Chapter 2 THE FIRST DAY OF TROUBLE

Monday morning arrived too quickly.

Lena Brooks stood in front of her bedroom mirror, adjusting the collar of her cream blouse.

She had spent twenty minutes deciding what to wear, not because she wanted to impress Alexander Knight, but because she refused to give him another reason to look down on her.

Her phone vibrated on the bed.

Maya: Are you awake?

Lena: Unfortunately.

Maya: First day at the billionaire's palace. How exciting!

Lena: It's an office, Maya. Not a palace.

Maya: Same thing. Does the office come with a swimming pool?

Lena rolled her eyes.

Lena: I haven't even entered the building.

Maya: Just remember, you're there for the salary. Not the handsome boss.

Lena stared at the message.

Lena: He's not handsome.

Maya: I didn't ask whether he was handsome.

Lena dropped her phone onto the bed.

Maya was going to be a problem.

By 7:45 a.m., Lena arrived at Knight Global.

She checked in with reception and received her identification card. A young woman from Human Resources escorted her to the executive floor.

"Your desk is outside Mr. Knight's office," the woman explained. "You'll have access to his calendar, correspondence, and meeting schedules."

"Understood."

"There's also a confidentiality agreement in your employment package. Mr Knight takes company security very seriously."

"That's reasonable."

The woman handed her a folder.

"Your contract, employee handbook, and access information."

Lena thanked her and approached her new desk.

It was spacious, modern, and equipped with two computer screens.

For a moment, she felt proud.

She had worked hard to build her career. She had applied to dozens of companies, attended interviews, and endured rejection after rejection.

This opportunity mattered.

She wasn't going to let her history with Alexander ruin it.

She placed her handbag beside the desk and switched on the computer.

At exactly 8:15, the office door opened.

Alexander Knight stepped out.

"You're early."

Lena looked at the clock.

"That's generally what happens when someone arrives before their boss."

His eyes settled on her.

"Do you always have an answer for everything?"

"Only when people ask questions."

He gave her a brief look before handing her a folder.

"These are today's priorities."

Lena opened it.

There were three scheduled meetings, two conference calls, several pending approvals, and a stack of documents that needed reviewing.

She looked up.

"Is this everything?"

"For now."

"For now?"

"Is there a problem?"

"No. I'm just trying to determine whether you hired an assistant or an entire department."

Alexander's expression remained serious.

"Can you handle it?"

"Yes."

"Good. I have a meeting in twenty minutes. Make sure the board members have the revised presentation."

Lena glanced at the folder.

"The presentation attached to this email?"

"Yes."

She checked the document.

"Mr. Knight, this is the old version."

He stopped.

"What?"

"The financial projections are from last week. You said the revised presentation."

Alexander returned to her desk.

"Who sent this?"

"Your office."

"Then find out why the wrong document was uploaded."

Lena examined the email trail.

"There's another attachment here."

She opened it and compared the figures.

"This one has the updated projections."

Alexander leaned slightly towards the screen.

"Send that one to the board."

"I'll do that."

He returned to his office.

Lena shook her head.

Her first twenty minutes were already more complicated than expected.

At 9:00 a.m., Alexander entered the conference room.

Lena followed with the presentation documents and took a seat near the door.

The meeting began with discussions about the acquisition.

The company Knight Global intended to acquire was called Sterling Holdings. The deal was expected to expand Knight Global's international operations, but the negotiations had become increasingly difficult.

One board member questioned the projected expenses.

Another raised concerns about the acquisition's financial records.

Alexander listened without interrupting.

Then he turned towards Lena.

"Miss Brooks, the updated report."

She immediately handed him the correct document.

He scanned the figures.

"These numbers don't match the previous report."

A man sitting opposite him frowned.

"That is precisely what we've been trying to establish."

Alexander looked at the financial director.

"Explain."

The director cleared his throat.

"We're still investigating the discrepancy."

"How long have you been investigating?"

"Three days."

Alexander closed the folder.

"You have until tomorrow morning."

The room became quiet.

Lena watched him carefully.

He was not the man she remembered in every respect.

The Alexander she had known could be stubborn, but the man sitting at the head of the conference table was something else entirely.

He commanded attention without raising his voice.

And everyone seemed aware that disappointing him came with consequences.

The meeting continued for another thirty minutes.

When it ended, Alexander remained behind.

"Miss Brooks."

Lena turned.

"Yes?"

"Where did you find the updated report?"

"In the email attachments."

"Who sent it?"

"Your financial department."

"Find out who authorised the previous version."

She nodded.

"Anything else?"

"Yes. Arrange a meeting with the legal team for tomorrow morning."

"What time?"

"Eight."

Lena looked at him.

"Eight in the morning?"

"Is there a problem?"

"No. I was just checking whether the building opens that early."

Alexander stared at her.

She offered a professional smile.

"Eight o'clock. Understood."

Back at her desk, Lena began making the arrangements.

She contacted the legal department, updated the calendar, and sent the necessary correspondence.

By lunchtime, she had completed most of her morning assignments.

She was reaching for her lunch when Alexander's office door opened.

"Miss Brooks."

She looked up.

"Yes, Mr. Knight?"

"Come inside."

She put her lunch aside and followed him.

He stood behind his desk, holding a printed document.

"Did you prepare this?"

Lena examined it.

"Yes. It's the revised meeting schedule."

"Why did you move my appointment with the European investors?"

"Because you scheduled two meetings at the same time."

"I didn't ask you to move it."

"You asked me to organise your schedule."

His eyes narrowed slightly.

"Without changing important appointments."

Lena folded her arms.

"Then perhaps you should avoid scheduling two important appointments at once."

Silence.

She immediately wondered whether she had gone too far.

Alexander placed the document on his desk.

"Next time, consult me before making changes."

"Understood."

"That will be all."

Lena turned towards the door.

"Miss Brooks."

She stopped again.

"Do you have a problem working for me?"

She faced him.

"No."

"Then why does every conversation feel like an argument?"

"Perhaps because every conversation feels like an interrogation."

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then Alexander looked away.

"Get back to work."

Lena left his office.

She returned to her desk and finally opened her lunch.

Her phone vibrated.

Maya: How's the billionaire treating you?

Lena typed quickly.

Lena: Like a man who thinks the entire world is his personal assistant.

Maya: So nothing has changed?

Lena almost laughed.

Lena: Apparently not.

She put the phone away and continued eating.

Inside his office, Alexander stood beside the window, looking over the city.

His attention returned to the acquisition report on his desk.

One particular entry had been bothering him since the meeting.

A financial transfer had been authorised under a name he did not recognise.

The transaction was connected to Sterling Holdings, but the supporting documents were missing.

He picked up his phone.

"Get me the internal audit team."

After ending the call, he looked through the glass wall separating his office from Lena's desk.

She was concentrating on her computer, completely unaware of the investigation beginning inside his office.

He had hired her because she was qualified.

At least, that was what he kept telling himself.

But the appearance of Lena Brooks at Knight Global had complicated matters he had spent three years trying to keep separate.

And now, with the acquisition only six weeks away, he couldn't afford distractions.

Especially not her.