The building looked more like a fortress than an office — sharp lines, silver glass, and intimidating height. Luna Santiago stood outside Black Empire Corp, staring up like it was a mountain she had no choice but to climb. Her reflection in the glass doors showed a woman trying too hard to look confident, her cheap blazer too tight and her nerves too obvious.

She clutched her worn-out bag and walked in.

“Good morning, I’m here for the assistant interview,” she told the front desk.

The receptionist didn’t even blink. “Name?”

“Luna Santiago.”

The woman typed quickly. “You’re early.”

“I know. I couldn’t risk being late.”

She received a slight nod and a gesture toward the elevator. “Take that up to the 51st floor. Mr. Black will see you now.”

Her breath caught. Already? She hadn’t expected to be seen so soon. She took a shaky step forward, then another. Inside the elevator, she pressed the button with trembling fingers.

As the elevator rose, so did her heart rate. Luna had heard the rumors. Everyone in the city knew Killian Black — billionaire, ruthless CEO, and cold as ice. No one lasted more than a few months as his assistant. Some quit. Others… well, no one really knew. But his eyes, they said, were enough to shut you up before he even opened his mouth.

Luna wasn’t scared. She was desperate.

She stepped out of the elevator into silence. The 51st floor was sleek and modern. White marble floors. Floor-to-ceiling windows. And at the far end, double glass doors guarded by a stern-looking woman in black.

“You must be Miss Santiago,” she said. “Go on in. He’s waiting.”

Her heels clicked across the floor like gunshots. She reached for the door handle, took one last breath, and entered.

He didn’t look up.

Killian Black sat behind a glass desk, one hand on a pen, the other flipping through a tablet. His black suit was perfectly tailored, his white shirt crisp, his tie dark as night. His hair was just slightly tousled — effortlessly perfect. And his presence? Suffocating.

“You’re late,” he said, still not looking at her.

“I’m ten minutes early.”

“That’s late in my world.”

Luna’s eyes narrowed. “Then I’ll adjust my world.”

That made him look up.

His eyes were black — not brown, not dark hazel, but pure black, sharp and unreadable. For a second, he studied her like she was an equation he was solving. Then he leaned back in his chair, tapping the pen against the desk.

“Why do you want this job?”

“I need it.”

“That’s not an answer.”

“It’s an honest one.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Everyone who applies for this position knows the salary. That alone attracts liars. How do I know you’re not one of them?”

“You don’t,” Luna said simply. “But you’ll find out soon enough.”

Silence.

Then something strange happened — his lips curved, just slightly. Not a smile. A twitch. Maybe amusement.

He stood and walked around the desk, closing the distance between them. She didn’t move.

“You’re bold.”

“No,” she said. “I’m tired. I’m tired of pretending to be less so people can feel more. I’m tired of being told what I can’t do. If you want someone to say ‘yes sir’ and stay silent, pick someone else. But if you want someone who will stand through fire, even when it burns—I'm your girl.”

Killian studied her again. “I don’t need someone who wants to be a hero. I need someone who knows how to survive.”

“I’ve been surviving since I was sixteen.”

Something flickered in his eyes. Interest. Curiosity. Maybe a challenge.

He turned his back to her and returned to his seat.

“Start Monday,” he said.

Luna blinked. “Wait… that’s it?”

“I don’t waste time.”

She waited, just to be sure. “So I got the job?”

He looked up again. “You got a chance. Don’t mess it up.”

Luna nodded slowly and turned to leave. Her heart was racing, and not just from nerves. There was something in that room—electric. Cold and sharp, yet burning. The kind of tension you could feel in your bones.

Just before she closed the door, she heard him say, almost too quietly:

“Let’s see how long you last.”

Luna Santiago stood in front of the mirror in the public restroom of the Black Empire Corp building, hands shaking as she tried to smooth down her blouse. It was the cleanest thing she owned, and the most formal. Her blazer had a small rip on the inside, but she prayed no one would notice.

