Janelle's POV
Monday morning arrived like a punch to the gut.
I'd barely slept. Every time I closed my eyes, flashes of that night haunted me—his touch, his voice, the heat. Now, I was standing in front of my mirror, trying to convince myself that I could do this.
That I could walk into that office, look Adrian Cooper in the eye, and pretend like nothing ever happened.
I tied my hair into a neat, low bun—a dice bun, as TikTok called it. Professional. Controlled. Nothing about me screamed one-night stand. My black button-up shirt was tucked perfectly into a pair of high-waisted black trousers, the fabric hugging my waist just right. I added a splash of boldness with red heels and a matching red handbag.
I needed to feel powerful. In control. Even if I was anything but.
After my usual morning routine—light makeup, a spritz of perfume, and too much deodorant thanks to nerves—I called for a cab and headed to Midtown. The drive felt longer than usual, the cab weaving through traffic like the universe wanted to delay the inevitable.
Then I saw it.
Cooper & King LLP.
The building loomed above me, tall and sleek, its glass exterior reflecting the morning sun. Gold letters glinted near the top—elegant, proud, and intimidating as hell. I stood there for a second, the red from my shoes catching in the reflection of the glass doors. My stomach twisted.
This was it.
I exhaled, squared my shoulders, and walked inside.
The lobby was everything I expected and more. Marble floors. High ceilings. The faint scent of expensive cologne and fresh paper. And in the middle of it all, a sleek reception desk with a woman behind it who looked like she judged people for fun.
I approached, nerves curled tight in my chest. "Hi," I said politely, forcing a small smile. "I have a meeting with Mr. Cooper."
Her eyes scanned me from head to toe, like she was calculating whether I deserved to be here. Then, without a word, she picked up the phone and dialed.
A few moments passed.
"…Right. Thank you."
She hung up and forced a tight smile. "You may proceed. His assistant is waiting."
I nodded, biting back the sharp response sitting on the edge of my tongue. "Thank you."
Fake smiles and sharp tongues—so this was corporate life.
The elevator ride was torture. My heart thumped in my chest like it wanted out. No matter how I tried to distract myself, my mind kept drifting to him.
His hands. His lips. His voice when he whispered my name.
I exhaled shakily. No, no, no. Stop thinking about that night.
When the elevator dinged open, I was met with a tall, clean-cut guy who looked like he belonged in a magazine ad. Blonde hair. Blue eyes. Nice jawline. Boyish smile.
"Miss Morgan?" he asked.
I nodded. "Yes."
"I'm Luca. I'll take you to Mr. Cooper's office."
He didn't talk much after that, which was fine by me. The hallway was eerily silent, the kind that made your heels echo and your thoughts scream louder.
The floors shimmered. The walls were spotless. Everything smelled expensive.
Then we stopped.
A tall, black, polished door. In gold lettering it read: Mr. Adrian Cooper.
My heart skipped. Again.
Luca knocked twice, then pushed the door open and stepped aside for me.
"Good luck," he said under his breath with a smile I couldn't quite read.
I stepped in.
And there he was.
Adrian stood near his desk, perfectly composed in a dark tailored suit, the morning light casting soft shadows across his face. His sharp jaw, those piercing eyes, that impossible aura of power and calm—it all made my breath hitch.
His eyes locked onto mine instantly.
"Miss Morgan," he said in that voice that felt like silk wrapped around steel.
"Mr. Cooper," I replied, hoping I sounded more confident than I felt.
"Please," he gestured toward the chair across from him. "Take a seat."
I nodded and walked over, crossing my legs as I sat, trying not to scream under the weight of the silence.
He didn't speak right away. Just watched me. Like he was trying to read a book he'd already skimmed once before but wanted to memorize now.
Then, he sat down and clasped his hands on the desk.
"I trust you've had a smooth arrival?" he asked, his tone calm but laced with something unreadable.
"Yes," I replied. "A little… eventful. But I'm here."
A faint smirk tugged at the edge of his lips. "Good."
Then, he leaned forward slightly.
"Janelle, you're going to be my personal assistant."
My eyes widened just a bit. I hadn't known the specifics. "Your personal assistant?"
He nodded. "That means you'll be managing my schedule, setting appointments, preparing briefings before client meetings, and keeping me sane when the partners try to tear each other apart."
I blinked. "That sounds… intense."
"It is," he said plainly. "Do you think you can handle it?"
I met his eyes. "Yes. I wouldn't be here if I didn't."
