Nikolas straightened the cuffs of his suit, his fingers briefly tightening around his phone before slipping it into his pocket. His gaze landed on the woman standing before him.
He had met countless employees—most were nervous around him, intimidated by his presence—but this was different. She wasn't just anxious. She looked pale, almost as if she had seen a ghost.
His brows pulled together in a slight frown. Strange. With an impressive work record like hers, she had no reason to be this unsettled.
"Are you alright?" he asked, watching her closely.
Her sharp blue eyes flickered with something—fear?—but she masked it almost instantly, her expression turning professional and unreadable.
"Yes, Mr. Darkos," Selene replied smoothly. Clearing her throat, she added, "Just a little stressed out, seeing as I was not given enough time to rest as planned."
A hint of something unspoken lingered in her tone, and her lips pressed together slightly in an attempt to suppress her annoyance.
Nikolas smirked. He liked that. Most people wouldn't dare voice their displeasure in front of him, but she had.
"I had informed Mr. Musk to have you resume earlier than expected," he admitted, his tone unapologetic. "Please accept my apologies."
He moved toward his chair, settling into it before gesturing toward the seat across from him.
"Please, sit. I'd like to ask a few questions before we begin."
Selene nodded, placing her files on his desk as she took the seat opposite him.
"What would you like to know, Mr. Darkos?"
Nikolas leaned forward, elbows resting on the desk. "You're new to this branch," he said, glancing at the file in front of him. "I have your records here, but I'd like to hear more about your professional background from you directly."
For the briefest moment, he caught the hesitation in her breath. It was so subtle most people wouldn't have noticed—but Nikolas wasn't most people.
And just as quickly, she masked it.
Selene launched into an articulate summary of her career, detailing past positions, key projects, and the qualifications that had earned her this role. She spoke with confidence, her tone measured and professional. If she was nervous, she concealed it well.
Nikolas listened intently, yet he couldn't shake the nagging sensation at the back of his mind.
It wasn't just her voice or the way she carried herself—it was something else. The way she sat, the way his skin prickled when their eyes met.
Her gaze held a strange familiarity, like a half-forgotten memory just out of reach.
Brushing the thought aside, he leaned back slightly. "Alright. Let's see what you've prepared for this presentation."
Selene stood, walking toward the screen. Her movements were steady and composed. She left her files on his desk as she began, her voice clear and firm.
Nikolas listened, but his mind wandered back to her earlier reaction.
There was something off about her.
Right from when they shook hands, the tingling sensation he felt—like static against his skin.
The way her blue eyes widened in shock when she saw him. The way her face paled, as though she had been caught off guard.
She had masked it well, disguising it as displeasure over her abrupt resumption, but he wasn't fooled.
His smirk deepened as he observed her.
She was competent, efficient, and structured in her explanations and delivery. She knew exactly what she was doing.
Yet halfway through, he found himself distracted—not by the presentation, but by her.
When he first reviewed her file, he was impressed by her work history. But what intrigued him more was her sudden departure from the country five years ago. It had taken a lot of convincing—an increased salary and additional benefits—before she accepted the position.
Now, seeing her in person was an entirely different experience.
She had presence. She commanded attention.
Nikolas studied her closely, peeling through his memory, trying to place where he had seen her before.
Selene King.
No. He was certain he had never met her.
"Are you there, sir?"
Her voice pulled him from his thoughts.
Nikolas blinked. "Yes. Please continue."
"You seemed distracted." Selene tilted her head slightly, bending at the waist like a teacher calling the attention of a schoolboy. "I just wanted to make sure you're following."
His jaw tightened.
"I'm not distracted. Please continue."
He needed to focus.
He had far more important matters to deal with than allowing himself to be sidetracked by his new manager—regardless of how attractive she was.
Like the call with his lawyer right before she walked in.
Five years.
Five years, and the conditions of his father's will still hung over his head like a noose.
Still, his gaze drifted back to Selene. Now that he was truly paying attention, he took a moment to study her properly.
She was put together—more than he had expected.
A deep wine-colored suit hugged her form, the tailored pants outlining long, toned legs.
Her hair was slicked back into a neat ponytail, and the sharp black heels added to her poised presence.
She didn't look like someone who had given birth; her file stated she was a single mother.
He dragged his focus back to the presentation.
And then, for no reason at all, he interrupted her.
Not because she was unclear.
Because he wanted to push her.
Test her.
"What's the projected revenue growth from the last fiscal quarter?" he asked suddenly.
Selene paused for a split second—confusion flickered in her eyes before she quickly masked it, answering with confidence.
Nikolas leaned forward. "And what strategies would you implement differently than the previous manager did to counteract market fluctuations?"
Again, she answered correctly.
But this time, he noticed the small tells.
The way her fingers curled into a fist at her side—the subtle tightening of her grip on the remote.
She was annoyed.
She hid it well, maintaining her professional front, but the tension in her body was unmistakable.
The slight clench of her jaw. The sharp inhale before responding—the flicker of her blue eyes, the faint flare of her nostrils.
Nikolas smirked slightly, though he wasn't sure why. He was enjoying it.
There was something intriguing about her.
Not just her professionalism or confidence but also the restraint she displayed.
By the time she neared the conclusion of her presentation, that nagging sensation still lingered.
That pull.
That odd familiarity.
Nikolas let a beat of silence pass as she finished. Then, standing from his chair, he moved forward, settling against the edge of his desk. He folded his hands together, watching her carefully.
And then he said it.
"So, I hear you have a son. Where is his father?"
The air in the room shifted.
Selene's body went still.
For the first time since she walked in, her mask almost cracked.
Nikolas caught that fleeting moment where something raw flashed across her face before she forced it back down.
His sharp gaze held hers, quiet curiosity flickering beneath the surface.
Why did it feel like the answer to that question mattered more than it should?