Dear Lilac,

After careful consideration, the hiring team has decided to extend an offer to you for the position of “Personal Assistant” to Mr. Ryke Kolynsky. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the candidate originally selected has had to part ways with the company, and we believe you are a great fit for our team.

Will you be available to start tomorrow?

***

At first, I couldn’t believe my eyes. What sort of unimaginable luck is this? Is it supposed to be a prank? These were the thoughts that ran through my mind as I stared at the email back at home that afternoon. I’d read it over and over again, unable to believe that somehow this entire thing had ended up in my favor.

It made no sense. Somehow, magically, the person they hired had to be let go the very first day on the job and I was apparently the next best candidate?

Hell no.

But, the very next day, I was walking through Silvercrest’s bustling departments as Helen, the hiring manager, took me on an orientation tour round the offices. Yep. I’d replied to the email that I was available to start, texted my boss at Golden Spoon cafe that I was quitting, and showed up at Silvercrest as was required of me.

Whether it made sense or not, I was going to be a fool to let this opportunity pass me by. My life was strange but slowly and surely, I was getting used to the fast-paced style the universe was adapting for me.

“And finally, here is the big boss’ office,” Helen said as we finally came to a stop in front of a huge door. Of course, we were on the private floor and hallway I’d accidentally been on that fateful day last week.

Helen opened the door and I held my breath as it swung wider and wider, expecting to see the man on the other side. But it was empty, merely a well-decorated office space most likely for an assistant. Which was me. So this was my office.

My eyes glittered as I took the space in. My own office. Seriously, how was my life real?

There was another door which I guessed led to Ryke’s actual office, and sure enough, as we entered, there Ryke Kolynsky was, bent over his desk writing something.

My heart rate picked up at the sight of him which was weird and annoying, but I ignored it.

“Good morning, sir,” Helen greeted, and I followed suit. “Good morning, Mr. Kolynsky.”

Ryke kept writing for a moment and when it seemed like he was done, he finally deemed us worthy of his time and looked up. His expression was bored as it took the both of us in, barely changing when he saw me. It was as if our meeting yesterday never happened.

But really, what did I expect? Just because we’d met, he should treat me familiarly? I rolled my eyes at myself in my head.

“Good morning.” Ryke greeted in return.

“This is your new assistant, Miss. Evans.”

Ryke nodded. His eyes met mine and held, undecipherable. “Welcome. I take it you’re starting today?”

“Yes, Mr. Kolynsky,” I nodded. And that was it. Just like that, my life had turned around.

***

I was finally allowed to settle into my space in the lobby outside Ryke’s office. I had a computer to myself. God, I’d never even owned so much as a laptop, but now, I could get one million of them if I so wished because goddamn my pay was obscenely high. I still couldn’t believe ten thousand dollars was going to be sitting in my empty account by the end of the month. Not until I saw it with my own eyes.

Snapping back to attention, I quickly turned on the computer, wondering what my tasks were supposed to be for that morning. I hadn’t been told anything by Helen and so I planned to just focus on organizing Ryke’s own tasks for the day. Maybe I should go into his office to ask if there was anything he wanted me to do…

I snapped my eyes shut at that, heart pounding stupidly from just the thought of being alone with him in his office. When I opened them again, my computer had booted up completely.

Just as I went to pull up the browser so I could log in to my email, I heard Ryke call, “Miss. Evans,” from within his closed office.

Okay. Here we go.

I got up, tugging my pencil skirt that had ridden up my thigh down. It was so short, almost tiny and toeing the lines of inappropriate, but it was the only one I owned. My small collection of clothes consisted of casual outfits and even though I had nothing else, I didn’t intend to wear this every single day. But at least for my first day, I had to show up in the dress code — business attire.

I hovered outside Ryke’s door, unsure of whether I was to knock. Eventually, I did, and after a muffled ‘Come in.’, I pushed open the door and stepped inside, closing it behind me.

“You called, sir?”

Ryke leaned back in his chair, frame highlighted by the floor to ceiling windows right behind him. The aura this man exuded in that simple position was so powerful, it was insane. His gaze was intense and I felt the urge to look away, but given what I knew about him, I wasn’t going to give him the chance to perceive me as weak.

