Chapter 1: The Interview

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.

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