I barely slept that night
Despite everything Cassie said to calm me down last night, my mind kept racing. I kept seeing Elan's face, so still, so unreadable. The way he looked at me like he already knew something I didn't. I didn't like it. Not the job, not him, not the way my stomach twisted whenever I remembered his voice. Cold and distant. Like I was just another number on a page.
Still, I had a job. And I couldn't mess it up. My family needed the money. Badly
By 6:30 a.m., I was dressed and ready, pacing in Cassie's tiny living room. Cassie came out half-asleep in a giant t-shirt and blinked at me.
"You're going to wear holes in the floor."
"I'm nervous," I admitted.
She rubbed her eyes. "You'll be fine. Just do what you're told, and don't let anyone get in your head. Especially Trevor or Jeremiah.
"Jeremiah? Who's Jeremiah?" I ask.
Before my question could land, Cassie had disappeared into the room and plunged back onto the bed. "She's probably tired", I think out loud, "she works so hard."
I arrived at Knight Group fifteen minutes early. The same receptionist from yesterday didn't even greet me.
"Amara Hart," I said.
She clicked her keyboard without looking up. "Wait over there."
I sat again, clutching my bag, trying not to bounce my knees.
"Miss Hart?"
A calm voice made me look up. A man stood in front of me. He was short, clean-shaven, dressed in a black suit that probably cost more than my house in Montana. His eyes were sharp, but his smile was warm, too warm.
"Yes?" I stood.
"I'm Jeremiah Jones," he said. "I work with the chairman. I believe you're Mr. Knight's new assistant."
"Yes, sir."
"Come with me. I'll show you your desk."
He walked ahead slowly, hands behind his back.
"Elan has high expectations," he said. "He can be… distant. Don't take it personally."
"I've noticed," I said quietly.
Jeremiah turned to glance at me. "If you ever feel overwhelmed, come to me directly. I know how to handle him."
"Thank you," I replied.
He stopped by a glass desk placed just outside Elan's large office door. "This will be your spot. Good luck, Miss Hart."
"Thanks. But you can call me Amara" I said. But he was already walking away.
At exactly 8:00 a.m., Elan arrived.
He didn't say good morning. He didn't look at me. Just dropped a folder on my desk and said, "Today's schedule. Let me know if anything changes."
Then he walked inside and closed his door.
I sat in silence for a second. Then I opened the folder. Meetings. Calls. Deliveries. Nothing explained. I would have to figure it out on the job.
Around 10:00am, the telephone on my desk rang.
"Knight's office, Amara Hart speaking," I said in my most professional voice, trying to sound confident.
It was the board secretary. She asked something about a proposal. I took notes and knocked on Elan's door.
"Yes?"
I stepped in. "A message from the board secretary. She asked if you've seen the latest draft."
He looked up briefly. "I have. Tell her I'll respond when I'm ready."
I nodded.
As I was about to leave. Elan called out.
"Wait, Amara."
I stopped immediately.
"Yes, Mr. Knight"
He looked at me with suspicion for a few seconds
"Where exactly did you say you got your necklace again?"
"My parents used to own a small jewelry shop in Montana, this was one of their designs, the last one actually"
"Hm," he muttered.
With a wave of his hand, he dismissed me. Not even looking up from his laptop.
Back at my desk, I wrote the note and placed it carefully in the tray beside the phone. My hands were shaking.
"What was that about?" I asked myself angrily. Nevertheless I continued my work, organizing files and writing on my notepad.
Later, I took a quick bathroom break.
Two women were near the sink.
"She's the new one," one of them whispered rather loudly. I heard her clearly.
"Mr. Knight hired her himself," the other said.
"Just like Nadia." She said mockingly.
They noticed me and went silent.
I walked past without saying anything. My heart pounded.
Just after lunch, Elan's voice came through the intercom.
"Come in."
I stepped into his office. The space was still mostly empty; glass walls, a giant desk, no photos on the desk, still no warmth.
"You've done well," he said.
"Thank you."
He looked at me longer than usual. "Why New York?"
I blinked. "I'm sorry?"
"You're from Montana. Why move here?"
"My dad's sick," I said. "He needs better care. I needed a job.". "We've gone over these things before." I think to myself.
He nodded once. "That'll be all."
I stood for a second, confused, "what's his deal?". Then I turned and left.
It was almost five and I was getting my things organized to leave the office when someone leaned on my desk.
"Hey, new girl, Hart, Amara Hart, right?", the voice chattered. "Oof, that rhymed".
I looked up. Trevor.
"You made it through the day."
"Barely."
He grinned. "You want company on the way out?"
I hesitated.
"Calm down," he said. "Just a walk."
I nodded and stood up from my chair.
We got into the elevator.
"So," Trevor said, "how's working for my nice ass brother?"
I laughed softly. "Nice isn't the word I'd use."
Trevor chuckled. "I didn't think so. Elan has always been cold. He used to have a soul and a personality, you know. Now? Just meetings and silence."
I didn't respond.
He looked at me. "Has he given you the whole scary stare routine?"
"Yes!."
He laughed. "Classic Ethan Knight."
The elevator opened.
"Dinner?" he asked casually.
I looked at him. "What?"
"Yeah. A friendly welcome meal."
"Maybe another time." I lowered my voice, trying to sound sad that I could not go.
He smiled, but not with his eyes this time. He really looked like a model. "Alright, Hart. Your loss."
Outside, the air felt cool. I took a deep breath and reached into my pocket to grab my phone.
But instead, I pulled out a folded piece of paper.
I frowned. I hadn't put anything there.
Looking around, I slowly unfolded it.
Neat handwriting. One sentence.
My stomach dropped.
I stared at the words.
Who wrote this and what did they mean by "be careful?"
I contemplated walking back inside the Knight Group building to meet Cassie but I remembered she had to work late that day. I walked away from the building and hailed a cab.
By the time Cassie got home, I was already on the couch, halfway through a bag of popcorn.
"Honey, I'm hoooome!" She shouted. "How're you, my beautiful girl?How was work?Was it horrible?, she hurled questions at me.
"I survived," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.
"You survived?" She asked, with concern lacing her voice.
"Actually, yeah," I said, dropping the bag of popcorn I was munching on. "It was weird. Mr. Knight barely talks. His dad is creepily nice. Trevor asked me out. Also, people are whispering about me already."
Cassie blinked. "Wait. Wait. Hold up. Did you say his dad?"
"Yeah. Jeremiah Jones. He introduced himself this morning."
Cassie sat up straight. "That man's not just his dad, Amara. He's married to Victoria Knight, Elan's mother and is his adoptive father. The one people say took over after Elan's real dad died suddenly."
"Wow," I replied, my eyes widened in wonder.
"Yeah, weird, huh?" Cassie asked.
"Honestly, yes," I replied.
"And you said people were talking?"
"They mentioned Nadia. Stopped talking when I walked in."
"And Trevor asked you out?"
"Sort of. I said no."
Cassie stared at me, how mouth slightly open in wonder, "You've been there one day, Amara Hart"
"I know."
She narrowed her eyes. "Mara you really are something, please be careful. Seriously."
I pulled out the note from my pocket and handed it to her.
She read it twice. Then looked at me. "What the hell does this mean?"
"I don't know," I whispered.