A sleek skyscraper, its mirrored windows catching the light, stretched so high that it seemed to disappear into the clouds above. The sheer size of it made my stomach twist with unease, as if the enormity of the building itself was a warning.
Standing at the entrance was an older-looking gentleman, dressed sharply in a perfectly tailored black suit. He towered over me, his raven hair slicked back with not a strand out of place.
His expression was concealed behind dark, tinted sunglasses, making it impossible to read the man's thoughts as he waited, immovable and poised like a gatekeeper.
I barely had a moment to process it all when he cleared his throat. "Mr. Maverick?" he asked, his deep voice breaking the tense silence.
It startled me, pulling me back to reality. My nerves flared up. Whenever I applied for a job, any job, I always used an alias—detaching myself from my real name was essential.
I didn't need the weight of my family's reputation hanging over me.
"Yes... Ethan Maverick," I corrected him awkwardly, offering my hand. He clasped it firmly, his grip cold and businesslike.
A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth as he raised an eyebrow, a subtle hint of mockery in his tone. "Interesting. After the initial interview, I didn't think you'd actually show up."
I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his words and the towering building behind him. This wasn't going to be as easy as I thought.
He gestured for me to follow him up the steps into the most luxurious penthouse complex in the city, Pacific Heights.
The gleaming marble entrance, paired with pristine glass doors, exuded opulence. Inside, the lobby boasted sleek leather chairs and modern art pieces that screamed wealth.
"And what gave you that impression?" I asked, my eyes scanning the area, memorizing every corner. My wolf instincts kicked in, the primal need to locate an exit gnawing at me until I finally spotted one in the far corner. Only then did I feel a flicker of relief.
The tall man in the black suit, chuckled softly under his breath. "Given your reaction when I first explained your responsibilities, I thought you might, as the kids say, 'chicken out.'" He pressed the button for the penthouse suite as we stepped into the elevator, the doors closing us off from the lavish lobby.
