Amelia's first major assignment at Metro Daily felt nothing like she had imagined.
She had already spent months working as a junior journalist for the local outlet, covering small stories, chasing leads, and learning how quickly a promising piece could turn into nothing.
But this was different.
The newsroom was louder and more chaotic than usual. Reporters typed rapidly at their desks, phones rang without pause, and editors called out deadlines across the room.
Amelia tightened her grip on her notebook.
She had been waiting for an opportunity like this.
"Amelia Winters?"
The voice pulled her from her thoughts.
She looked up to see Liam approaching her. He was tall, well dressed, and carried himself with the calm confidence of someone who had spent years working in the newsroom.
"I'm Liam, your editor."
Amelia shook his hand.
"Nice to meet you."
A small smile crossed his face.
"Your first major assignment is going to be interesting."
Amelia raised an eyebrow.
"Interesting how?"
"There's a corporate gala tonight. High profile. Steel Corporation is hosting it."
The name immediately caught her attention.
Of course.
Steel Corporation.
Her mind went straight to Xavier.
She quickly pushed the thought aside.
"You'll be covering it," Liam continued. "It's a good opportunity. High-profile guests, executives, investors. If you pay attention, you might find something worth writing about."
Amelia nodded.
"Something beyond what they want people to see?"
Liam's smile widened.
"Exactly."
He handed her a folder.
"Don't just report what everyone else is reporting. Look deeper. That's where the real stories are."
Amelia glanced down at the folder.
Steel Corporation.
She had already been curious about the company. Now she had a legitimate reason to look closer.
By evening, Amelia had gone over her notes several times.
None of it made her feel completely prepared.
Standing in front of her mirror, she adjusted the simple black dress she had chosen. It was elegant without being too flashy, professional without making her look like she was trying too hard.
She pulled her hair back neatly and picked up her notebook.
This was work.
Nothing more.
The gala venue was exactly what she expected.
Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting warm light across the polished floor. Soft music played in the background while guests moved between small groups, dressed in expensive suits and elegant gowns.
For a moment, Amelia felt out of place.
Then she remembered why she was there.
She straightened her shoulders.
She wasn't attending as someone's guest.
She was a journalist.
Her eyes moved across the room, taking in the details.
Executives.
Investors.
Lawyers.
Business partners.
Everyone seemed relaxed, but Amelia noticed how carefully people spoke whenever someone from Steel Corporation joined their conversation.
Interesting.
She made a small note.
Then she saw him.
Xavier Steel stood across the room, surrounded by several executives.
He looked exactly as she remembered.
Dark suit. Calm expression. That same quiet confidence that seemed to follow him wherever he went.
He didn't need to demand attention.
People simply gave it to him.
As though sensing her gaze, Xavier looked up.
Their eyes met.
For a second, neither moved.
Then that familiar smile appeared on his lips.
Amelia immediately looked down at her notebook.
Focus.
She had barely written another sentence when she heard a familiar voice.
"Reporting for Metro Daily?"
She looked up.
Xavier was standing in front of her.
Of course.
"Yes," she replied.
His eyes briefly moved to the notebook in her hand.
"So you've become a journalist."
Amelia gave him a look.
"I've been one for a while."
His eyebrow lifted.
"Have you?"
"Junior journalist," she corrected. "There's a difference."
A faint smile touched his lips.
"And here I thought you were simply following me around."
Amelia shook her head.
"Don't flatter yourself."
His quiet laugh surprised her.
"Still blunt."
"Still observant."
His eyebrow lifted again.
"Are we pretending now?"
Amelia frowned.
"Pretending what?"
"That you don't know who I am."
She paused.
Then decided to play along.
"You are...?"
He gave her an amused look.
"Fine. I'll play along."
He straightened slightly.
"Xavier Steel. CEO of Steel Corporation."
"I've read about your company."
"Have you?"
"Yes."
"And?"
Amelia met his gaze.
"The growth is impressive."
"Flattery?"
"Observation."
For a moment, they simply looked at each other.
Then Amelia closed her notebook.
"I have work to do."
She stepped around him before he could respond.
Behind her, she heard him laugh softly.
Amelia spent the next hour moving through the room, speaking to guests and taking notes.
At first, everything seemed ordinary.
Steel Corporation executives discussed expansion plans. Investors talked about the company's recent growth. Several guests praised the company's leadership.
But the more Amelia listened, the more she noticed small inconsistencies.
One executive avoided answering a question about a recent acquisition.
Another quickly changed the subject when someone mentioned a delayed project.
And more than once, Amelia noticed people lowering their voices whenever a particular name came up.
She wrote it down.
She didn't know what it meant yet.
But that was the point of being a journalist.
She didn't need all the answers immediately.
Sometimes she simply needed to notice the right questions.
As she moved toward the quieter side of the room, Xavier appeared beside her again.
"You handle yourself well in this environment," he said.
Amelia looked at him.
"I handle myself everywhere."
There was a slight pause.
Then his lips curved.
"That was a compliment."
"You have a strange way of giving them."
"Do I?"
"Yes."
She closed her notebook.
"I don't need compliments that sound like criticism."
For the first time that evening, his amusement faded slightly.
He studied her.
"You've changed."
Amelia frowned.
"Since when?"
"Since I first met you."
She wasn't sure what to say to that.
Before she could answer, someone called his name from across the room.
Xavier glanced in that direction.
"I should go."
"Probably."
He looked back at her.
"Good luck with your assignment."
Amelia nodded.
"Thank you."
He walked away.
She watched him for only a second before forcing herself to look back at her notebook.
She had work to do.
Later that evening, her phone buzzed.
A message from Beth.
He held the door for me. I think he's officially hooked.
Amelia smiled.
Another message appeared.
He keeps looking at me like I'm the only person in the room. I might actually like him.
Amelia's smile widened.
After everything Beth had been through with Kale, she deserved to feel happy and certain about someone.
She quickly typed a reply.
Then enjoy it. Just don't forget you have work tomorrow.
Beth responded almost immediately.
You're no fun
Amelia laughed under her breath before putting her phone away.
She looked around the room again.
The gala was beginning to wind down.
People were leaving.
Staff were clearing glasses.
Conversations were becoming quieter.
Amelia looked down at her notebook.
It was filled with observations, names, fragments of conversations, and questions she would need to investigate later.
It wasn't a finished story.
Not yet.
But it was something.
As she stepped outside into the cool night air, Amelia paused.
Her first major assignment had gone better than she expected.
She had collected enough information to start digging into Steel Corporation.
And Xavier had made sure she remembered that he was still very much part of the picture.
She couldn't decide which was more distracting.
The questions surrounding his company...
Or the man himself.
Amelia shook her head and started walking.
Whatever Xavier wanted, she wasn't going to let him distract her from her work.
At least, that was the plan.