For a second, I thought I saw something flicker behind his gaze—approval maybe? Or something deeper.
"You'll be reporting directly to me," he continued. "If you have questions, ask. If you make mistakes, own them. And if anyone gives you trouble—" he leaned back slightly, "—you let me know. Understood?"
I nodded. "Understood."
The door suddenly opened. A knock would've been nice, but whoever it was had more confidence than manners.
Adrian glanced up. "Yes?"
It was a woman in white shirt and blue skirt, maybe from HR.
"Mr. Cooper," she said gently. "Orientation starts in ten minutes."
Adrian turned his gaze to me, then stood.
Luca appeared again like clockwork.
"She'll be ready," Adrian said smoothly.
I stood up, feeling my legs struggle to steady beneath me. Adrian walked around the desk, standing just a little too close.
"Let's keep things strictly professional, Miss Morgan," he said, voice low, almost like a warning.
I nodded. "Of course."
But as I walked out of the office, guided by Luca again, I could still feel his eyes on my back.
Professional? Sure.
But my heart? It hadn't gotten the memo.
*********
Luca led me into a massive conference hall, and my eyes immediately widened. There were rows of sleek, dark wood tables, each occupied by young faces just like mine—nervous, hopeful, and eager to prove ourselves.
I took a seat near the back, not wanting to draw attention, but at the same time, not wanting to be alone. It felt oddly reassuring to see so many people in the same boat. Some were talking quietly among themselves, others fidgeting with their pens, while a few were already trying to act confident, though I could see the anxiety bubbling beneath their smooth facades.
Luca sat across the room, leaning against the wall, his arms crossed. He didn't join the others. Instead, his eyes kept flicking over to me, making me feel like I was the only person in the room. Each time I looked his way, our gazes locked for a split second. I couldn't help but smile a little, and he would always smile back—his lips curling into that easy, charming grin.
I shifted in my seat, trying to focus. My mind kept drifting, even though I knew I had to pay attention. The person leading the orientation—Mr. Connor, I overheard someone call him—stood up at the front, adjusting his glasses. He was tall, lanky, with sharp features and a monotone voice that filled the room with professional authority.
"Welcome to Cooper & King," Mr. Connor began, looking over the crowd. "I'm Mr. Connor, and today I'll be walking you through what you can expect as part of this prestigious firm."
I tried to zone in on his words, but it was hard. Adrian hadn't left my mind since that moment in his office. Professional. I needed to focus. This was my job now.
I glanced back at Adrian, and to my surprise, his gaze was already on me, his eyes dark and unreadable. His expression never changed, but there was something about the way he watched me that made my heart race. Every time I looked up, he was there—silent, intense, watching me. I felt a twinge of heat crawl up my neck, my pulse quickening.
I quickly turned away, focusing back on Mr. Connor, who was now detailing the roles of various staff members in the firm.
"From the secretaries to the junior associates, everyone has an important part to play. We function like a well-oiled machine here," he continued, hands gesturing broadly. "As a personal assistant, your role will be multifaceted. You'll manage schedules, handle client communication, and most importantly, maintain a seamless workflow for the partners and senior associates."
My stomach did a little flip. I knew all this already, but hearing it from someone else made it feel… real. The weight of the responsibility was settling in.
Adrian's presence seemed to hang in the air like a heavy cloud. Every time I glanced up, he was still looking at me. There was no mistaking it. He was aware of me—and in some strange, electric way, I was aware of him, too.
I couldn't concentrate on what Mr. Connor was saying, not with Adrian's gaze burning into me. It was like an invisible pull between us. I shifted uncomfortably, my hands growing clammy, but I tried to brush off the effect he was having on me. Focus, Janelle. This is work, not… that.
The lecture continued, but I found it difficult to absorb any more information.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the orientation session wrapped up. Mr. Connor ended with a few final remarks and a reminder that we'd be starting our duties the very next day.
"Take the afternoon to get acclimated," he said. "And remember, we expect nothing less than excellence from everyone here."
The room buzzed with a collective sigh of relief. I stood up, stretching my back, my thoughts still swirling. I glanced over to where Luca had been standing. He was already walking toward me, his expression more relaxed now that the presentation was over.
"Hey," he greeted me with a friendly smile. "How was it?"
"Intense," I said, chuckling nervously. "A lot to take in."
Luca nodded knowingly, stepping closer. "Yeah, it's like that at first. But you'll get the hang of it. You're here for a reason."