“I’ve been waiting for my morning coffee for thirty minutes since you arrived. Did Helen not inform you of your duties?”

My eyes widened. Shit. She did, I’d completely forgotten. Only an hour here and I was already slipping up.

“She did. I-I’m sorry. I’ll get on that right away.”

Ryke frowned, replying, “I expect you to stay on top of your responsibilities, especially as a new hire. There’s no room for mistakes in this office.”

I grimaced. “Understood, sir. How do you like your coffee?”

Ryke’s eyes held mine for a moment, then slowly, purposefully, they dragged down my face to my neck, my body, lingering for seconds too long so I felt my face begin to burn. Then, those green eyes flitted back up to mine and he leaned forward and propped his head up on his hand.

“I like it sweet, Miss. Evans.”

Nodding hard, I swung on my heels and left the office as fast as possible, unable to stay there one second longer. To make matters worse, even as I had my back turned to him as I fled, I could still feel those eyes burning a trail across the back of my body.

The air conditioning on my side of the office was on full blast, but my body still felt overheated from his actions, sweating as I searched for a mug. That’s how insane I felt, how I was coming to realize that Ryke could unravel me with just a few words.

At least, by the time I found where Ryke’s mugs and cups were kept, I had cooled down. Still, red remained in my cheeks. How unlike myself I was acting, just because a man decided to look me up and down. Maybe I needed to get laid. It’s been too long, I was basically a virgin once again.

I’d set the coffee beans into the machine before I went searching for a mug, so I didn’t have to wait long for it to finish processing. My years of working as a barrister at GoldenSpoon kicked into gear and soon, I had a fully made cup of coffee on the tabletop. I grabbed a saucer and set the mug in it, then made my way back into Ryke’s office.

Ryke stopped what he was doing as soon as I walked in, focusing that laser attention of his back on me again. I moved closer to him, leaning over the table to place the drink in front of him. As I pulled back to stand properly again, Ryke’s eyes jerked up to mine, guilty, like they’d been looking at something they shouldn’t have.

Confused, I blinked at him, but he didn’t say anything. He picked up his mug and took a sip. For whatever reason, I felt nervous about him tasting my coffee. Ryke wasn’t the first person I’d made coffee for. It used to be my job till literally just yesterday and I didn’t give a shit about my taste as long as it met GoldenSpoon’s standards.

Yet here I was, watching every one of Ryke's reactions to the drink.

“Hm,” he hummed. “This is good; really well made. The taste is almost familiar, though,” Ryke raised an eyebrow at me.

I smiled bashfully. “If you’ve ever frequented Golden Spoon, that might be the reason why. I used the cafe’s techniques because I used to work there.” Bringing up GoldenSpoon reminded me unnecessarily of that moment between us yesterday in front of it.

“Really?” Ryke’s eyes lit up at this information. But, his expression shifted into a confused frown. “Wait. How come I never saw you?”

“I worked in the kitchen. It’s the cashier who handles the customers most of the time unless I needed to serve a table, and… no offense, but I’m assuming you wouldn’t eat in a public place like that. There was no way you could have seen me.”

Ryke chuckled and shook his head. “I suppose.”

Now that he’d approved the drink, I guessed there was no need for me to wait around in there any longer. I could come back later to pick the mug and saucer. But before I could leave, Ryke spoke again.

“I’m glad I was safe this time.”

I blinked. “Sorry?”

“I’m not in the habit of repeating myself, Miss. Evans. But I said, I’m glad I was safe this time. You seem to have a frightful habit of spilling… liquids all over me.”

I blushed in embarrassment. He was right, but did he have to bring it up? But, frowning, I realized something. “Habit?” Wasn’t that a stretch? As far as I was concerned, I’d only ever poured something on him once because before that day, I’d literally never even met him.

Ryke stood up from his chair and circled around his table, walking slowly, closer and closer toward me. I wasn’t sure of what was happening, but I knew one thing. My heart skipped several beats, the poor thing pounding away in my chest and I felt very much like a prey being stalked by a predator, hungry. Gearing to devour.

