Aurora's Pov
I managed to escape. No one noticed when I slipped out, not even Maya. I couldn't risk staying there any longer.
"I knew I'd get in trouble with Harrison, but at that moment, I couldn't bring myself to care."
He'd sent a text around 5 a.m. I ignored it. Probably another threat—promising to kill me. It wasn't the first, and by now, I was almost numb to them. He couldn't actually kill me, hurt me… definitely. Because he knew he needed me too much.
"Oh baby, I'm so happy for you," my mom said while brushing through my hair. Her voice carried that tender softness she rarely showed. "You know, I always wanted to be a finance girlie, but life threw its problems."
"It's fine, Mom." I tried to change the subject. "And you really don't have to be dressing me up. I'm a grown adult."
"Yeah, yeah. I was bored and wanted to see my baby girl off."
"Right," I said, taking the brush from her. "Thank you." This time, my smile was real.
"I'll drop Lily off. You have an amazing first day."
"Mom! Please." I laughed. "I'm not going to kindergarten."
"Fine, fine," she said, raising her hands in surrender. "You're such a pretty girl." She gave me one last look before stepping out of my room.
---
I was nervous.
The cab stopped in front of a towering glass building: Helix Corporation.
Precision. Power. Perfection.
I had been hired as a strategic analyst. My brain had finally paid off. I hadn't told Bryan, he'd be so proud of me.
The building was a masterpiece, every edge gleaming, every person moving like they'd been wound up by some invisible clock. Organized. Robotic. Intimidating.
At the reception desk, an older woman barely looked up.
"Good morning, I'm Aurora Blake—"
"New hires?" She cut me off, totally ignoring my greetings.
"Uh… yes, I was told—"
"Just go sit over there. You'll be attended to."
"Alright… thanks," I muttered, forcing a smile she didn't return.
I joined a small group waiting on the other side. It looked as if I was the last person coming. Only one seat was left.
"Hey, I'm Mia," the girl beside me said warmly.
"Hey," I said, relieved. "Aurora."
"Congratulations," she smiled.
"You too. How long have you guys been here?"
"Not long. I heard they're setting up for orientation."
"Oh, alright. I love your dress."
"Aww, thank you. Can you tell I spent my life savings on it last night just for this?" she whispered, laughing.
I laughed too. "Nah, definitely not."
---
Seven of us. Five guys, Mia, and me.
We were walked upstairs, introduced ourselves to the board, and listened to endless instructions about protocols and expectations.
They talked about the new CEO—two months in the role. Strict, they said. Demanding.
Jayden, another new hire, had also been picked as a strategic analyst. I'm pretty sure I was their first choice though.They told us both we'd be working closely with him. They said it would just be the two of us seeing him today.
I was excited to show off my skills to the new CEO, even though they mentioned he was a bit strict. I'd worked with strict people or rather I was working with one every damn night. No one could be worse than that devil.
---
We waited in a sleek conference room for nearly an hour. He was late. Everyone looked calm, like they were used to it. Jayden shifted impatiently, mirroring how I felt.
"Guess that makes us the chosen ones," Jayden said, breaking the silence.
I offered him a polite smile. "Or the unlucky ones, depending on how you look at it."
He chuckled. "You nervous?"
I shook my head quickly, "Nope."
"Mm-hm," he said, smirk widening, "then why do you keep fixing your notes like your life depends on it?"
I glanced down at the stack in my hands, realizing I had already straightened the edges five times in less than a minute. Heat crept up my neck. I set the papers down and crossed my arms. "Maybe I just like being prepared."
He leaned closer, his cologne sharp but not unpleasant. "Or maybe you just don't want me to outshine you in here."
I scoffed. "You'd have to shine first."
He laughed quietly, shaking his head, and for a moment, it almost felt less tense—like friendly competition. But the silence that followed swallowed me whole.
That was when the door opened.
A tall man entered, tailored suit hugging his frame, his cologne claiming the room before his voice could. A hush fell across the room, my heart hammering in my chest as heavy footsteps echoed closer. I already knew he carried authority—the kind you could feel before you even saw him.
And when I finally did see his face, my blood froze.
Holy shit.