Chapter 4: Rules of the Game
The hallway felt colder than usual. Miss Sinclair's heels clicked softly against the marble floor as she tried to walk steadily, her mind still reeling from Leonard Thorne's words.
"I always get what I want."
What exactly did that mean?
Back at her desk, she tried to focus, but the tension from the meeting still clung to her like static. She'd worked under strict bosses before—but nothing, absolutely nothing, prepared her for him. His presence wasn't just powerful; it was all-consuming.
By noon, a message pinged on her computer screen.
From: Mr. Leonard Thorne
Subject: Urgent – Boardroom
Time: 12:15PM
Her heart skipped. She checked the clock. 12:10PM.
With barely five minutes to compose herself, she grabbed her notepad and rushed to the boardroom.
When she stepped in, he was already there of course. Standing near the window, hands in his pockets, gazing out as if he ruled the skyline. In many ways, he did.
"You're early," he said, not turning to face her.
She blinked, unsure if that was a compliment or another jab.
"You asked for 12:15," she replied, keeping her tone neutral.
He turned slowly, eyes scanning her like a puzzle he intended to solve.
"I admire punctuality," he said, walking toward her with the quiet grace of a predator.
She swallowed.
"This project," he continued, placing a thick file in front of her on the table, "will test everything you think you know about this company vand about me."
Their eyes locked. The silence stretched.
"I'm ready," she said firmly.
His gaze dropped to her lips for the briefest second before shifting back to her eyes.
"I hope so, Miss Sinclair. Because once you start playing by my rules, there's no going back."
What rules?
She didn't dare ask.
Instead, she took the file, opened the cover, and started reading. But she could feel him watching every flick of her fingers, every blink, every breath.
It wasn't just work anymore.
This was something else.
Something dangerous.
Something thrilling.
She had no idea what game she'd stepped into…
But one thing was clear:
Leonard Thorne was the kind of man who didn't play fair.