The next morning, Maya woke with a mix of dread and anticipation. Her small apartment felt colder than usual, and the eviction notice still sat on the table like a reminder of her fragile reality. She rubbed her eyes and whispered to herself, You can do this. Just one day at a time.
By the time she arrived at Cole Towers, the lobby was already buzzing with people in tailored suits and expensive shoes. Maya felt out of place, like a paper boat floating in a sea of yachts. But she squared her shoulders and reminded herself why she was here: survival.
She pressed the elevator button, praying she wouldn't mess anything up on the very first day. The elevator doors slid open with a soft whoosh, and she stepped inside, her heels clicking against the polished floor. When the doors opened on the 15th floor, a wave of silence hit her. It wasn't the kind of silence that felt empty. It was a commanding silence — powerful, precise, and intimidating.
Maya approached Adrian's office, her palms sweaty despite her efforts to stay calm. She knocked softly.
"Come in," came the familiar voice.
Adrian didn't look up from his screen. "You're on time."
She exhaled. Small victories.
"Sit," he commanded. Maya obeyed, sliding into the chair she had memorized yesterday. The office smelled faintly of cedar and cologne. The scent was oddly grounding, though she refused to admit it.
"First task," Adrian said without looking up. "Emails. You have to respond to ten of them before noon. Prioritize clients who are complaining. Use my tone. Copy everything to me."
Maya opened the email client, and the first one made her want to cry: a furious investor complaining about a missed deadline. Her fingers hovered above the keyboard. Tone. Copy his tone. But what did that mean exactly? She hesitated.
Adrian's sharp voice cut through her thoughts. "Type. Now."
Swallowing her fear, she mimicked the way she had seen him write: concise, cold, and professional, but not rude. It wasn't perfect, but it was readable. By the fifth email, she was moving faster, more confident. By the tenth, Adrian glanced over her shoulder, his dark eyes narrowing thoughtfully.
"Not bad," he said. His voice was almost… approving. Maya's stomach flipped. She wasn't sure she had ever heard him give approval in her life.
"Next," he continued, sliding a file across the desk. "Financial summaries. Review and highlight anything irregular."
Maya took a deep breath. She scanned the documents carefully, her mind racing. Numbers, charts, projections — her head felt like it might explode. But then she noticed it: a minor error in last month's reports. She marked it immediately.
Adrian leaned back in his chair, watching her. "You catch mistakes quickly. Most assistants miss that. Why?"
Maya shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. "I… pay attention. I can't afford mistakes in my life right now."
He stared at her for a long moment. "Interesting," he said finally, turning back to his screen. "Don't get used to praise. I don't hand it out."
Maya's cheeks warmed, but she forced herself to remain calm. She was here to work, not chase compliments.
Hours passed in a blur of emails, documents, and small tasks. Maya's energy waned, but her determination never did. She was determined to survive Adrian Cole, to prove that she belonged — not because she wanted his approval, but because she had to survive, and she had no other choice.
By the time she left the office that evening, her mind was exhausted, but a small spark of pride flickered within her. She had made it through her first day without disaster. She had even impressed him, just slightly.
As she exited Cole Towers, the city lights reflected on the glass buildings around her. The streets buzzed with life, but Maya felt a strange sense of solitude. She had stepped into a world that was bigger than anything she had ever known. Dangerous. Exciting. And it was only just beginning.
She clutched her bag tightly and whispered to herself, Tomorrow, I'll do better.
But somewhere deep down, she knew it wasn't just about doing better. Adrian Cole had entered her life like a storm, and storms didn't just pass quietly. They left change in their wake.
And Maya Reed was about to be changed forever.