Sophie Matthews had spent most of her adult life avoiding men like Alexander Steele. The idea of working for a man who was more legend than human was laughable, but here she was, standing in the steel and glass lobby of Steele Enterprises. The towering building looked down at her with the same cool indifference she imagined its CEO possessed. Still, she was here, and despite the nerves twisting in her stomach, Sophie was determined to make this work.

She tugged at the collar of her blouse, smoothing it down as she approached the receptionist. "Sophie Matthews. I have an interview with Mr. Steele," she said, her voice more confident than she felt.

The receptionist barely glanced at her before nodding and picking up the phone. "Miss Matthews is here for her 10 a.m.," she said, her tone robotic. Without another word, she gestured toward a sleek elevator to the right. "Top floor."

"Thank you," Sophie muttered, though the woman had already returned to her computer, ignoring her completely.

Stepping into the elevator, Sophie exhaled slowly. Her fingers hovered over the button labeled ‘Executive Offices.’ The ride up was silent save for the quiet hum of the elevator. As the numbers climbed, Sophie’s nerves mounted. She had heard the rumors about Alexander Steele—brilliant, ruthless, and completely intolerant of incompetence. She knew she'd need more than just good qualifications to get through this.

The doors slid open with a soft ding, revealing a wide office floor bathed in natural light. The minimalist design, all sharp angles and clean lines, screamed power. At the far end of the floor stood a pair of glass doors. Through them, Sophie could see the silhouette of a man sitting behind a large desk, his back to her, gazing out at the city skyline.

A woman, elegant and stern-looking, approached Sophie before she could take another step. "You must be Sophie Matthews," she said, her eyes scanning Sophie with a clinical air.

"I am. I'm here for the 10 a.m. interview with Mr. Steele."

"Follow me," the woman replied, not bothering with pleasantries. Sophie followed her across the room, her heart thumping in her chest.

As they reached the glass doors, the woman knocked once before entering without waiting for a response. "Mr. Steele, Miss Matthews is here."

The man behind the desk remained motionless for a moment before he slowly swiveled his chair around. Alexander Steele was exactly as people described—tall, broad-shouldered, and dressed in a perfectly tailored suit. His dark hair was neatly combed, and his sharp, chiseled features were intimidating. But it was his eyes that caught Sophie off guard—cold, calculating, and impossibly blue, like shards of ice.

He stood, his imposing frame even more apparent as he crossed the room toward her. "Miss Matthews," he said, his voice low and controlled. "Sit."

Sophie sat, trying to maintain her composure as Alexander Steele loomed over her, his gaze never leaving her face. He sat down behind his desk, folding his hands in front of him. For a moment, the room was filled with nothing but silence, thick and uncomfortable.

"I don't like wasting time, Miss Matthews," Alexander finally said, his voice clipped. "So let’s get straight to the point. Why do you think you’re fit for this position?"

Sophie straightened, meeting his gaze head-on. "I believe my previous experience and skill set align with the requirements for the position. I’m adaptable, efficient, and I know how to manage high-pressure environments."

His eyes flicked over her, assessing, but his expression remained unreadable. "You've never worked for someone like me before."

It wasn’t a question, but Sophie felt the weight of his words. "No," she admitted, "but I’m not easily intimidated, Mr. Steele. I can handle whatever you throw my way."

Alexander's lips curled into what could have been a smile, but it was gone too quickly for Sophie to tell. "You’re confident."

"I’m capable," Sophie corrected, her voice steady despite her racing heart.

He raised an eyebrow at her correction, a flicker of amusement in his cold eyes. "We'll see."

The interview continued, with Alexander grilling her on every aspect of her resume, from her time management skills to her crisis handling. Each question was like a test, and Sophie could feel his eyes on her, analyzing her reactions. But she refused to falter. If he wanted to break her, he'd have to try harder.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Alexander leaned back in his chair, the faintest hint of satisfaction in his expression. "You're different from the others," he said, almost to himself.

Sophie blinked. "Is that a good thing?"

