CHAPTER THREE — FIRST MEETING WITH THE BOSS
The meeting felt like an interrogation.
The CEO's gaze lingered on her far longer than it should have when she stammered through her introductions. Every time she dared to glance his way, he was already looking at her calm, unreadable, as if he were peeling back layers she didn't even know she had.
She gripped the notepad tighter, forcing herself to focus on the droning voices around the table. Budgets, deadlines, and client complaints are words that might as well have been spoken in another lifetime.
"Lin," the CEO's voice cut through her thoughts.
Her head snapped up. "Yes, sir?"
"Summarize the last five minutes," he said smoothly, leaning back in his chair.
Her stomach lurched. She'd been so busy trying not to drown in panic that she hadn't heard half of it.
She glanced at her notes, a mess of scribbles, and took a gamble. "The marketing budget is being reduced by twelve percent, so the proposal will be revised and resubmitted by Friday."
A flicker of surprise crossed his face. Not bad. Maybe she could bluff her way through this.
"Good," he said simply, before moving on.
When the meeting ended, chairs scraped against the floor as employees hurried out. She stayed seated, pulse thudding in her ears.
"Lin," his deep voice called again.
She rose slowly and followed him out of the conference room, down a quiet hallway that smelled faintly of cedar and expensive cologne.
His office was nothing like the cramped cubicles outside. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a view of the city skyline, sunlight spilling over sleek black furniture and polished shelves.
He shut the door behind them. The click sounded unnervingly final.
"Sit," he ordered, gesturing to the chair opposite his desk.
She obeyed, keeping her eyes on the smooth wood surface rather than his face.
A long silence stretched between them.
"You're different," he said finally.
Her heart stuttered. "Different?"
"You were sloppy, careless. Always late. Last month, you almost cost the company a contract." He leaned forward, elbows resting on the desk. "Now, suddenly, you're early. Alert. Almost… competent."
She forced a shrug. "Trying to do better."
"Hmm." His eyes narrowed slightly, scanning her face as if searching for cracks. "And your voice. It's… different, too."
She swallowed. "Sore throat."
His gaze lingered a beat longer before he leaned back again. "I don't like surprises, Lin. If there's something I should know, you'll tell me. Understand?"
"Yes, sir," she said quickly.
He studied her for a moment more, then slid a folder across the desk. "You're covering the client meeting tomorrow. I'll be observing."
Her fingers tightened around the folder. "Me?"
"Yes. If you can't handle it, I'll replace you by next week."
A jolt of panic ran through her. She needed this job or rather, this body needed this job to keep "her" family fed and the landlord off their backs.
"I can handle it," she said, injecting her voice with a confidence she didn't feel.
"Good." He glanced at his watch. "Now get back to work."
She stood, eager to escape his penetrating gaze, and made it halfway to the door before his voice stopped her.
"Oh, and Lin?"
She turned.
His lips curved not quite a smile, but close. "Whatever you're hiding… I'll find it."
Outside his office, she exhaled shakily, clutching the folder.
She had survived her first meeting with the boss barely.
But deep down, she knew he wasn't bluffing.
If she made one wrong move, he'd uncover the truth.
And in this world, that truth could destroy her.