Heart Affairs | (Office Romance)

Chapter 4

Lily's P.O.V

The bus finally stopped. It was 8:55, and I was almost thirty minutes late. I sprinted toward the company's building, nerves prickling through me as a wave of panic flooded my mind. Late on my first day. This was the worst possible impression, and all I could do was run-just run as fast as I could to the office. I was already late, but every second mattered, so I kept going, tears streaming down my face. Please, let this go well.

The building was huge, with people bustling everywhere. I spotted an elevator and rushed to catch it before it closed. Catching my breath, I pressed the button marked "Office." A million thoughts raced through my mind as I tried to mentally prepare for whatever awaited me. But I knew I could never be ready for this.

When the elevator doors opened, I walked down the long hall, heading toward a reception desk at the end. A woman sat behind it, and I approached, still out of breath.

"Excuse me, where can I find the meeting room?" I asked, panting slightly.

The woman glanced up and adjusted her glasses. "Ms. Rose?" she asked. I wanted to ask how she knew it was me, but there was no time for chit-chat.

"Yes, that's me."

"Down the hall to the right," she said, pausing. "The meeting hasn't started yet, but Mr. Pierce is expecting you in his office." She gave me a look that spelled trouble.

He was expecting me in his office? Was he going to fire me before I even started? Anxiety surged as I walked to Mr. Pierce's office, a million thoughts swirling in my head. I knocked, opened the door, and stepped in, closing it behind me. Head down, I braced myself for whatever was coming.

"You asked for me, Mr. Pierce?" I said, my gaze still fixed on the floor.

"Lily Rose," he said, his voice husky yet cold. I finally looked up-and was struck by the sight of the most handsome man I'd ever seen. I'd expected someone older, a veteran of the industry. But here he was, young and strikingly attractive, dressed in a sharp black suit. His sleek, dark hair was brushed back, his piercing brown eyes held a glacial intensity, and his full lips curved into a smirk.

"Enjoying the show already?" he said, pulling me back to reality. "You should be worrying about other things right now," he added, as if he'd read my thoughts. Embarrassment washed over me, and I felt my cheeks flush.

"I'm... I'm sorry, Mr. Pierce," I stammered. "The bus had a flat tire, and I couldn't make it on time."

He rose from his chair and walked toward me. "I don't want to hear any excuses. You've already wasted enough time," he said sharply.

"I'm not making excuses; I'm just telling the truth," I said, trying to defend myself.

"The truth is that everyone had to wait for you to start the meeting. Don't you think time is a valuable asset to a company like JPL?" He was now towering over me, his gaze burning into me.

"We're not here to play office. This is serious business, and time is precious," he continued, his eyes fixed on my trembling hands.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Pierce. This won't happen again. I'll make sure of it," I murmured.

"If you're late again, don't even bother showing up. We'll terminate your three-month contract immediately," he said coldly.

I swallowed, feeling intimidated by his unyielding aura. "I understand, but isn't that a bit unfair? Accidents can happen to anyone," I said quietly.

He stepped even closer until his face was just inches from mine. "Accidents? Or maybe you're just incompetent for this job," he said with a mocking smirk.

I felt a flash of anger but held my composure. "Competency is proven through work, not through an accident beyond one's control," I replied, meeting his gaze steadily.

He seemed momentarily taken aback by my shift in tone. "We'll see how well you do," he replied with a mocking laugh before turning toward the door.

"Our little chat is over. Let's get this meeting started," he said, exiting and leaving me alone in the room.

What a jerk. I followed him to the meeting room, shutting the door behind me. I was just relieved this ordeal was over. I'd never felt so intimidated by anyone before. He was devilishly handsome yet as unyielding as stone with every word he spoke.

But how was I supposed to work for someone like this? Let alone hope for a permanent position at JPL. He was bound to make my life here a living hell. Still, I was determined to earn his approval and make a place for myself-no matter what.