“Yes, Miss. Evans. Habit.” My confusion must have shown all over my face because Ryke continued, now in front of and looking down at me, “You don’t remember? Say you don’t remember it, Angel.”

Angel?

I jolted, almost stumbling back.

As I stood there, shocked out of my mind, memories made blurry and forgotten by the alcohol that night came sharply into focus at the sound of that nickname.

Angel. Angel. Angel.

My eyes widened as I took in the beautiful face in front of me. The face that had been so distantly familiar for reasons I couldn’t make sense of. Except I knew why now.

--------------------

I swayed over the man. He was so sexy I could feel my panties dampen just looking at him. “Hi, Miss…” Fuck, even his voice was just as sexy.

“Lilac.” I supplied, the word slurred on my lips. “Just Lilac. And you?”

He grinned, “Ryke.”

---------------------

A club—dim lights, inescapable noise. The stench of booze and hot, sensual movements. Lips sliding. Green eyes.

‘Angel’ groaned hotly into my ear.

As if he could see where my thoughts had been, Ryke’s eyes burned with satisfaction and relief. And I swallowed hard as the reality settled deep into my bones. I made out, quick and dirty, with Ryke fucking Kolynsky in a club. I remembered, with humiliation, that I threw up all over him.

And now, he was my boss.

Lilac’s POV

‘Oh my God. Ryke?!” I gasped. “Wait, no, shit. I mean, Mr. Kolynsky. Shit, I am so, so sorry.” I was scrambling to gather myself and my thoughts.

As I stared into Ryke’s amused but intense forest gaze, I could not believe it. What. The. Fuck. What the hell do you mean I'd kissed and basically grinded all over to near oblivion was Bayview City’s hottest and richest bachelor?

Like I knew the man was definitely one of the upperclass wealthy men, Millie and I had already established that. But of all people, it was Ryke Kolynsky?! What sort of god did I please to have landed myself in such a situation, the situation being his lap?

This man had pulled ungodly sounds out of my lips. His hands, fuck, his mouth had been all over my body, and distinctly, all over my chest. I knew what his… what his… dick… felt like.

And now he was standing in front of me. Heat crept into my cheeks.

“Angel…” Ryke's voice was teasing and he stepped even closer now, fresh coffee breath alerting my senses. “Where did your mind go?”

“N-n-nowhere!” I had to tilt my head up to look at him. That's how close he was.

“Let me guess. You're thinking about how you…” He couldn't possibly know I'd been thinking about his dick… “Threw up all over me.”

Oh.

My eyes screwed shut and I groaned. How could I forget that? “Fuck. Ry- Mr. Kolynsky, I am so sorry. Were you okay? I hope I didn't ruin your clothes…”

“Not anymore than the coffee you poured the other day ruined my suit.”

Wow, there was no coming back from this. He was never going to let these two things go. I flung my eyes open to apologize again, grovel if need be, but my movements were halted when I saw his green eyes twinkle in the light.

He was just teasing me. Of course.

I huffed and looked away, not sure if I was pouting but not really wanting to fix my face. Ryke laughed, something beautiful and melodious that I had no choice but to look at him again.

Our eyes met and a silence fell between us. But one thought lingered in my mind.

Was he going to fire me now?

I recalled Silvercrest’s employee manual and remembered its content clear as day because it had only been this morning since I read it. According to the book, it was a rule that employer and employee relationships were strictly forbidden.

I knew what we'd done was before I got hired, but I couldn't be sure. The possibility of me losing this job before I'd even started, my plans for a ten thousand dollar account balance, both flashed before my eyes and immediately, I would have done anything to resolve the issue before it became too big of a problem.

“I understand what we did that night…” I blushed again, “...that was very unprofessional of me, Mr. Kolynsky, but I swear it won't happen again.”

I don't know what happened, but as soon as those words left my mouth, it was as if cold water had been doused over a fire. Ryke’s nose flared and his expression shifted, mouth tense and brows drawing tight. The sparkle in his eyes extinguished.

“Really. Ever again?” Ryke gritted his jaw. “Wow, Lilac, I really thought we, I mean, I was hoping…” He trailed off.

Hoping what? Ryke pulled away completely, putting some distance between us so it felt like I could breathe away. But the next second, I missed his presence sorely. He didn't seem to have the right words and I couldn't shake the feeling in my bones that there was something I was missing.

