The office atmosphere at Belonia Enterprises had one unspoken rule.
Never make a mistake.
And if you did…
Pray Belonia didn't notice.
Elina learned that rule the hard way on her third day.
The morning began normally. Employees moved quickly through the office with the quiet urgency that came from working under a demanding boss.
Elina sat at her desk outside Belonia's office, organizing documents for the upcoming board meeting.
She checked the report again.
And again.
Everything seemed correct.
Still, a small knot of nervousness sat in her stomach. Belonia had barely spoken to her since her first day except to give instructions in short, sharp sentences.
No greetings.
No kindness.
Just work.
At 10:30 AM, Belonia walked out of his office.
The entire hallway seemed to straighten instantly.
His dark suit fit perfectly against his tall frame, his sharp eyes scanning the room like a storm about to break.
"Conference room," he said coldly.
Everyone gathered quickly.
Elina followed, carrying the files he had requested.
Inside the conference room, executives and managers took their seats while Belonia stood at the head of the long table.
"Let's begin."
The meeting started smoothly.
Investors discussed numbers.
Managers presented projections.
Then Belonia reached for one of the reports.
Elina's report.
He flipped through the pages silently.
At first, his expression didn't change.
Then his jaw tightened slightly.
Elina felt her heart drop.
Belonia placed the file slowly on the table.
"Who prepared this?"
The room went quiet.
Elina raised her hand carefully.
"I did."
His gaze lifted to meet hers.
Cold.
Sharp.
Disappointed.
"You call this accurate work?"
Her throat tightened.
"I checked it twice."
Belonia opened the report again and pointed to a page.
"This revenue figure is off by two percent."
Elina leaned forward slightly.
Her stomach sank.
He was right.
She must have copied the earlier draft instead of the corrected version.
It was a small mistake.
But in this company…
Small mistakes were still mistakes.
Belonia's voice grew colder.
"Do you know what happens when numbers are wrong in this business?"
Elina remained silent.
He answered for her.
"People lose money."
The executives shifted uncomfortably.
Belonia's eyes remained fixed on her.
"You were hired because you claimed you were capable."
His tone cut deeper with each word.
"So far, I see no proof of that."
The humiliation burned in Elina's chest.
She lowered her eyes slightly.
"I'll correct it immediately."
Belonia scoffed.
"Of course you will. That's the bare minimum expectation."
The meeting continued, but Elina barely heard anything afterward.
Her face felt warm with embarrassment.
When it finally ended, the room emptied quickly.
Everyone avoided looking at her.
Except one person.
Victor Hale.
He leaned casually against the doorframe with an amused smile.
"Rough morning?" he said gently.
Elina forced a polite smile.
"I'll survive."
Victor studied her curiously.
Most employees looked terrified after Belonia's public criticism.
But Elina simply looked… determined.
"You know," Victor said casually, "Belonia treats everyone like that. Don't take it personally."
Elina gathered her papers.
"I'm not."
Victor chuckled softly.
"You're interesting."
Before Elina could reply, Belonia's voice cut through the hallway.
"Victor."
Victor sighed dramatically.
"Speak of the devil."
Belonia stood across the room, his expression dark.
Victor walked over casually.
"You scared your new assistant," Victor said.
Belonia glanced briefly toward Elina.
"She should learn quickly then."
Victor folded his arms.
"You could try being human once in a while."
Belonia's eyes hardened.
"I run a company, not a daycare."
Victor laughed.
"And here I thought that was her previous job."
Belonia ignored the joke and turned back toward his office.
But before closing the door, he glanced at Elina one more time.
She was already correcting the report.
Focused.
Silent.
Not crying.
Not complaining.
Just working.
For reasons he didn't fully understand…
That irritated him.
Later that evening, Elina met Clara at a small café.
Clara arrived wearing a sleek black dress, her confident energy filling the room.
"Well?" Clara asked immediately. "How's the ice king treating you?"
Elina sighed.
"He humiliated me in front of the entire executive team today."
Clara winced.
"Ouch."
"But he was right," Elina admitted. "I made a mistake."
Clara leaned forward.
"You know Belonia has a reputation for destroying employees' confidence, right?"
Elina stirred her tea quietly.
"I won't let him destroy mine."
Clara smiled proudly.
"That's the spirit."
Then she leaned closer with a mischievous grin.
"So… is he as handsome up close as everyone says?"
Elina rolled her eyes.
"Yes."
Clara laughed loudly.
"I knew it!"
"But he's also the coldest person I've ever met."
Clara leaned back in her chair.
"Men like him are dangerous."
"Why?"
"Because when they finally fall in love…" Clara said softly, "…they fall the hardest."
Elina shook her head.
"That man will never fall in love."
High above the city, Belonia stood in his penthouse again, looking down at the glowing streets below.
Victor's words replayed in his mind.
You scared your new assistant.
Belonia poured another glass of whiskey.
He didn't care about employees' feelings.
That had always been the rule.
Yet for some reason…
He found himself remembering the way Elina quietly accepted the criticism without breaking.
No tears.
No excuses.
Just determination.
Belonia took a slow sip of his drink.
Annoyed.
Because something about that girl refused to be crushed.
And for the first time in a long time…
Belonia felt something unfamiliar stirring beneath his carefully controlled world.
Something dangerous.
Curiosity.