Chapter 1

Anna Williams was always late for everything, but this time it was different. This time, she was late for an interview at the biggest company in New York. As she hurried down the hall, her high heels clacking against the marble floor, she couldn't help but feel a mixture of nervousness and determination flush through her veins. She had been unemployed for months, ever since her parents had passed away, and she was desperate for a job that would help her keep a roof over her head and food on the table.

As she rounded the corner, she collided with someone who seemed to be just as eager to get somewhere. They both let out a yelp of surprise, and Anna found herself staring into the most piercing, chocolate-brown eyes she had ever seen. The man she had just run into was tall, broad-shouldered, and exuded an air of confidence that was almost palpable. His dark hair was meticulously styled and he had a strong jawline that could have been carved by Michelangelo himself. Despite the accident, there was something about him that made her heart race.

"I-I'm so sorry," she stammered, feeling her cheeks flush with embarrassment. "I wasn't watching where I was going."

The man regarded her with a look that she couldn't quite decipher, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Neither was I," he replied curtly, brushing nonexistent lint off of his expensive suit. There was an unspoken challenge in his tone, daring her to argue with him.

"Anyway, I'm late for my interview," she said, trying to regain her composure. "I really need this job." She paused, noticing that the man hadn't moved an inch, and added, "Sir."

The man's expression softened slightly at her use of the honorific, but he didn't reply. Instead, he gestured for her to continue on her way. "You're late, Miss...?"

He stated that he was the interviewer and guestured her to his office.

"It's Ms. Williams," she said, taking a seat across from him. "But please, call me Anna."

He raised an eyebrow at her informality, but didn't comment. "Very well, Anna. Tell me about your most recent position."

Anna launched into a concise summary of her previous experience, doing her best to sell herself and her skills to this imposing man. As she spoke, she couldn't help but notice the way he leaned back in his chair, his eyes boring into hers. It was unnerving, but she refused to let it faze her.

"And what do you think you can bring to our company, Anna?" he asked when she'd finished.

She took a deep breath, forcing herself to meet his gaze. "I think I can be an asset to your team. I'm hardworking, dedicated, and I'm not afraid to roll up my sleeves and get my hands dirty. I'm also a fast learner, and I'm always looking for ways to improve myself and my performance."

There was a long pause as he considered her words. Anna could feel her heart pounding in her chest, but she refused to break eye contact. Finally, he nodded slowly. "I see. Well, I'll be sure to pass along your information to the hiring committee. Thank you for coming in today, Anna."

She exhaled in relief, feeling a wave of exhaustion wash over her. "Thank you, sir. I appreciate your time." As she stood up to leave, she couldn't help but wonder if she'd done enough to impress him. Only time would tell.

"Before you go," he said, his voice softening, "there's something I've been meaning to ask you." She paused, suddenly feeling self-conscious. "You mentioned earlier that you're not afraid to roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty. What exactly did you mean by that?"

Anna hesitated for a moment, wondering how much she should reveal. "Well, sir," she began, choosing her words carefully, "in my previous position, I took on a lot of responsibilities outside of my job description. I helped out in the kitchen, I cleaned the bathrooms, I even did a bit of landscaping in the garden."

He raised an eyebrow at her, clearly intrigued. "Go on."

"I just wanted to show my dedication and prove that I was willing to do whatever it took to make the company successful," she explained. "And I think that attitude has stuck with me. I'm not afraid of hard work, and I'm always looking for ways to contribute."

There was another long pause as he studied her face, searching for any hint of deceit. Finally, he smiled. "I like that about you, Anna. That kind of determination and work ethic is exactly what we're looking for." He extended his hand across the desk. "Welcome to the team."

Taking his hand, she felt a surge of relief and excitement wash over her. "Thank you, sir. I'm looking forward to starting."

As they shook hands, she couldn't help but wonder what kind of surprises this new job would bring. Whatever they were, she knew she'd be ready for them.

She gathered her belongings, thanked him once more, and made her way out of the office. The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm glow over the city as she walked toward the bus stop. The cool evening air was a welcome relief after the stuffy interview room. As she waited for the bus, she pulled out her phone and checked her messages, trying to distract herself from the anticipation building inside her.