But Ryke didn't say anything else, merely leveling me with his now distant and cold gaze. I guess it was back to normal now.

“Sir, I fully understand Silvercrest's employer-employee policies regarding sexual- Uh… romantic relationships. You can rest assured, I'm only interested in maintaining a completely professional relationship.”

As though something just clicked in his head, Ryke stared at me, unblinking. The look of cool nonchalance was completely wiped away, replaced now by confusion. “Policies?”

“Yes? The one written in the employee manual. Miss. Helen shared it with me this morning and I'd have brought up this entire issue, but I swear I didn't remember and—”

Ryke sighed, cutting me off. “It's fine, Miss. Evans.” It was back to Miss. Evans once again. No more Lilac. No more Angel. Something disappointed sank in my chest, missing the way my name sounded on his lips. “It happened before you joined Silvercrest so we can put that all behind us, can't we?”

“Y-yes, sir!” I nodded frantically. So I wasn't going to get fired. Thank the fucking heavens!

“Good. And one more thing. Not a word of this to anyone. Not to any coworkers and certainly not to Helen. Let's just pretend it never happened.”

“What never happened?” I asked, following along and blinking innocently.

Ryke smirked, “Exactly.”

I smiled at him but he didn't reciprocate, instead turning around to move back to his chair and start typing away on his computer. The strange atmosphere that lingered in the chilled office seemed to clear up immediately after this.

“What's on my schedule this morning?” Ryke asked.

Snapping to attention, I took out my phone and pulled up the calendar that was shared with me. “You have a meeting in twenty seven minutes with Delhouse Electricity Providers regarding the finalization of the power supply contract.”

“Move it an hour forward. Something's come up right now.”

I did as Ryke requested and promptly left his office.

***

The meeting was interesting as much as it was a learning experience. I sat at the head of the table beside Ryke and made notes on decisions as well as scheduling further meetings.

“Mr. Rodrigo, I'd like to assume you're joking.” Ryke sniped, cutting off the other man who'd been speaking. “Nowhere in this contract was such a term outlined and you expect us to make plans to accommodate this request in the future. Yes, you must be joking. A clown who thinks this is a circus.”

“M-Mr. Kolynsky, I assure you this is only t-to be expected. It's implied by the language used—”

“Follow standard procedures when writing contracts or don't bother working with us at all. Redraft this and incorporate this particular clause. We'll readjust our compensation offer and look through it again. Meeting dismissed.”

The way he handled these meetings, yeah I could definitely see why everyone thought he was an asshole. But the authority and confidence he exuded, I couldn't help but think it was sexy.

Considering our history, I probably shouldn't have been having such thoughts about him, daydreaming throughout the entire meeting as he pushed and pulled terms and conditions with the other party, but it was just a fact. Ryke was hot and there was nothing I could do about it.

Once we were back in the office again, Ryke called me into his side of it. A stack of sheets sat on his desk. No, stack wasn't the right word. A tower of sheets. I felt sweat break out on my temples.

He wasn't going to do what I was thinking, was he?

“These are the feedbacks we got from an ad campaign run by the marketing team last month. Create an Excel sheet and enter all this information correctly. I want no mistakes whatsoever.”

Ah, hell. He did.

Here's the thing about my interview. I lied on my resume. In the ‘Skills’ section, I listed Microsoft Office proficiency because according to my research, it was one of the requirements for being a personal assistant.

I was desperate, and to be fair, I didn't even think I would ever be here. But now, my dishonesty had come back to nip me in the ass.

I had no idea how to use Microsoft Excel for data entry, but no way in hell was I telling Ryke that.

“Yes, Mr. Kolynsky. And when do you need it by?” I asked, smiling like nothing was wrong as I gently picked up one of the stacks of sheets.

“In two days.”

My smile faltered. Two days? Those were three entire stacks he was giving me, there was no way I could complete them in two days. But I dared not complain. “Okay, sir.”

I came back for the remaining stacks one by one and returned to my side of the office with them. A YouTube video helped me out on how to use the software for data entry and immediately, I got to work.

