Emma’s POV

I stare at my own reflection in the mirror of my tiny apartment bathroom, gripping the sink so tightly my knuckles turn white. What the hell have I just done?

Working for Alexander Hayes? The man whose company I just beat? The same man who sat across from me yesterday, seething as I stole his deal?

I should have walked away. I should have told him to shove his offer where the sun doesn’t shine. But instead, I shook his hand.

Because I had no other choice.

I exhale sharply and straighten my blazer. It’s my first day at Hayes Global, and whether I like it or not, I have to prove that I belong. I grab my bag and head out, trying to ignore the nagging feeling that I may have just made a deal with the devil.

When I step into the towering glass building, the energy is completely different from what I’m used to. At Sterling & Co., everything was about appearances—fancy suits, polite smiles, and hidden knives. But here, there’s an undeniable tension in the air. People move with purpose, eyes glued to tablets, heads bent in whispered conversations.

I step up to the reception desk, clearing my throat. "Emma Carter. I’m supposed to—"

Before I can finish, the receptionist—a blonde woman with sharp features—gives me a once-over, unimpressed. "You’re expected." She presses a button on her headset. "Miss Carter is here."

A second later, a woman appears. She’s tall, sleek, and clearly not happy to see me.

"Emma Carter," she says, her voice smooth but clipped. "I’m Vanessa Langley, COO of Hayes Global. Follow me."

She doesn’t wait for me to respond before turning on her heel. I hurry to keep up, my heels clicking against the polished floor.

"Mr. Hayes has placed you directly under his supervision," Vanessa says without looking at me. "That means you’ll be working from his floor. Not many people get that privilege."

I bite back a sarcastic remark. Privilege? Or a trap?

"Understood," I say instead.

We reach an exclusive elevator, one that requires a keycard. Vanessa swipes hers, and as the doors slide open, she finally turns to face me.

"I don’t know how you managed to get this job after what you pulled," she says, her expression cold. "But don’t think for a second that you belong here."

I lift an eyebrow. "Should I be flattered or concerned?"

She smirks, stepping into the elevator. "That depends on how long you last."

The top floor is exactly what I expected—sleek, modern, and completely intimidating. Glass walls offer a breathtaking view of the city, and the air smells like money and power.

Vanessa leads me straight to Alexander’s office, which is just as cold and polished as the man himself. Dark wood, steel accents, not a single thing out of place.

And there he is.

Alexander stands by the window, hands in his pockets, watching the city below like it belongs to him. He doesn’t turn when we enter.

"She’s here," Vanessa says, her tone unreadable.

"Good," Alexander replies. Finally, he turns, his sharp blue eyes landing on me. "You’re late."

I blink. "It’s 8:58."

He smirks. "Exactly."

I clench my jaw. So this is how it’s going to be.

Vanessa clears her throat. "If that’s all, Mr. Hayes—"

"That’s all, Vanessa," he says without looking at her.

Her lips press together, but she nods and leaves, the door clicking shut behind her.

Now, it’s just me and Alexander.

He gestures to the seat across from his desk. "Sit."

I take a deep breath and do as he says.

"Let’s get one thing straight," he says, leaning forward, his piercing gaze locking onto mine. "I didn’t hire you because I trust you. I hired you because I want to see if you’re as good as you think you are."

I cross my arms. "You could’ve just said ‘welcome to the team.’"

The corner of his mouth lifts slightly. "Where’s the fun in that?"

I roll my eyes, but before I can respond, he slides a thick file across the desk.

"Your first task," he says. "You have one week to come up with a full strategy for our upcoming tech launch. Marketing, outreach, branding—everything."

I flip open the file and scan the documents. It’s a massive project.

"You had a whole team working on this before," I point out.

"And now you’re the team," he says, watching me carefully. "If you can’t handle it, say so now."

I snap the file shut. "I can handle it."

Alexander leans back in his chair, his expression unreadable. "Then prove it."

I spend the next several hours buried in research, barely noticing the time. I’m so focused that when someone slams my door open, I nearly jump out of my chair.

"What the hell is she doing here?"

I look up to see a tall, dark-haired man standing in my doorway, arms crossed, eyes burning with hostility.

Alexander appears behind him, clearly unbothered. "Emma, meet Nathan Parker—Head of Finance. Nathan, meet your new coworker."

Nathan scoffs. "Coworker? You mean the woman who stole our deal?"

I stiffen. So that’s what this is about.

"Didn’t realize I had a fan club," I say dryly.

Nathan steps inside, his glare intensifying. "You have no idea what you’ve walked into, do you?"

Before I can answer, Alexander sighs. "Nathan, if you’re done with the dramatic entrance, I suggest you get back to work."

Nathan clenches his jaw but storms out, muttering something under his breath.

I exhale. "So I take it he’s not throwing me a welcome party?"

Alexander smirks. "You’ll get used to it."

I’m not so sure.

By the end of the day, I finally have a solid plan forming in my head. I gather my notes, preparing to leave, when my phone buzzes.

Unknown Number.

I hesitate, then answer. "Hello?"

A distorted voice comes through the line. "You should leave Hayes Global while you still can."

My blood runs cold. "Who is this?"

Silence. Then the line goes dead.

I stare at my phone, my pulse pounding.

What the hell have I gotten myself into?