

Ethan placed a comforting, warm hand on her shoulder. He didn't pull her into a hug, just offered solid, physical support.

"I will watch your back, Chloe. I promise," Ethan said.

Chloe leaned the back of her head against the cold, painted concrete wall. She clutched the crumpled tissue in her fist. She realized with absolute certainty that her nightmare was only just beginning.