Really, this task wasn't so hard, but the sheer amount of papers I had to work through was insane. If this was just my first day, what was my future going to be like? Whatever. Anything for that paycheck, I guess.

Even with this mountain of work, Ryke did not relent in delegating other tasks to me throughout the rest of the day.

“Miss. Evans, deliver this to the Human Resources department.”

“Miss. Evans, make three photocopies of this. Black and white, color isn't necessary.”

“Miss. Evans, I need coffee right now.”

“There's a meeting slated for tomorrow, isn't there? Move it till today so my schedule is free then. I have other things to put on there.” This one irked me the most. I had to attend yet another meeting that day and pause the data entry task for four good hours.

Fucking hell.

By the end of the day, I was wrecked. I sat in my chair with my head buried in my hands and I willed myself not to burst into tears. I would have, I was an easy crier, but I couldn't risk Ryke finding me in such a state.

It was six PM and everyone was going home already. Even Ryke had stepped out of his office, phone in hand and suit jacket resting on his arm. His face held a smug smile as his gaze went from me, to the undented stack beside me, back to me again.

And he smiled. The fucker smiled. I thought we were on amicable terms, I'd certainly never experienced any of the things his past assistants used to complain about. But this, this was certainly something very evil to do to someone.

“See you tomorrow, Miss. Evans.”

I smiled sweetly, plotting his death in my heart. “Goodbye, Mr. Kolynsky.”

As soon as he left, I collapsed back on my desk again.

Okay. I had a few things to do before I continued working for at least an hour longer and then I could leave.

Me: Millie!!!

Millie: Sup, babe

Me: My life is a FUCKING lie

Millie: Whoa

Millie: It's not like you to curse so hard. What's the matter??

Me: The man that I met and made out with at the club

Me: You won't believe who it was

Millie: LOL

Millie: Is it Ryke Kolynsky?

Knowing Millie, she definitely mentioned him as a joke because she knew he was my boss. I just had to see her reaction when I let her know that indeed, it was Ryke.

Me: Yes

Millie: Haha, very funny.

Millie: Like Ryke would ever be at such a dingy club made for poor people like us

Me: I'm not joking, Millie

I narrated everything from how I found out to how we decided to agree it never happened for the sake of my job security and Millie's responses ranged from ‘WHAT??’ to ‘OH MY FUCKING GOD’.. Basically, what I'd expected.

Me: Well, now you've finally got your update on Mr. Charming

Millie: This is so crazy

Millie: Genuinely like what are the odds?

Millie: I expect updates on what's going on between you two EVERY HOURS

Me: What're you talking about?

Me: There's nothing between us. I don't think he's attracted to me or interested anymore

Me: He didn't hesitate to ask that we pretend it never happened :(

Millie: Oh sweetie

Me: It's okay, really

Me: I'm content with watching from afar. Like literally every other girl out there

Millie: Except the difference is you get the chance to seduce him ;)))

Me: Haha stop, I don't have the skills for that

We rounded off our conversation, promising to meet soon and talk. Next, I texted my mother and let her know I wouldn't be able to visit. That broke my heart so much and I couldn't help but feel a little bit of resentment towards Ryke.

But ultimately, the money from this job would pay for her surgery bills if I could hang on for a few months, enough to say every paycheck. It was all for the greater good.

So Ryke could throw whatever impossible task he wanted at me. I wasn't going to quit. Not when I'd gotten the chance to be here in the first place.

Lilac’s POV

By the end of my second day of work and entering the feedbacks into the computer, I knew I made a mistake — I should have completed at least one stack of sheets the day before, even if it would’ve meant staying at Silvercrest late into the night.

I came into work that morning, already having forgotten the task I left incomplete but was promptly reminded and horrified at the sight of white sheets waiting for me on my desk.

And so the torture went on.

This time, when evening came around, I didn’t make the same mistake again. I worked and worked till I literally could not hold my head up and eventually, against my gut feeling, took the papers home with me to continue them.

Tonight was one of the few times Benjamin made dinner down for me because I wasn’t home to do it for him. He was already asleep so I couldn’t thank him. But gratefully, I scarfed down the porridge and went to work on the old, nearly outdated computer in the living room that I had to clean because it had become dusty overtime from a lack of use.