Today was her first day as the personal assistant of Killian Black — the city’s most feared and respected CEO.

“Don’t let him scare you,” she whispered to herself. “You’ve already been through worse.”

She walked out, holding her bag tightly, and stepped onto the elevator. As the numbers climbed to the 51st floor, her stomach flipped. Would he still want her there? Was yesterday’s job offer even real?

The elevator doors opened with a soft ding.

“Miss Santiago,” said a calm voice.

It was the same woman who guarded his office last time — his secretary, Olivia. Her face was unreadable, professional.

“You’re on time,” she said, glancing at her watch.

Luna offered a small smile. “Always.”

“Follow me.”

She was led to a small office beside Killian’s — smaller than expected, but clean, with a desk, computer, and shelves. Luna looked around in awe. Her own office.

“Mr. Black expects you to manage his schedule, screen his calls, organize meetings, and never let him get interrupted unnecessarily,” Olivia said.

“Got it.”

“You’ll also get his coffee, review documents before he signs them, and make sure he never forgets anything.”

“That too.”

“And he hates small talk.”

“Understood.”

Olivia paused. “Don’t take anything personally. He’s not rude to you. He’s rude to everyone.”

Luna smiled awkwardly. “Comforting.”

Before Olivia could say more, a cold voice came from behind them.

“She’s not here to be comforted.”

Luna turned — and there he was.

Killian Black stood at the door to his office, dressed in another perfect suit, eyes locked on her. His presence filled the hallway like a storm cloud.

“She’s here to work,” he added, staring straight at her.

Luna straightened. “And I’m ready to do that.”

He raised an eyebrow, not saying anything more. Then he turned and walked back into his office.

Olivia gave Luna a brief nod and whispered, “Good luck,” before leaving her alone.

Luna took her seat at her new desk. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard as she stared at the long list of meetings already scheduled for the week. She didn’t even know half of these names.

But she started typing.

For the next few hours, Luna didn’t stop. She organized files, answered emails, and took a call from a man with a deep voice who said he was an investor. She was about to transfer the call when Killian’s door swung open.

“No calls,” he said firmly, eyes sharp.

“Sorry,” she mumbled, quickly hanging up.

He said nothing and disappeared inside again.

Cold as ice, she thought.

At noon, she brought him his coffee. Black, no sugar. She knocked softly and entered.

He didn’t look up.

“Leave it on the table.”

She did.

As she turned to leave, he said, “Why are you still here?”

Luna blinked. “Excuse me?”

“I said no calls. You didn’t ask who the investor was. You just sent him to me. That wastes my time.”

Her hands curled into fists. “You didn’t even give me a chance to ask. You barked from the other room before I could respond.”

His eyes narrowed.

“And besides,” she added carefully, “how am I supposed to know what’s important if no one tells me?”

There was a long silence.

Then — surprisingly — he leaned back and said, “Fine. Come here.”

She walked forward slowly.

Killian opened a drawer and pulled out a black binder. “This has everything. Projects, people, internal codes. Study it. Know it.”

She took the binder. “I will.”

“And don’t mess up again.”

She nodded and turned away.

But before she reached the door, he spoke again.

“You’re not like the others,” he said.

She paused. “How so?”

“They never talk back.”

Luna smiled a little. “Maybe that’s why they never lasted.”

When she left, she didn’t see it — but Killian’s lips twitched, just a little. Almost a smile.

---

Outside the office, Luna finally let out a breath.

It was only her first day, and already she’d spoken back to the most feared man in the building. But something told her this job — this man — would be the start of something bigger.

She didn’t come here just to survive.

She came to change everything.

Luna arrived at the office the next day earlier than usual. The streets were still half asleep, and the sun was just starting to rise. She had barely slept. Her mind was busy replaying every word she exchanged with Killian Black yesterday.

She had stood up to him.

And he hadn’t fired her.

Yet.