"It remains to be seen," he said coolly, rising from his seat. "You’ll start tomorrow. Be here at 7 a.m. sharp. I don’t tolerate lateness."

Sophie stood, struggling to suppress the wave of relief that threatened to wash over her. "I’ll be here."

He nodded, his eyes never leaving hers. "Good. I’ll see you then, Miss Matthews."

Without another word, Sophie turned and left the office, her heart still pounding in her chest. As she stepped back into the elevator, she exhaled deeply, allowing herself a small smile. She had survived her first encounter with Alexander Steele. But as the elevator doors closed, Sophie couldn’t shake the feeling that she had just stepped into something far more dangerous than she had anticipated.

The sun was barely up when Sophie found herself standing once again in the towering shadow of Steele Enterprises. The city streets were still quiet, but inside the steel and glass fortress, everything was already in motion. Employees moved briskly, their steps purposeful, while phones rang and papers shuffled behind the glass walls of offices.

Sophie took a deep breath and adjusted her bag on her shoulder before stepping inside. As she entered the building, she couldn’t help but feel the weight of what today meant. She wasn’t just starting any job—she was working for one of the most powerful, enigmatic men in the country. And if yesterday’s interview was any indication, it would be nothing short of a battlefield.

At precisely 6:55 a.m., Sophie was standing outside the office of Alexander Steele. The same elegant woman from the day before—now identified as Mrs. Carter, his senior executive assistant—looked her over with the same critical eye but nodded approvingly this time.

"Good," Mrs. Carter said, her tone curt. "He likes punctuality. Follow me. I’ll give you a rundown of your duties before he arrives."

Sophie fell into step behind Mrs. Carter as they walked through the large, modern office space. Everything about this floor screamed efficiency and precision, and Sophie quickly realized that working for Alexander Steele was going to require her to be more than just organized—she’d need to be impeccable.

"You’ll be responsible for managing his schedule, which as you’ll soon see, is a challenge in itself. He expects absolute discretion. Anything you hear, anything you see, stays with you," Mrs. Carter said sharply, fixing Sophie with a look that suggested she was already testing her. "Understood?"

"Yes," Sophie replied firmly.

"You’ll also be coordinating with clients, preparing briefings, and ensuring that every detail, no matter how small, is taken care of. Mr. Steele is a perfectionist, and he has no tolerance for mistakes."

As they neared Alexander’s office, Mrs. Carter paused and turned to face Sophie. "One last thing—don’t try to figure him out."

Sophie frowned, confused. "Excuse me?"

"Mr. Steele isn’t like other people. You’ll hear things, see things that don’t make sense. Don’t question it. Just do your job."

Before Sophie could respond, the glass doors to the office swung open, and Alexander Steele strode in. He was dressed in another impeccably tailored suit, his hair perfectly in place, his expression as unreadable as ever. He didn’t spare either woman a glance as he moved toward his desk, but Sophie felt the air in the room shift the moment he entered.

"Good morning, Mr. Steele," Mrs. Carter said briskly.

Alexander nodded once, his gaze briefly flicking to Sophie. "Miss Matthews," he said in that same cold, clipped tone from the day before. "You’re early. That’s a good start."

"Thank you," Sophie replied, though she wasn’t sure if it was a compliment.

He sat down behind his desk and gestured for her to take a seat across from him. Sophie complied, trying to mask her nervousness as she pulled out her notebook.

"I have several meetings today," Alexander began, not wasting any time. "You’ll accompany me to each of them. I expect you to take detailed notes and handle any follow-up communication. Mrs. Carter will oversee the rest of your training."

Sophie nodded, jotting down the details as he spoke. His words were precise, each instruction clear and concise. It was as if he had everything planned down to the second.

As Alexander spoke, Sophie couldn’t help but notice the way he held himself—rigid, controlled, as if every movement was carefully calculated. It was the same with his words. He didn’t waste time with pleasantries or unnecessary details. He spoke only when he had something important to say.