I was a morning person, always asleep by at least nine PM because I loved being up to see the sunrise every day, but not tonight. It was three AM and I was still hunched over the last remaining half pile of papers, entering them diligently. Five AM. Six…

Once seven AM came around, I cracked my fingers and my neck. I was finally done.

I didn’t dare to sleep. I was required to be at work by seven thirty AM sharp before Ryke clocked in and so I really could not risk even the tiniest nap to ward off the fatigue that made my bones feel like lead.

Shoving all the documents back into my work bag, I rushed to take a shower, brushed my teeth and sped out of the house, barely managing a ‘Good morning!’ to my brother.

“Good morning, Mr. Kolynsky,” I greeted when I walked into his office late, just a few minutes past eight o’ clock and he nodded at me from where he stood by his window. I dropped one of the stacks of paper I’d picked up on my way in on his desk, feeling accomplished and hoping it would take his mind off my lateness.

“Morning, Miss. Evans…” He trailed off just looking weirdly at me. Did I have something on my face? I mean, I had some coffee and a small piece of donut I got before coming in. Surely there weren’t any crumbs on my face, right…?

“Are you okay?” Ryke asked in a murmur that broke me out of my thoughts. I hadn’t noticed how close he’d come and I gasped at the sudden proximity, the sandalwood and spice smell of his perfume clouding my senses and making my heart do a weird flip.

“S-sir?” I whispered.

His green eyes seemed to search mine and a hand came up to my face, nearly touching my cheeks when it halted mid-air, almost as if he didn’t even know when he made the action and had caught himself just in time.

“You look really tired. Did you not rest well?”

Huh? I frowned. Since when did he care about my health? He didn’t have the right to ask me that when he was the one who gave me such an evil, impossible task.

Gritting my teeth so I wouldn’t say my thoughts, I smiled tightly and responded, “I did, sir. There’s nothing to worry about.” Ryke didn’t look like he believed me, but he couldn’t press me further.

“Alright.” Sighing, he dropped his hand that had still been hanging. As he did so, I felt something brush my hip and upon looking down, it was his fingers. It was obviously by accident and I would have thought I imagined it, but I looked down just in time to see it happen with my own eyes.

I couldn’t suppress the shiver that ran down my spine after those soft fingers accidentally trailed down my hip bone, soft but still firm enough that I felt it through the fabric of my skirt.

Something hot and deep shifted in my gut causing me to swallow in an attempt to muffle the sound that nearly left my lips. And Ryke, as if what I was feeling was infectious, breathed harshly through his nose.

The attraction of that night weeks ago clearly still lingered, but I couldn’t be sure I wasn’t the only one feeling it. Besides, now that he knew I wasn’t in his class regarding wealth or social status, I would be a fool to think he still wanted anything to do with me.

Him looking affected by me right now was just my eyes playing tricks on me. That had to be it.

“S-sir…?”

Ryke cleared his throat, stepping back hastily and avoiding my eyes. A pang of disappointment went through me at the moment dissipating into thin air. But how could I mourn it?

“There’s a meeting this morning. Remind me a few minutes before.”

I didn’t respond for a few seconds, straightening an invisible rumple in my old shirt and trying to collect myself. Eventually, I breathed out a tiny breath and responded. “Yes, Mr. Kolynsky.”

The meeting started well. I was doing my job of taking important notes and marking things down, focusing as hard as I could.

And then, I wasn’t anymore, because I started dozing off.

My sleepless night was catching up to me, the coffee I had already worn off too soon. For God’s sake, it wasn’t even afternoon yet. The quality of caffeine in this country was getting ridiculous. This was the silly thing that was my last thought as I promptly fell asleep..

I don’t know how long I was out, but the sound of someone raising their voice angrily startled me out of my sleep, nearly making me jump.

Beside me, Ryke’s eyes narrowed into slits, directing a heated glare at the woman who dared raise her voice at him. “Who do you think you’re speaking to like that?”

“S-sorry. I didn’t mean to raise my voice at you. But that request is absolutely impossible, sir. The entire department worked their asses off under my…” I didn’t hear the rest of that woman’s sentence because once again, I’d dozed off, head leaning softly against the back of my chair.

