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I stood, and he gestured for me to sit.
“Everyone, I’d like to welcome Olivia to her first marketing meeting.” A round of light applause and big smiles surrounded me, clearly a reflection of their confidence in their boss.
“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Olivia. But I guess you knew that already.”
“We’ll go around the table.” Alexander gestured toward a tall woman with striking features and dark brown eyes.
“I’m Sophia, Chief Product Officer. If you ever need any guidance or help, don’t hesitate to ask.”
“Thank you, Sophia. I appreciate it.” I smiled and tilted my head in her direction.
“I’m Ethan, Senior Accounting Manager.” Warmth radiated from him, and I got the impression that he was the kind of person who would do anything for a friend. I hoped to become one of them right then and there. “Welcome to Bennett Industries. We’re glad to have you on board.”
“Thanks, Ethan.” His welcoming demeanor instantly put me at ease and even helped distract me for a few minutes from my attraction to my boss, still intensifying by the minute.
The rest of the faces were a blur, and I knew it would take me at least a week to learn them all. I was amazed, though, by Alexander’s effortless recall of the thirty employees gathered around the table.
Throughout the meeting, I watched as Alexander expertly steered the conversation, eliciting input from various team members while unabashedly critiquing and refining their ideas. Even when pulling an idea apart, he made it seem like a compliment. The room crackled with energy, each person striving to impress the formidable CEO.
I couldn’t help but steal glances at him as he spoke. It took all my willpower not to reach out and trace the curve of his jaw or the strong line of his neck.
“Olivia, did you get that in your notes?” Alexander’s piercing gaze drilled through me.
“Oh. Which part?” I tried to recover myself after losing my train of thought in his jawline and cheekbones.
“The part about a targeted approach for specific demographics. To ensure a greater return on investment.”
“Oh. Yes. I got that part already.” A different kind of flame shot through his eyes, and I got my first taste of how exacting a boss he’d be. I didn’t know how I’d avoid making mistakes when he was the one pulling the reins.
Despite every effort to focus, my mind persistently wandered back to Alexander. The captivating blend of power, intelligence, and charm made him irresistible.
The day passed quickly whenever I was in his presence, and it crawled when I wasn’t. I was pinned between the compulsive thoughts of what I might want him to do to me on that desk and my drive to impress him with the quality of my work. That’s why I was there, after all.
Toward the end of the day, my heart raced as I stood beside Alexander, feeling myself subjected to his probing eye, not just my financial reports. His brow furrowed.
“Olivia, these projections don’t take into account the recent market fluctuations.” His voice was distant. Detached.
“I’m sorry, Alexander. I’ll revise them immediately.” I sensed the weight of his expectations. I was determined not to disappoint him again.
“See that you do.” He shot the documents into my hand without a look. “The board needs accurate figures, not mistakes.”
The brief contact with his hand sent electricity through me, despite his scorn. As I returned to my desk, I couldn’t help but watch Alexander from the corner of my eye. I watched as he leaned back in his chair, absentmindedly stroking his jawline.
“Earth to Olivia.” Ethan’s gentle teasing snapped me out of my reverie. “You’ve been staring for the past five minutes.”
“Sorry, I was just… thinking about work.” I immediately averted my eyes back to my papers.
“Uh-huh. Sure.” He gave a knowing smile before heading off to a meeting.
Chapter Two
Olivia
I quickly learned that the tough assessment of my financial reports on the first day was a first-day grace period, a gentle reprieve from his unforgiving standards.
That was him being kind. In the four days that followed, the only thing that intensified as rapidly as my attraction to him was my intimidation. And fear.
“He’s going to fucking have my head for this,” I told Mia, my best friend, as I darted through the lobby and into a closing elevator.