I couldn't help but smile. "Thanks."
"So, now that we've got that out of the way…" Luca trailed off, rubbing the back of his neck. "I realized we never properly introduced ourselves earlier."
I blinked, surprised. "We didn't?"
"Nope. I'm Luca Shaw" he said, extending his hand. "I work in HR. I handle all the intern placements and… well, pretty much everything involving new hires. I'm kind of like the bridge between new people and the company's way of doing things."
I shook his hand. "Nice to officially meet you, Luca. I'm Janelle."
"Nice to meet you too," he grinned. "If you ever need help getting settled or just someone to talk to, don't hesitate to ask."
I smiled, feeling a bit more at ease with someone familiar in the room.
"Thanks. I might take you up on that."
We stood there for a few moments, exchanging small talk about the firm, the upcoming weeks, and how we both hoped things would go smoothly. But then, I noticed someone staring at me nearby.
It was a girl—dark-skinned with curly hair, her skin glowing like she had a natural radiance. She had bright blue eyes that seemed to pop against her features. She caught my gaze and smiled warmly, making her way toward me.
"Hey," she greeted, her voice light and friendly. "I'm Danielle. You're new here, right?"
"Yeah," I nodded, smiling back. "I'm Janelle."
"It's so nice to meet you!" Danielle's eyes sparkled. "I could use a friendly face around here. Everyone seems so… intimidating."
I laughed softly. "Tell me about it. I keep looking around and wondering what I've gotten myself into."
Danielle chuckled. "Yeah, me too. But I think we'll be alright."
We stood there chatting for a few more minutes, getting to know each other a little. Danielle seemed like someone I could really be friends with—down-to-earth, easy to talk to, and relatable.
But before we could talk any longer, Luca came up again, flashing a knowing smile.
"Janelle," he said, "how about we grab some lunch? The cafeteria's open, and I know I could use a break."
I glanced at Danielle and smiled. "I think I'm going to head out. But it was really nice meeting you."
"You too!" Danielle waved as I walked away with Luca.
We made our way to the cafeteria, walking side by side in silence at first. The weight of the day was already starting to settle in, but there was a part of me that was strangely relieved. At least now, I wasn't completely alone.
"So," Luca broke the silence, his eyes flickering to me, "how are you feeling about everything?"
I shrugged, my hands in my pockets. "Overwhelmed, but… excited. It's a lot to take in, but I'm here for a reason."
"I'm sure you'll do great," Luca said confidently, giving me a warm smile.
And in that moment, for the first time since I walked into this intimidating, glass-walled building, I believed him.
************
Luca and I walked into the cafeteria, and I felt the weight of the room pressing down on me. The clatter of trays and the hum of low conversations filled the air as we grabbed our food. After a brief moment of awkwardly scanning for a spot, we found a table by the window and sat down.
Luca was deep in conversation, clearly excited to talk about the firm. "This place, Janelle, it's huge. It's one of the top firms in the country, you know? Everyone wants in. People don't just work here; they thrive here. You'll see. People would kill for a spot here."
I nodded absentmindedly, trying to focus on what he was saying. But my attention kept wandering, and that's when I noticed it.
I caught Adrian's gaze from across the room.
He was sitting with a group of people, engaged in some sort of conversation, but he wasn't really participating. His eyes were locked on me. It wasn't just a quick glance; it was intense. Like he was studying me, watching my every move, and not in a casual way. I couldn't ignore it.
I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. My stomach churned, and I quickly looked down at my plate, trying to focus on anything else. But I couldn't. His stare was magnetic, pulling me back, making me feel like I was the only thing in the room.
Luca kept talking, oblivious to my sudden discomfort. "You see, that's why people stay. The atmosphere, the opportunities—there's nothing like it. You'll do fine here, I'm sure of it."
But I barely heard him. I was too distracted by Adrian. He hadn't stopped looking at me. Not once.
I could feel the tension building in my chest, and I fought to stay calm, to not let the heat rushing to my cheeks show. What was this? Was it just curiosity? Or something more?
I tried to push the thought aside, focusing back on Luca and his endless praise of the firm. But my mind was no longer there. It was with Adrian, and the burning question in my mind grew louder.
Why was he staring at me like that?
Hey lovely readers!
If you enjoyed this chapter, please leave a comment—I'd love to hear your thoughts. What do you think about Janelle's first day? And Adrian… hmm, is he trouble or temptation? Your feedback means everything and keeps me writing!