She sat at her desk and opened the black binder he gave her. Names, company departments, secret meetings, passwords—it was all there. She scribbled notes in her small notebook, trying to memorize everything.

This job was no joke. But neither was she.

At exactly 8:00 a.m., Killian walked in.

He didn’t say good morning. He didn’t even glance at her. But Luna stood and greeted him anyway.

“Good morning, Mr. Black.”

He paused, just a second, as if the words surprised him. Then gave a slight nod before disappearing into his office.

Luna sat back down, hiding a small smile.

For the next hour, she worked non-stop—reviewing reports, answering emails, and sending out the updated schedule. Everything was going smoothly until Olivia, the other secretary, suddenly appeared beside her desk.

“He’s in a bad mood,” Olivia whispered.

“Why?”

“His brother is coming.”

Luna blinked. “He has a brother?”

“You’ll see,” Olivia muttered before walking off.

Minutes later, the elevator dinged.

Out stepped a man who looked just like Killian—except with a bright smile and softer eyes. He was wearing a dark blue suit instead of black, and his hair was slightly messier. Still handsome, still powerful—but different.

He walked up to Luna and smiled.

“You must be the new assistant,” he said. “I’m Nathan Black.”

“Oh—hi. Yes, I’m Luna.”

“Nervous?”

“A little,” she admitted.

“You should be,” he said with a wink. “Killian’s a monster in the mornings.”

Before she could respond, Killian’s door opened.

“Nathan,” he said coldly. “What do you want?”

Nathan grinned and walked past Luna. “Nice to see you too, brother.”

The door closed behind them, but voices soon followed—louder than they probably intended.

“I’m not here to argue,” Nathan said.

“You never are. But you always leave a mess.”

“I came to warn you.”

“Warn me?”

“About your assistant.”

Luna froze.

She leaned slightly toward the door, not close enough to be obvious, but enough to catch pieces of their conversation.

“She’s hiding something,” Nathan said.

Killian’s voice dropped. “How do you know?”

“Call it instinct. Or call it the fact that no one with her background should’ve made it past your front desk.”

Luna’s stomach turned.

What did he mean? What did he know?

“You don’t know anything about her,” Killian replied. “And neither do I. But I plan to find out.”

“You always do,” Nathan said quietly.

Their voices faded, and Luna sat back in her chair, heart pounding.

They were talking about her. Investigating her.

She should’ve expected it.

After all, this job came with power, access, and risk. She had known from the beginning that keeping her past a secret wouldn’t be easy.

But hearing them say it—hearing him say it—made her chest tighten.

Killian didn’t trust her.

And maybe he was right not to.

—

Later that day, she brought Killian his lunch. She knocked and entered quietly.

He didn’t look up from his laptop.

“Put it down,” he said.

She did.

He kept typing.

She turned to leave, but his voice stopped her.

“Tell me something, Miss Santiago.”

“Yes, sir?”

“How did you really get this job?”

Her eyes widened. “You gave it to me.”

He looked up slowly. “I know my own choices. But you weren’t the strongest candidate on paper.”

“Because paper doesn’t show real strength,” she said calmly.

He studied her again, those dark eyes searching.

“Your references weren’t impressive. Your work history is incomplete. No past employer answered when we called.”

Luna’s heart skipped.

She knew this moment would come. She just didn’t expect it so soon.

“I left a lot behind,” she said softly. “Some things… aren’t worth carrying forward.”

Killian leaned back in his chair.

“I don’t care about your past,” he said.

Luna blinked. “You don’t?”

“I care if it affects me. Or this company.”

She nodded. “Then you have nothing to worry about.”

There was a long pause. Then he looked back at his screen.

“You can go.”

She walked out, legs shaking slightly, and closed the door behind her.

Back at her desk, she tried to breathe.

He didn’t fire her.

But he was watching.

And so was his brother.

She had to be careful.

Because one wrong move—and everything she had worked for could fall apart.