I straightened when the man behind the desk lifted his head, a smirk playing on the corner of his lips. That stupid, infuriating smirk. I had the urge to turn on my heel and walk back out, but before I could make so much as a single noise, his face smoothed over to something inscrutable. Frosty.

"Miss Ross," he said smoothly, a voice razor-sharp in contrast to its brusqueness. "Sit down, if you will."

My hands had clenched around the strap of my portfolio. Everything in me was screaming to demand answers from him, to ask him why in the world he was here, but something in those eyes steely—stopped me. This wasn't the arrogant stranger from the gala, this was somebody entirely different.

I moved forward, my heels striking the polished floor, and dropped stiffly into the chair across from him. My portfolio landed on my lap, and my throat tightened as I let the implications ricochet through my mind.

Prank? He was doing this just to humiliate me?

No way, couldn't be, not with that kind of power on his part, then it wasn't a coincidence.

The implications made my skin crawl.

"Miss Ross," he repeated, lounging back in his chair and giving me a speculative glance. "I hope you are ready for this interview."

I gulped hard and nodded. "Yes, naturally."

He gestured for me to proceed and I sat up straighter, answering his questions even as the nerves were eating at my vitals. They were easy enough at first: about my experience, my designs, what projects I had completed so far.

As I spoke, I felt myself fall into a rhythm, my professional self taking over. I had done this before and sold myself to prospective clients who underestimated me. I wasn't about to let him get the better of me.

For a time, he said nothing, his bright eyes never leaving my face. It was unnerving, but I concentrated on my answers, my voice steady and sure.

Then his phone buzzed.

He looked at the screen, his face went cold, and he stood. "Come with me," he clipped voice curt.

I blinked, taken aback. "Excuse me?"

"Come with me," he said, already moving toward the door.

Clutching my portfolio, I sprang to my feet and ran to keep up with the long strides made by his long frame. My heart was hammering as we walked down the gleaming halls, his presence like a wall of authority, cutting through the air.

Stopping in front of a set of glass doors, when they slid open, I froze.

Inside was a big boardroom containing a very long table around which men and women in suits were sitting, their sharp gazes turning toward me as I stepped inside.

"Miss Ross," he said, his voice drawing my attention back to him. "This is the team you'll be presenting to."

My heart sank as the pieces clicked into place. He's the CEO.

It hit me like a gut punch. Blaze Enterprises wasn't just some company—it was the industry behemoth. And this man, this insufferable and arrogant man, was running the show.

First, there was panic for a few seconds. One word from him, and I'll be squashed like an insect. My career won't just stumble with a blunder here—it will end in ashes.

But I pushed the fear just that little bit down further. You have worked too hard for this. Let the world see what you are capable of doing.

Taking a deep breath, I squared my shoulders and walked up to the head of the table before I placed my portfolio down on its gleaming surface and launched into my speech.

And as I spoke, that tightening in my chest began to loosen. I was speaking, with full confidence, speaking of my designs—the why behind each piece.

The team leaned their heads back and some of them nodded from time to time as their faces changed from doubt to interest.

There was just a little spark of pride inside me at the end. I did it. I showed them what I could do.

"Brilliant," he said, an elderly one speaking. His tone was approving.

Another chimed in with, "Very innovative."

I had a little smile pull on my lips but before I would relish the undeserved moment, he sliced through it with the lash of his verbal reprimand.

"Brilliant? Hardly."

I felt a sinking pit in my gut as I turned to him. Logan Blake leaning back in his chair was an icy, inscrutable expression once more.

"Your designs are ambitious, I'll give you that," he said, his voice oozing condescension. "But your company? It's too small.

How do we know you can handle a project of this scale without falling apart halfway through?"

My nails dug into my palms. "I can assure you, Mr. Blake, that my team is more than capable—"

"And what if you're not?" he cut in, his eyes screwing tight. "If you fail it is Blaze Enterprises that loses on the deal.

Will Your company compensate for the damages, yes or no?"

I opened my mouth and nothing came.

He cocked his head with a jeering smile. "That's what I thought".

Anger boiled up in me hot and blinding, but I forced myself to keep my cool. "There's risk attached to every project," I said matter-of-factly. "I built my business on hard work and results, not promises, bare and empty of their speech—can't fulfill that unless ready for a—"

"Save it," he growled, half rising out of his seat. "We've heard enough."

I sat in stunned silence as he turned and walked away, his footsteps echoing through the heavy silence he left in his wake.

The others whispered to each other, their faces tinged with doubt from the earlier approval they had shown me. My pride crumbled under his words, now lying in a heap clutching my portfolio like a life jacket.

By the time I came out of the boardroom, I was fuming. I was shaking by the time I closed my fists, my head racing a hundred miles an hour with everything I would say to him.

Who does he think he is? Shutting me down like that, ripping me apart in front of everyone?

That signed the last remaining nerves and left only one thought in my head.

I needed to confront him.

I strode down the corridor, ignoring wary looks from employees as I passed.

My heels clicked against the marble floors, but with every step was feeding the fire in my chest.

I reached his office and didn't hesitate. I didn't even knock. I pushed open the door and went in, demanding, my voice sharp.

"You!" I thundered, my eyes laser-beaming in his direction, focusing where he stood by the window. "What the hell is your problem?"