The position was comfortable till it was not and I started to feel my neck cramping up even in my dream.

“Lilac,” My mother called. She was making orange juice for me and my baby brother who’d only just learned how to talk. Everything was perfect.

“Miss. Evans?” She said again and I hummed in response. Was it me she was referring to? She was Miss. Evans, not me, and even then, it was Mrs., not Miss.

“Miss. Evans!” I jolted from my sleep at my mother’s suddenly masculine voice calling me forcefully from somewhere beyond closed eyelids.

Wait. Closed eyelids? Fuck.

I pried my eyes open, unable to widen them in the glare of the light that filled the room. Sure enough, Ryke was staring at me from where he sat, face devoid of emotions and eyes filled with fury in a way that had my pulse pounding in fear.

Shit, I thought.

“Answer me, Miss. Evans.”

I furrowed my brows. “I… Uh… I’m sorry, I-” I shook my head, “I didn’t catch the question.”

“I didn’t realize I was paying you to catch up on sleep during important meetings. Perhaps you’d like to explain why my time—and the entire team’s—is so unimportant to you?”

My eyes widened at his lash out, not expecting it. “If you can’t stay awake and do your job, maybe we should revisit your responsibilities. I expect full attention next time—or I’ll find someone who can manage it. Am I clear?”

“Yes, Mr. Kolynsky. I’m sorry,” I whispered out, cheeks burning in shame.

It’s safe to say I didn’t fall asleep again after that, too terrified of Ryke to even blink. I’d gotten too used to him, too familiar, forgetting the strict boss he was known to be. It was a side he’d never shown to me for some reason, and I’d begun to take it for granted.

The rest of the meeting went by in a blur and once we were done, I bolted from my seat, not wanting to stay in the conference room that was beginning to feel choked up any longer. I needed a fucking break. I needed to sleep, my head was pounding like crazy. But these things were out of the question. I was just going to have to suck it up till it was time to go home.

Fuck, it was only my third day here and everything already sucked.

Ryke walked into the private elevator with me, a tense silence filling the space as we rode up together. I could tell he wanted to say something, but I didn’t want another scolding from him. I just wanted space between us as soon as possible.

As soon as the elevator dinged and slid open, I hurried out of it, gripping my notepad tightly in my hand.

“Miss. Evans, wait.”

The urge to keep walking like I hadn’t heard him was strong. Too strong, really. But I didn’t want to piss him off again. So I slowed down till he was walking beside me.

“You stayed up all night, didn’t you?”

Ah. So that’s what he wanted to talk about. Well, I couldn’t deny it anymore, I guess. I nodded my head, not trusting myself to speak.

“Was it the data entry?”

Now, I know I said I didn’t want to piss him off, but I couldn’t stop the deadpan, borderline annoyed stare I swung his way at that question. Really? He was going to pretend like he didn’t give me that task with that stupid deadline, knowing I was going to damn near exhaust myself to meet it?

“Yes, sir. I took the sheets home.”

“Was it really necessary? I gave you two whole days, you couldn’t complete it without pulling an all-nighter? Miss. Evans, I must have given you the impression that I’m a sloppy boss. Just because I didn’t say anything about your unpunctuality this morning doesn’t mean you can slack off.”

I frowned, controlling my rising anger. “I’m sorry sir, but two days would have been an impossible deadline to meet without doing what I did.”

Ryke’s eyes darkened, “Seriously, why did you even apply to be a personal assistant if you don’t know how to do the damn job?”

My eyes widened at his condescending tone. That was an insult. I felt tears well in my eyes. If it had been anyone else speaking to me like this, perhaps I could have taken it. But this was Ryke. Ryke who I thought… Frankly, I don’t know what I’d thought.

He’d treated me in a way I’d admittedly thought was special. I really thought those rumors about him were untrue. I’d believed him to be something he was not. And now I was getting hit with the reality.

Ryke continued, “I do not expect incompetence from my employees.” In a much softer tone, he added, “Keep up, so I don’t have to fire you.”

As we walked, I thanked whatever God was listening silently in my heart that he moved forward, because then he couldn’t see the tears finally fall down my cheeks.