Mia sat cross-legged on Aria’s bed, still in her scrubs, staring at her like she’d confessed to murder.

“You’re telling me,” she said slowly, “that your new boss…..the guy who signs your paycheck….is the same man you… spent the night with?”

Aria buried her face in her pillow and groaned. “Don’t say it out loud. It sounds even worse when you say it.”

“It’s not worse, it’s catastrophic,” Mia replied, tossing a throw pillow at her. “Aria Hayes, queen of bad luck. Only you could sleep with a stranger and have him turn out to be your CEO.”

“Thanks for the pep talk,” Aria muttered, sitting up. Her hair was a mess, her eyes heavy with shame.

“He was so cold, Mia. Like I was some bug he wanted squashed. He said it was a mistake, and that I should never mention it again.”

Mia’s mouth dropped open. “He said that? Wow. Charming.”

“I thought maybe he’d at least acknowledge what happened, but no. He was all business. Ruthless. Like he didn’t even recognize me.”

“Aria, men like him don’t do feelings. They do power plays.” Mia crossed her arms. “And he’s making sure you know your place.”

“I can’t quit,” Aria whispered. “This job… it’s everything. I worked too hard for this.”

Mia’s expression softened. “Then you stay. You keep your head down, and you act like that night never happened. If he wants to pretend you’re invisible, let him.”

Aria shook her head. “But he looks at me sometimes. Like he’s daring me to slip up.”

“Then don’t slip,” Mia shot back. “Do your work. Be professional. He can’t fire you for existing.”

“You make it sound so easy.”

“That’s because if I don’t, you’ll spiral, and then I’ll have to drag you out of bed with ice cream and lectures. Again.”

Despite herself, Aria laughed, tension loosening from her chest. “You’re impossible.”

“Exactly,” Mia smirked. “And that’s why you love me. Now, promise me you won’t let him see you flinch tomorrow.”

Aria hesitated, chewing her lip, then nodded. “I promise.”

The next morning, Aria walked into Voss Global with her promise echoing in her head. Keep your head high. Don’t flinch.

She pushed through the glass doors, trying not to notice how her heels echoed on the marble floor like gunshots.

At her desk, she powered on her computer and forced a smile for Janice, the secretary across the aisle. “Morning.”

Janice gave her a polite nod but lingered, eyes curious. “You’re new, right? How’s your first week so far?”

“Great,” Aria lied quickly, heart racing. “Just… learning the ropes.”

Before Janice could press further, Liam Voss appeared at the far end of the office. His presence silenced the hum of chatter like someone had cut the cord.

He strode past rows of desks, issuing orders without breaking stride. “Anderson, I need those numbers by noon. Clarke, your report was sloppy, fix it.” His voice was clipped, every word a command.

When he reached Aria’s desk, her fingers froze over the keyboard. She forced herself to look up, her face arranged into neutral professionalism.

“Miss Hayes,” Liam said, his tone smooth but void of warmth. “See me in my office. Now.”

Do not flinch.

“Yes, sir,” she replied, her voice steady though her stomach flipped.

As she stood, she caught Janice giving her a sideways glance, curious, maybe suspicious. Heat prickled at the back of Aria’s neck, but she kept her chin high and followed him.

Inside his glass-walled office, Liam didn’t sit. He gestured to a stack of files. “You’ll review these contracts today. I want them back by five. Errors will not be tolerated.”

“Yes, sir.”

His gaze lingered on her just long enough to make her skin burn, then he turned away, already dismissing her. “That’s all.”

Aria left quickly, pulse hammering. Back at her desk, she dropped into her chair, forcing her hands not to shake as she pulled the first file toward her.

Janice leaned over the divider. “You’re brave.”

Aria blinked. “What?”

“Most people tremble when he talks to them like that. You didn’t even flinch.”

Aria forced a small smile. “Guess I’m too new to know better.”

Inside, though, her chest ached. Every word from him was a knife, every look a reminder of the night she couldn’t erase.

That evening, Mia was waiting outside the building, leaning against her car.

Aria hurried over, exhaling a long breath. “You were right. He’s unbearable.”

Mia arched a brow. “Details. Spill.”

“He barked orders, threw files at me like I was nothing. But I kept my cool. I didn’t let him see me flinch.”

Mia grinned. “That’s my girl.”

“But it’s exhausting,” Aria admitted. “Pretending he doesn’t get under my skin. Pretending like he wasn’t…” She trailed off, biting her lip.

Mia slid an arm around her shoulders. “One night doesn’t define you. He doesn’t define you. You’ve worked too hard to let him break you down.”

Aria leaned into her, closing her eyes. “I hope I can keep this up.”

“You can,” Mia said firmly. “And if he pushes too hard, remember….you’ve got me. I’ll remind you who you are every time you forget.”

Aria smiled faintly, clinging to her friend’s words like a lifeline. Tomorrow she would face Liam Voss again, cold and untouchable. But tonight, she allowed herself the comfort of knowing she wasn’t fighting alone.