BILLIONAIRE'S UNINTENDED BRIDE

Chapter 9: UNRELENTING EXPECTATIONS

Chapter 9: Unrelenting Expectations

Aside from the jaw-dropping revelation involving Luke, my first day at the tech company was a whirlwind of introductions, setting up my new office, and diving into the expansive codebase. By evening, a sense of accomplishment, tinged with the adrenaline of new challenges, washed over me.

However, the next day contrasted sharply with my initial euphoria.

Transitioning from Luke's intense presence to the sanctuary of my office felt like moving from a tempest to tranquility. The click of my heels on the polished floor grounded me momentarily. Yet, as I settled into the rhythm of work, this calm was abruptly shattered.

The intercom's sharp tone broke the silence. "Emily, in my office. Now." Luke's voice was composed but icy.

Walking to his office, my heart raced, each step heavy with a mix of anticipation and trepidation. His silhouette against the cityscape was a stark reminder of the divide between us.

"Emily, there's an issue with your API integrations and the frontend," he stated, his eyes not leaving the screen displaying complex JSON data.

I countered, confident in my work, "I've adhered to the architectural guidelines, Luke. The endpoints were tested thoroughly."

He didn't look up. "Adjustments are needed. And integrate the neural network module by EOD."

I was taken aback. "Today? That requires detailed callbacks and careful memory management!"

His tone was unyielding. "Those are my expectations. Fail to meet them, and it's your commitment I'll question."

The rest of the day spiraled into a relentless barrage of coding, refactoring, and criticism.

Jared, a veteran developer, appeared at my office door, concern etching his face. "Has he lost his mind? He's never pushed anyone this hard."

"I wish I knew," I sighed, feeling a mix of frustration and determination. "It's like I'm being set up to fail."

Lisa, always thoughtful, added from the doorway, "Maybe it's a test, or he sees potential in you. Hang in there."

Her words, though comforting, weighed heavily on me. As the office buzzed with activity around me, whispers and speculation echoed in my mind.

Luke's looming presence was a constant pressure, overshadowing everything. Over coffee, Lisa leaned in, her voice low. "It's like you're under a microscope. Any idea why?"

I exhaled slowly, the weight of the situation settling in. "I'm as baffled as you are. It feels like a relentless trial."

But within me, a spark of determination flared. If Luke thought he could corner me, he was mistaken. I was ready to tackle whatever he threw my way, proving my worth not just to him, but more importantly, to myself.