He paced as he talked, his movements fluid and predatory. The morning light caught the angles of his face, highlighting the sharp line of his jaw. I forced my attention back to my tablet.
Two minutes later, he ended the call with a curt “We’ll discuss this further at the board meeting” and tossed his phone onto the desk.
“So, my schedule?” He took a sip of the coffee I’d brought, his eyes never leaving mine.
I cleared my throat and ran through his day – morning meetings with the legal team, lunch with a potential investor, afternoon conference calls, and a dinner reservation at Murakami with a client.
“Cancel the lunch,” he said, loosening his tie slightly. “In fact, reschedule it for tomorrow and make sure to notify the investor about the change. Also, send a follow–up email with the revised time and location. And move the conference calls to tomorrow morning. I need the afternoon free.”
I made the changes, my fingers moving quickly across the tablet. “May I ask why?”
“You may not.” His lips curved into a smile that made my stomach flip. “But you’ll find out soon enough.”
I nodded, keeping my expression neutral despite the curiosity burning inside me. “Anything else, Mr. Knight?”
“Yes.” He leaned back in his chair, studying me. “Why did you go straight to your new office this morning?”
The question caught me off guard. “It’s my first day as project manager. I thought I should… get settled in.”
“And?”
I hesitated, feeling foolish. “And I guess I expected something. A welcome. Team members. Instructions. Instead, I got an empty office with my name on the door.”
Alexander laughed, the sound rich and warm. “You were there at 7:45 AM, Madison. Most of your team won’t arrive until 9:00.” He checked his watch. “Which is still thirty minutes away.
My cheeks warmed. “Oh.”
“You’re eager. I like that.” He stood, walking around his desk, until he was standing directly in front of me. “But patience is also a virtue.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” I said, trying to ignore how close he was standing.
“Will you?” He reached out, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. His fingers lingered on my cheek. ” Somehow, I doubt that.”
My breath caught. “Mr. Knight-”
“Your navy dress is a good choice,” he interrupted, his eyes traveling down my body. “Professional. Elegant. But still shows off those curves I’m so fond of.”
“Thank you,” I managed, my voice steadier than I expected. “I aim to please.”
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“Do you?” His smile turned predatory. “That’s good to know.”
Before I could respond, he stepped back, returning to business mode so quickly it gave me whiplash.
“I expect you to divide your time efficiently between your PA duties and your project management responsibilities,” he said, moving back behind his desk. “I’ve cleared your schedule until 11:00 so you can meet with your team.”
“Thank you.” I stood, smoothing my dress. “That’s… considerate of you.”
“I’m a very considerate man, Ms. Harper.” The way he said it made it sound like a threat and a promise wrapped in one. “When it suits me.”
I nodded, turning to leave.
“Madison.”
I paused at the door, looking back at him.
“Wear your hair up tomorrow. I like seeing the back of your neck.”
My pulse quickened. “Noted, Mr. Knight.”
I left his office, feeling his eyes on me until the door closed. In the hallway, I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart. The man had a way of making me feel off–balance with just a look or a casual comment.
I smoothed down my navy dress and headed back to my assistant desk, the familiar space I’d occupied for months. It felt strange knowing I now had two workspaces: my PA desk here on the executive floor and my project manager office ten floors below.
I settled at my desk, organizing Alexander’s schedule for the afternoon while responding to urgent emails. The familiarity of the work calmed my nerves about my new responsibilities.
At 9:45, I glanced at the clock and realized it was time to head down to my new office. I gathered my tablet and a few folders, excited to finally meet my team properly.
The elevator ride down felt like it took forever. I tapped my foot impatiently, rehearsing introductions in my head. Would they accept me? After that disastrous first meeting, I had my doubts.
When the doors opened, I heard voices and laughter coming from the direction of my new workspace. I rounded the corner and stopped short.
The entire open area had been transformed. Colorful balloons floated from various desks, a “Congratulations” banner hung across the entrance to my office, and a small crowd of people stood chatting around a table laden with pastries and coffee.
“There she is!” Sophia Rodriguez spotted me first, raising a coffee cup in greeting. “The woman of the hour!”
Everyone turned, and I felt heat rush to my cheeks as they broke into applause. I managed to smile as I stepped forward into the space.
“Thank you, everyone. This is… unexpected.”
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“It’s tradition,” Olivia White explained, handing me a cup of coffee. “Every new project manager gets the welcome treatment. Even if some of us were skeptical at first.”
She gave me a wink that took the sting out of her words.
“We’ve got bagels, donuts, those weird protein balls that Thomas insists are better than actual food,” Ryan Hall said, gesturing to the spread.
Thomas Moore huffed. “You’ll thank me when you’re still alert at 3 PM instead of crashing from sugar.”
I laughed, feeling some of my tension ease. “I appreciate all of this. Really.”
Lucas Garcia approached, looking slightly less hostile than during our first meeting. “Just so you know, I still have questions about your experience, but I’m willing to give you a chance.”
“How generous of you,” I replied dryly.
To my surprise, he cracked a smile. “I deserved that.”
“Yes, you did.” I took a sip of my coffee. “But I understand your concerns. I’d have the same ones in position.”
your
Rachel Kim joined us, munching on a donut. “We’ve all been new once. And Mr. Knight doesn’t make decisions lightly.”
“Speaking of Mr. Knight,” Joseph Taylor lowered his voice, “is he as intense to work for as he seems?”
Before I could answer, the elevator dinged, and Alexander himself strode into the space. The room instantly quieted, everyone straightening slightly.
“Don’t let me interrupt,” he said, scanning the room before his eyes landed on me. “I see you’ve found your welcome party, Ms. Harper.”
“Yes, Mr. Knight. The team has been very kind.”
He nodded, looking around at the decorations with mild amusement. “Carry on. I just needed to inform Ms. Harper that the contractor files she requested are ready in my office.”
“Thank you, sir. I’ll collect them shortly.”
He gave a curt nod to the room and turned to leave, then paused. “Oh, and team? Ms. Harper may be new to project management, but she’s one of the most capable people I’ve worked with. I expect you to treat her accordingly.”
With that, he disappeared back toward the elevator, leaving a charged silence in his wake.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
