The following morning, Emmy arrived at M.K. Company feeling a mixture of determination and mild dread. Yesterday had been intense, but today promised something different—Aiden had hinted at a "special task."
Special task? Translation: something designed to make me pull my hair out while he smirks like a maniac.
She walked toward her desk, carefully balancing a coffee cup in one hand and her notebook in the other. The office buzzed with the usual high-powered energy, but Emmy was hyper-focused. Every glance, every movement, every whisper could be a clue, a trap, or a distraction.
---
Aiden's Morning Surprise
Before she could even settle in, Aiden appeared, leaning against her desk as casually as if the office were his living room. "Good morning, new girl. Ready for today?"
Emmy raised an eyebrow. "Do I have a choice?"
He chuckled softly, eyes glinting. "Technically… yes. But practically? No. Today, you're attending a meeting. A very important one."
Meeting? With him? Or with Keylor? Great, I hope my heart can survive the stress… and the view.
"Who's it with?" she asked cautiously, trying to hide her curiosity.
Aiden smirked. "Oh, you'll see. Consider it… an exclusive invitation."
Exclusive invitation… that's corporate code for 'prepare to die slowly.'
---
The Walk of Tension
As they made their way to the conference room, Emmy noted how Aiden walked beside her like a cat circling its prey. She felt an odd mixture of irritation and intrigue—he was infuriating, yet somehow magnetic.
Stop noticing that. Focus on surviving the meeting… and maybe finding secrets to exploit.
The corridor stretched endlessly, the floor polished to a mirror-like sheen. Emmy's heels clicked in rhythm with her heartbeats. Every step seemed amplified, echoing her nervous excitement.
You've trained for this. Years of planning, patience, and strategy. You are ready.
---
The Unexpected Encounter
They entered the conference room, and Emmy froze for a fraction of a second. The room was filled with executives, all seated in anticipation. And at the head of the table… Mac Keylor himself.
Finally. The man who destroyed everything. Face-to-face.
Keylor's sharp eyes scanned the room, eventually settling on Emmy. She held his gaze for a fleeting moment, her lips curling into a subtle, polite smile.
Smile. Calm. Don't let him see fear. Not yet.
Aiden nudged her slightly. "Relax. Or as relaxed as you can be around the big lion."
Big lion? I'm not here to relax. I'm here to conquer.
---
The Task Begins
Keylor cleared his throat. "I've called this meeting to discuss a sensitive project—one that requires precision, discretion, and sharp minds. Emmy, you'll be assisting in compiling the preliminary data."
Emmy nodded, hiding her shock at being included directly. Direct access… this is a goldmine.
She opened her notebook and started taking notes, meticulously recording every word, every hint, every subtle expression. Aiden sat nearby, his smirk teasing but encouraging.
He's watching. Good. Let him notice my brilliance.
---
Flirty Friction
During the meeting, Aiden leaned closer to whisper, "Careful. Keylor notices small mistakes… and he doesn't forgive easily."
Emmy glanced at him, biting back a grin. "Thanks for the tip. But if he notices, I'll blame you."
He raised an eyebrow, feigning offense. "Blame me? You wound me, new girl. I thought we were allies in this cruel office jungle."
Allies… maybe. But don't let him know I might enjoy teasing him back.
---
A Funny Incident
Halfway through the meeting, an executive dropped a pen, causing a brief clatter. Emmy couldn't help but glance at Aiden, who gave her a dramatic, exaggerated sigh of disapproval.
"You're too easily distracted," he whispered, smirking. "Focus, or you'll fail spectacularly."
Emmy rolled her eyes. "Oh, relax. I've got this."
Spectacularly… huh? Maybe I'll give him a tiny heart attack instead.
---
Secrets Revealed
By mid-afternoon, Emmy uncovered something that made her heart race—hidden accounts, off-the-books projects, and financial irregularities pointing directly to Keylor's secretive manipulations.
Jackpot. Exactly what I needed.
She scribbled notes furiously, linking each irregularity to potential leverage points. Her mind raced, calculating, planning, imagining how she would expose Keylor without anyone suspecting her.
Aiden leaned over, eyes flicking to her notes. "Finding something interesting, new girl?"
She looked up, feigning casualness. "Just… reviewing the data."
He smirked knowingly. "Uh-huh. I'll bet you're more excited than you're letting on."
Excited… maybe. But mostly… I'm getting closer to my goal.
---
A Subtle Romantic Moment
As the day ended, Aiden walked her to the elevator. "You did well today," he said quietly, his usual smirk softened into something almost… sincere.
Emmy felt her pulse quicken. Sincere? Did he just… compliment me without sarcasm?
"Thanks," she replied, keeping her tone steady. "But I'm just getting started."
He looked at her, eyes catching the glow of the late afternoon sun. "I'll be watching… closely."
Closely… Ugh. Stop thinking about it. Focus on revenge.
---
Evening Reflections
As the elevator descended, Emmy allowed herself a moment to reflect. Today had been exhausting but incredibly revealing. Not only had she gained direct insight into Keylor's secrets, but she had also learned more about Aiden's patterns, personality, and weaknesses.
Every smirk, every tease, every glance… I notice. I learn. I use it.
Exiting the building, she felt a surge of determination. This was no longer just surviving; this was strategic domination, step by step, file by file, teasing moment by teasing moment.
Tomorrow… more secrets, more tests, more Aiden.
And maybe… just maybe… a little less hate and a little more… intrigue