Finally, the bus arrived and she boarded, taking a seat near the window. The familiar sights of the city passed by outside: the towering skyscrapers, the bustling sidewalks, the crowded parks. But tonight, everything seemed different. Tonight, she felt as if she were on the cusp of something new and exciting.

When she finally arrived home, she let herself into her cozy apartment and collapsed onto the couch. She'd been living here for the past few years, ever since she'd decided to move out of her parents' house. It was small, but it was hers. She kicked off her shoes and sighed heavily, relieved to be back in her own space.

As she unpacked her things, she thought about the interview. She was confident that she'd done well, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in herself for getting this far. She'd worked hard to get where she was, and she knew that the journey was far from over.

 Her phone buzzed with a text message from Stella. Excitedly, she opened it up and read:

Hey! Just making sure you got my message. We're all at the club, ready to celebrate your big job! Come join us anytime you're ready. The party's just getting started!

As Anna read Stella's rmessage, her heart fluttered with excitement. She couldn't believe she was finally going to join her friends at the club. It had been a long day, but the thought of celebrating her new job with them made her feel invincible. She quickly finished unpacking her things and threw on a cute little black dress that she'd been saving for a special occasion.

Anna glanced at the clock and realized she had some time to spare. She decided to take a walk around the neighborhood to clear her head and build up some anticipation for the party. The night air was crisp and refreshing, and the streets were bustling with people out enjoying their own Friday nights. She couldn't help but feel a sense of belonging and connection to the city as she walked, her heels clicking against the sidewalk.

As she approached the club, the music grew louder and the atmosphere more electric. The line snaked around the corner, but Stella had already warned her that her name would get them in quickly. With a mixture of nervous energy and confidence, Anna approached the bouncer and flashed her best smile. "I'm here for the party," she said, her voice barely above the din of the music. The bouncer nodded and gestured her inside.

The club was packed, but she easily spotted Stella and their group of friends at the center of the dance floor. They were laughing and dancing, oblivious to the envious stares they were receiving from the surrounding crowd. As Anna pushed her way through the throng of bodies, she felt a wave of happiness wash over her. This was exactly what she needed.

Finally reaching Stella, she threw her arms around her best friend. "I'm here!" she shouted above the music. Stella squealed in delight and spun her around before introducing her to the rest of the group. There were people she hadn't seen in months, people she'd worked with before, and even a few strangers who seemed to know everyone. The energy in the room was infectious, and Anna found herself caught up in the moment, dancing and laughing like she hadn't in ages.

As she sipped her drink, her eyes caught a young handsome man, a lot of ladies were around him drooling over him as he sat there sipping his alcohol with a beautiful lady, sitting on his lap. you could tell she enjoyed the stares. Her heart skipped a beat, but she tried to play it cool. She couldn't help but wonder what was doing here. He looked uncharacteristically out of place amidst the young, hip crowd. Before she could dwell on it too much, one of her friends pulled her onto the dance floor. The music was pulsing, and the lights were flashing, and for a moment, she forgot all about it and just let herself get lost in the rhythm.

It was then that she felt someone grab her by the hand, forcing her to stop dancing. She turned around, expecting to see one of her friends, but instead, it was Brooke Parker, the CEO who had interviewed her earlier. His expression was furious, and his eyes darted around the room, as if he was looking for an excuse to leave. "What a good way to meet a first time employee outside of work." his voice cutting through the music. 

Stunned, Anna didn't know what to say. "I didn't know first time employees don't celebrate."

"It's not that," Brooke sneered. "You're just not the type of person we want around here." She glanced at the young handsome man, who seemed to be enjoying the party immensely. 

Anna felt a mixture of anger and confusion wash over her. "I don't understand," she said, her voice shaking. "I thought I did really well in the interview. I thought this was a great opportunity for me."

"It was," Brooke said coldly. "But you've made some poor choices since then." He gestured to the group around them, his eyes narrowing. "This crowd... This club. It's not the kind of image we want representing our company."

Anna felt her heart sink. She'd never expected him to react this way. "I-I didn't know," she stammered. "I just thought it'd be a fun way to celebrate. I mean, I didn't know you'd be here."

Brooke Parker's expression hardened even further. "Well, you should have," he snapped. "You should have known better. This isn't the kind of place we want our employees to be associated with." He glanced around, his eyes darting from person to person. "I'm going to have to reconsider your hiring."