But there was something else beneath the surface. Something darker. Sophie could sense it, though she couldn’t put her finger on what it was. It was in the way his eyes flickered briefly when he mentioned one particular meeting, his tone sharpening ever so slightly. But before she could dwell on it, Alexander’s voice snapped her back to the present.

"Is that clear, Miss Matthews?"

"Yes, Mr. Steele," Sophie replied quickly.

"Good. We leave in ten minutes for the first meeting. Don’t keep me waiting."

With that, he dismissed her, and Sophie returned to her desk, her mind racing. Her first day hadn’t even properly begun, and already she felt the pressure mounting. She had dealt with difficult bosses before, but Alexander Steele was on a whole other level. His presence was commanding, almost suffocating, and Sophie found herself constantly on edge around him.

But there was something else, too—something she couldn’t quite shake. The way Mrs. Carter had warned her, the way Alexander seemed to carry a weight heavier than his empire. What secrets was he hiding behind those cold blue eyes?

Sophie had no time to ponder these thoughts as the minutes ticked down. She gathered her things and made her way back to Alexander’s office, just as he was stepping out.

"Let’s go," he said, not waiting for her to catch up.

The day was a blur of meetings, phone calls, and rapid note-taking. Sophie barely had time to catch her breath as Alexander moved from one task to the next with precision. He was as efficient as everyone had said, but what surprised Sophie most was how little he spoke in these meetings. Most of the time, he simply listened, his expression unreadable, occasionally nodding or interjecting with a single sentence that seemed to shift the entire tone of the discussion.

But it wasn’t until the final meeting of the day that Sophie noticed something different. The moment they entered the boardroom, Alexander’s demeanor changed. His posture became even more rigid, and his eyes darkened as he took his seat at the head of the table.

The room was filled with several executives, all of whom seemed to shrink under Alexander’s gaze. Sophie could feel the tension in the air, and as the meeting progressed, it became clear that there was more going on than just business.

The conversation took a strange turn, with one of the executives making a vague reference to a "problem" that needed to be handled discreetly. Sophie glanced at Alexander, who said nothing, but his jaw tightened. There was something unspoken between him and the men at the table, something that made Sophie’s skin crawl.

As the meeting ended, Sophie gathered her things quickly, eager to leave the suffocating atmosphere. But just as they were leaving the boardroom, Alexander leaned in close to her, his voice low.

"Remember what I said, Miss Matthews. Discretion is key."

Sophie nodded, her heart racing. She had a feeling that whatever Alexander Steele was involved in, it was far more dangerous than she had ever imagined.

Sophie’s heart pounded as the elevator doors slid shut. The tension of the last meeting clung to her like a heavy fog, and Alexander Steele’s parting words echoed in her mind: Discretion is key. What exactly had she just witnessed? The cryptic conversation, the menacing looks exchanged, and Alexander’s sudden shift in demeanor—it all left Sophie with a nagging sense of unease.

She stole a glance at Alexander, who stood beside her, unflinchingly still, his hands clasped behind his back. His expression was as cold and impassive as ever, as though nothing had transpired in the boardroom. But Sophie wasn’t fooled. Something was off, and whatever it was, it was big.

The elevator stopped at the top floor, and Alexander stepped out without a word, his strides long and purposeful. Sophie hurried after him, her mind racing with questions she knew better than to ask. Mrs. Carter’s warning rang in her ears: Don’t try to figure him out.

But that was becoming increasingly difficult.

As they entered his office, Alexander moved behind his desk, his movements precise and controlled. Sophie took her usual seat, pulling out her notebook, though her mind was still elsewhere. Alexander sat down, his gaze fixed on the screen of his computer, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the keyboard. The silence between them stretched on, thick with unspoken tension.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Alexander broke the silence. "Miss Matthews," he said, his voice as smooth and cold as ever, "I expect that you understand the importance of confidentiality in this business."

Sophie looked up, meeting his icy gaze. "Of course," she replied, her voice steady despite the anxiety swirling in her chest.

"Good." He leaned back slightly, folding his arms across his chest. "You may have noticed that not everything that happens within these walls is… straightforward. There are layers to this business that not everyone is privy to. I expect you to keep it that way."

