The shrill ring of Lila's phone sliced through the quiet morning like a blade.
Ring! Ring! Ring!
Half-asleep and annoyed, she reached out blindly, swatted the phone, and ended the call without checking the number. But barely three seconds passed before it rang again—louder, more persistent.
Lila groaned, sitting up with heavy eyelids.
"Hello…?" she mumbled.
A crisp female voice answered.
"Good morning. Is this Miss Lila Hart?"
Lila blinked, suddenly more awake. "…Yes?"
"I'm calling from Vaughn Group. You submitted a résumé with us, correct? Congratulations—we're pleased to inform you that you've been hired as a secretary. Please resume work tomorrow morning at eight sharp."
The call ended before Lila even breathed.
She stared at the phone like it had just insulted her ancestors.
"Wait… what?"
She pinched her arm.
"Ouch! Okay… not a dream."
But confusion quickly replaced her shock.
I never submitted any résumé to Vaughn Group.
Her heart dropped.
SOPHIE.
Lila leaped out of bed and stormed into the living room.
"Sophie!" she shouted.
No reply.
She marched into the kitchen and found her best friend, humming happily while flipping eggs.
"Sophie!" Lila repeated, breathless.
"Well, sleeping beauty is finally alive," Sophie teased.
Lila ignored her. "Did you… submit my résumé to Vaughn Group?"
Sophie froze mid-stir. "Uh… define 'submit.'"
"Sophie!"
"Okay, fine!" Sophie squealed, dropping the spoon. "I did! But—wait—did you get the job?"
"Yes!" Lila still sounded like she wasn't sure if she should celebrate or cry.
Sophie shrieked loud enough to awaken the angels. "AHHHHH!! LILA HART, YOU GOT THE JOB OF A LIFETIME!"
She grabbed Lila's hands and spun her in circles, dancing like she had just won the lottery.
Lila did not dance.
She stood stiffly, panic rising.
"I can't work at Vaughn Group," she whispered.
Sophie stopped mid-dance. "Why not?"
"Because the CEO is terrifying! Haven't you heard the stories? He fired his last secretary in less than a week!"
Sophie rolled her eyes dramatically.
"Lila, you're brilliant. You graduated with top grades. You're hardworking, polite, and smart. You deserve this job more than anyone."
"What if I embarrass myself? What if I mess something up and get blacklisted forever?"
"Then don't mess up," Sophie said simply.
Lila stared at her. "…That's not helpful."
But Sophie only grinned, pinching her cheeks.
"You're panicking because you're scared—not because you're incapable."
Lila sighed in defeat. "I don't even have professional clothes."
"Then we go shopping!" Sophie declared proudly.
"Sophie, you can't keep spending money on me—"
"Shh. Think of it as an investment into your future success," Sophie winked. "You'll pay me back when you're rich."
Lila knew she wouldn't take a single penny back even if she begged.
---
Later that evening…
After shopping and trying on more outfits than she'd ever worn in her life, Sophie insisted they celebrate at a club.
Lila tried refusing. She really did.
But Sophie's excitement was impossible to fight.
The club was loud, filled with flashing lights and pulsing music. They danced, drank, and laughed until Lila's steps turned wobbly.
"I'm… drunk," she giggled, holding onto a wall. "And I have work tomorrow… this is bad…"
She headed toward the restroom, but halfway there, a hand grabbed her waist.
"Hey, sweetheart," a man whispered in her ear. "You look lonely. Want some company?"
Lila tried pulling away. "Let… go."
"You're drunk," he smirked.
"You're the drunk one," she slurred.
No one else was around. Fear crawled up her spine as the man tried pulling her away.
Then—
"She said leave her alone."
The voice was deep, commanding, and ice-cold.
The man froze instantly, then paled when he saw who it was.
"M–Mister—"
"Leave," the newcomer ordered sharply.
The man ran without a second thought.
Lila blinked, her vision hazy. She could barely make out a tall figure, broad shoulders, and an aura so powerful it felt like the music quieted around them.
"You… you saved me," she mumbled.
She grabbed his sleeve to steady herself.
"Thank you…"
And then—before he could react—she tiptoed and pressed a soft, clumsy kiss to his lips.
"That's my first kiss," she giggled. "But you're handsome, so… it's fine."
She turned to leave, but a firm hand caught her wrist.
A warm breath brushed her ear as a deep voice whispered—
"You started this."
His lips crashed onto hers in a kiss that stole her breath, her thoughts, and every remaining piece of sobriety she had left.