Leaning over the middle compartment in the car, I give Miss Aird a quick peck on the cheek.

She smiled, "I'll be back to collect you at 4:30. Now hurry, you're late!" She shooed me with her aged hand.

I shake off the nerves and offer her a shaky smile. She knows how incredibly nervous I am right now. This is probably the biggest building I have ever seen. It looks far more modernized than my parent's main lot.

I shake my head, "Please don't make me go, Esther." My hand reaches over and lightly grips her shirt out of nervousness.

"I-I can't do this one. Not today." My eyes squint, "Can we just go home and finish our puzzle."

"Your father's assistant is spamming my phone. If you do good today, I will finish that puzzle with you the second you get back, okay?"

I open my eyes, "Really? But there are so many pieces-"

"Yes! Now go!" She says with urgency.

I put on my big girl pants and open the door slowly. I am 10 minutes late to this meeting and it is located at the top floor of this extremely tall building.

Walking timidly inside, I go up to the front desk.

"Hello. First and last name?" The extremely model-like women says robotically without looking up at her computer.

I pull out the identifying business card my father gave me to get into these events easily and hold it up in front of her face.

"Lillian Heart." I whisper.

She looks up at my card and nods, "Floor 59."

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding and speed walk towards the elevators, already 15 minutes late.

Ignoring the constant buzzing of my phone in my bag, I press Floor 59 and wait for the elevator to go up.

The lights in this elevator are warm, calming even. As my eyes look around discreetly, I notice gold accents accompanied with beige and brown interior. My toes wiggle in my black shoes as I examine the carpet and notice brown floors.

Usually, buildings around New York are all black and white. Extremely minimalist with zero touch of life, but whoever designed this place has a taste for old money.

A woman, maybe? No man I've ever read about or witnessed has taste this good.

I lean my small frame on the golden handle bars behind me and wait for the rest of the trip to floor 59.

Ding.

The elevator doors open and I am met with a grand room. The room includes 2 seating areas, an empty front desk, and a grand door in the back.

Timidly, I walk inside, careful of my surroundings. This is the most grand place I've ever set foot in. Whatever deal my father is making, it is not small.

Deep red and gold accents everywhere. Vintage patterns reside in the floor, accompanied with marble pillars. Holy smokes.

The lights are still warm, expensive looking chandeliers everywhere. This place looks straight out of The Great Gatsby.

The grand door ahead of me flies open, revealing my father's very angry assistant.

"Lillian!" He whisper yells, "Get over here, now!"

My heart drops to my feet and I follow his orders right away. My head lowers like a puppy in trouble.

I am a puppy in trouble, at the moment.

He quickly grabs my shoulders and guides me inside the room. All conversation inside comes to a stop and I feel all eyes on me.

Refusing to look up Harold, my father's personal assistant, places me in a chair adjacent to my dad's.

I hear my father's voice speak, "I apologize for the interruption, Mr. Grey. As I was saying-"

"Who is the girl?" A deep, dominating voice says with calm urgency.

My dad stutters, "No one. She will just be taking notes-"

"Answer me, Aaron." That same voice booms.

His voice sent a chill down my spine. I gulp and nervously take out my note pad and pen.

"Of course, Mr. Grey." He says. I've never heard my dad sound so nervous before.

"This is my only child, Lillian Heart. The future owner to my businesses. She accompanies me to all of my meetings. Lillian causes no interruptions, sir."

"She just did." Mr. Grey sighed.

"I-I know." He pauses, "Today is exceptionally different because I would like to offer her as a candidate for your open personal assistant job."

My eyes shoot up at my father. I've never agreed to this! My head slightly shakes in disagreement as I look at him next to me.

I gulp and look over at Mr. Grey for the first time.

Holy moly.

My breathing comes to a halt as my eyes feast upon the most attractive man I have ever seen. His figure radiates pure dominance and power. The man looks far more important than my father.

He clenches his jaw as I watch his eyes scan my whole body. Suddenly feeling a little self conscious, I cross my legs in my skirt and fiddle with the hem of my top. My leg bounces from anxiety, the room is silent.

I've never looked up at one of these meetings for so long before, but the view of Mr. Grey has caught me in a trance.

He continues to analyze me with his piercing stare. Curiosity slightly fills his full eyebrows. Just the mere sight of him has caused the rise and fall of my chest to quicken.

I gulp a couple more times and push a strand of hair behind my ear.

"Is that so?" He responds to my father, never taking his eyes off me.

I look back down, my cheeks extremely hot, hoping my father admits that he was just kidding. I can barely stand to be in the presence of this man, what makes my dad think I can be his personal assistant?

"Y-yes!" My father says quickly, "She knows everything there is to know about how to run a business. Been training her for 19 years."

He clicks his tongue a few times, which sends an unfamiliar feeling towards my core.

"This meeting is over. Leave." Mr. Grey says bluntly, "Everyone."

The two bodyguards in the corner leave. My father and Harold quickly go towards the grand door, and I get up to follow them.

"Except you, Ms. Heart." He states.

I halt my movements with my back faced towards him. Looking at my dad, who has now turned around in surprise, I give him a worried look.

Please save me, father. I try to communicate with my eyes.

He sends me a thumbs up and runs out of the room.

If my body was not shaking badly before, it definitely is now.

I stand there in the middle of the room, faced away from Mr. Grey, trembling like the weak girl I am. How embarrassing.

Heavy footsteps sound behind me. I clutch my notepad and pen against my chest and my shoulders raise. The footsteps getting closer.

He tsks, sounding right behind me.

"Such a shy little girl, hm?" Mr. Grey steps directly behind me, close enough to where I can feel the heat radiating off his body.

I take a small, shaky breath in. Not once have I been in a situation like this. I'm excited and anxious at the same time, why? These new feelings are so foreign to me.

He stands in place for a moment, not saying a word.

"Turn around for me, Ms. Heart."

Afraid of disappointing the man, I immediately follow his orders and slowly turn around. My face is A-line to his suited chest. My warm, pink cheeks are scrunched up and my eyes are closed.

I scrunch my eyes and pray to the gods of anxiety that I do not pass out right now.

He chuckles, "How could you handle such an important job if you could barely stand to look me in the eyes, little one?"

I do not want this job. As a matter of fact, I would rather jump from the 59th floor than accept a personal assistant job.

But, I can't let down my father. In my 19 years of life, I've always waited for an opportunity like this to come my way. I cannot let this go.

I gulp once more and slowly trail my eyes up towards his.

Once I make eye contact, he clenches his jaw.

"I can do it." I manage to say quietly. My eyes fall back down again and I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.

He brings his finger under my chin and lifts my head up to make the eye contact again. The sudden action causes me to lightly gasp and widen my eyes.

Holding the weight of my head with his index finger, my eyes meet his piercing ones once again, "Are you lying to me?"

I slightly shake my head, mesmerized by the current situation we are holding.

"Words, Ms. Heart." My chin now became trapped between his thumb and index finger.

"No, sir." I whisper.

He lets go of my chin and looks away. His face returned to its usual cold demeanor and I looked back down.

He says with a cold voice, "You'll start next Monday at 8am. Bring all your documentation and be ready to answer a few questions. Now go."

Not missing a chance, I mumble out a quick 'okay' and almost run out of the room with tears falling out of my eyes.

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