Sophie nodded, her throat tight. She didn’t know what he was getting at, but the weight of his words was undeniable. "Understood, Mr. Steele."

Alexander’s gaze lingered on her for a moment longer, as if assessing her resolve. Then, with a curt nod, he turned back to his computer. The conversation was over.

Sophie exhaled softly, her mind still buzzing with unanswered questions. What had she gotten herself into? She had expected this job to be demanding, but this was something else entirely. There was something lurking beneath the surface of Steele Enterprises, something dark and dangerous, and Sophie had a feeling she was only beginning to scratch the surface.

The next few days passed in a blur of meetings and tasks, each one more intense than the last. Sophie kept her head down, focusing on her work, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was being watched. There were moments when she caught Alexander looking at her with an intensity that made her skin prickle, though he always looked away before she could be sure. And then there were the meetings—each one more cryptic than the last, filled with veiled references and half-spoken truths.

It wasn’t long before Sophie began to notice the subtle changes in the people around her, too. Executives who had once seemed confident and self-assured now walked on eggshells, their faces pale and drawn. Conversations that had once been open and transparent were now whispered behind closed doors. There was an air of fear in the building, and Sophie had no doubt that it was because of Alexander Steele.

Late one evening, as Sophie was finishing up some paperwork in her office, she heard the faint sound of voices coming from Alexander’s office. The door was ajar, and though she knew she shouldn’t, curiosity got the better of her. She crept closer, straining to hear the conversation.

"You need to deal with this," a deep voice said, the words laced with urgency.

"I told you," Alexander’s voice replied, calm and unyielding. "I’m handling it."

"This is getting out of control, Steele. If you don’t do something soon—"

"I said I’m handling it," Alexander snapped, his voice sharp and cold. "Now get out."

There was a pause, followed by the sound of footsteps and the door clicking shut. Sophie quickly retreated to her desk, her heart racing. What had she just overheard? And who was Alexander talking to?

She didn’t have long to ponder the question. Moments later, Alexander stepped into her office, his expression unreadable. "Miss Matthews," he said, his tone crisp and businesslike. "I need you to clear my schedule for tomorrow afternoon."

Sophie blinked, trying to maintain her composure. "Of course, Mr. Steele. May I ask why?"

"You may not," he replied, his voice cold.

Sophie bit her lip, nodding as she made the necessary adjustments. Alexander lingered in the doorway for a moment longer, his eyes narrowing as he studied her. "Remember what I said, Miss Matthews. Keep your head down. Don’t get involved."

With that, he turned and left, leaving Sophie alone with her thoughts.

The next day, Sophie arrived at the office early, determined to stay focused on her work. But the strange tension from the night before lingered, and she couldn’t help but feel that something was about to happen. The entire office seemed on edge, as though everyone was waiting for the other shoe to drop.

At noon, Alexander left the office, his expression as impassive as ever, but Sophie noticed the tightness in his jaw, the way his eyes flicked to the side as if expecting something—or someone. He didn’t return for the rest of the day.

By evening, the office was nearly empty. Sophie was just about to pack up for the day when she received an unexpected call on her desk phone. The number was unfamiliar, and when she answered, the voice on the other end sent a chill down her spine.

"Sophie Matthews?" the voice asked, deep and gravelly.

"Yes?" Sophie replied cautiously, her heart beginning to race.

"You don’t know what you’ve gotten yourself into," the voice said. "But if you’re smart, you’ll stay out of it."

The line went dead before Sophie could respond. She stared at the phone, her mind racing. What was going on? Who was that? And why were they warning her?

Before she could process what had just happened, the sound of the door opening behind her made her jump. She turned to see Alexander standing in the doorway, his eyes dark and unreadable.

"Everything all right, Miss Matthews?" he asked, his voice dangerously calm.

Sophie swallowed hard, her mind racing. "Yes, Mr. Steele. Everything’s fine."

But as she met his gaze, she couldn’t help but wonder if she had just lied to him—and to herself.