Emilia sat upright in the leather chair across from Alessandro Moretti, doing her best not to squirm. The office was a cathedral of power — floor-to-ceiling windows, minimalist design, and the man himself seated behind a desk that looked more like a throne.
Alessandro watched her, silent for a few long seconds.
"You're braver than most," he said finally.
She blinked. "Excuse me?"
"You didn't flinch when you walked in. Most people do. That's… unusual."
Emilia hesitated. "Is this still the interview?"
That made the corner of his mouth twitch — not quite a smile, but something close. "It is. Just not the kind you're expecting."
She tightened her grip on her bag. "With all due respect, Mr. Moretti, I came for a position in marketing, not a psychological evaluation."
His eyes sparked with interest. "And yet here you are. Impressing me."
She couldn't tell if it was a compliment or a warning.
Alessandro leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on the desk. "Tell me, Miss Blake, what brings a small-town girl like you to a city built on blood and ambition?"
"Opportunity," she answered immediately. "And maybe... something bigger than myself."
He tilted his head. "You don't know how right you are."
There it was again — that look. Like he knew something she didn't. Like he was speaking in riddles she didn't understand.
"I'll be honest with you," he continued. "I don't normally involve myself in hiring. But your application stood out."
Her eyebrows lifted. "Why?"
He paused — a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes.
"Instinct."
A knock on the door broke the tension. His assistant leaned in. "Mr. Moretti, the board meeting starts in ten."
He waved her off without looking.
Then stood.
"You're hired."
Emilia's mouth dropped open. "Just like that?"
He moved around the desk, stopping just inches from her. "You're smart, bold, and not afraid of me. That's rare. I value rare."
She swallowed hard. He was close now — too close. And somehow, she still couldn't breathe.
"I'll have my assistant arrange your orientation," he said, his voice lower now. "We'll be seeing a lot of each other, Miss Blake."
And then he was gone, like smoke.
Emilia left the office dazed, half in disbelief. She'd gotten the job. But it didn't feel like victory.
It felt like the start of something dangerous.