Chapter 2: Subtle Glances
She had a lot of work, meetings, and deadlines to meet in her first week at Pierce Industries, so it went by quickly. Natalie quickly learned that in addition to managing Alexander's calendar, part of her job as his executive assistant involved anticipating his requirements before they were expressly stated. She took tremendous satisfaction in being the best in her profession, and he was an extremely efficient man. Despite her best efforts to appear professional, their interactions remained heated. Alexander remained icy-tempered and made firm demands. He pushed her to the limit every day, demanding perfection from her in all she did. However, there were sporadic and infrequent times when she noticed something more profound in his eyes. Something beneath the surface suggested fragility.
Natalie got ready for the board meeting on Friday of her first week. Earlier that day, Alexander had invited her into his office to discuss her progress with the presentation materials, a tiny smirk on his lips.
He turned pages through the paperwork she had created and commented, "Not bad, Sanders." "You may just be more capable than I first believed."
She arched an eyebrow, not quite convinced. "Mr. Pierce, I'll take that as a compliment."
Avoid it. "I don't give compliments lightly," he shot back in a cold tone. Still, she hesitated at something in his eyes. Maybe it was the tiny upward tilt of his mouth or the way his eyes lingered on her for an excessive amount of time.
Naturally, she replied, trying to read between the lines with a forced smile. "I'll see to it that everything is ready for the meeting."
"Observe what you do," he remarked before going back to work without giving her another look.
Natalie felt a mixture of determination and annoyance as she exited his office. Alexander Pierce was no different from the other challenges she had taken on in the past. But even in the face of his arrogance, why did she feel that she had to prove herself to him?
The board meeting went ahead without any problems. Natalie stood at the front of the meeting and began to present the well-crafted strategic plans and financial reports. Alexander, seated at the head of the table, listened to all she said while maintaining a mysterious expression. When she was done, the audience let out a loud cheer, which filled her with a sense of pride.
Alexander said, nodding in accord, "Amazing." "But before we finalize the strategy, we need to talk about a few adjustments."
She could see the board members move uncomfortably in their seats at the dominating sound of his voice. He had a knack of making even the most confident individuals doubt themselves. But something changed as soon as she caught his gaze. If only for an instant, he appeared to be nearly human.
Alexander made a move for Natalie to stay behind while the board members filed out following the meeting. The air changed, and she could feel the old tension rising between them.
"You gave a powerful presentation," he remarked, reclined in his chair, and crossed his arms. "Thank you for your effort on it.
" She responded, feeling a mixture of astonishment and satisfaction, "Thank you, Mr. Pierce. "I aimed to make sure the team had adequate information."
For an instant, he observed her closely, a glimmer of something in his eyes that she couldn't quite identify. "You're not just like everyone else, are you?"
Uncertain of how to react, Natalie scowled. If you understand what I mean, I'm not here to play games. My attention is on my work.
He said in a hushed voice, "Most people here are more concerned with their positions than doing their jobs." However, you seem to be different. You put me to the test.
She questioned, defiantly crossing her arms, "Is that a bad thing?"
She was taken aback by his unexpected laugh. Not always. Just not expected. I'm accustomed to everybody following the rules.
I don't toe lines, well," she shouted back, feeling more confident. "It's important to do things correctly, even if there are rules."
Alright. He stated, maintaining a steady, concentrated gaze. "I'll keep that in mind."
Natalie couldn't get rid of the sensation that they had passed a threshold as she exited his office. It seemed like he saw her as a partner in the game he played, rather than just an aide, for the first time. Though it was a minor triumph, it gave her a feeling of direction. The day went by quickly.
It's been a few months Natalie has been working at Peirce. Meetings, deadlines for projects, and the occasional networking event took up her days.
Being a high-level employee himself, Natalie had not seen Alexander Pierce very often. Still, everyone was drawn to his dominant presence, including her. The next time she met him again it was at a quarterly review meeting, and his commanding appearance made it hard to ignore him. She was uneasy for a second when their eyes met, and it was memorable. Their contacts had been sparse since, but whenever she saw him, he would always give her a quick glance that left her wondering if he really did remember her or if she was just dreaming.
On a Monday morning, Natalie gets to work, hoping everything will go smoothly as always. However, the day didn't go as planned when she found out that Alexander had planned a team-building retreat at a secluded cabin in the mountains.
"Is that true?" Natalie's skepticism was clear as she read the email describing the trip, she said. "Spending a weekend in the forest?" That sounds like a very bad dream.
"Team cohesion is crucial," Alexander responded, barely lifting his gaze from his laptop. "I anticipate your presence."
"Obviously you do," she mumbled, experiencing a combination of irritation and acceptance. "I will then prepare my hiking boots."
The tone in the office changed as the retreat day drew near. Coworkers were giddy with anticipation as they discussed their weekend plans. As someone who had never been into forced fun or team-building activities, Natalie felt uncomfortable. Nonetheless, a small part of her couldn't help but be curious. How would Alexander look if he weren't working in the office? Would he stay the haughty boss she had grown to know, or would his new surroundings show her a different side of him?
The team got into a van and made the tense drive to the cabin. Alexander occupied the front seat with an aura of authority, while Natalie made herself comfortable in the back, experiencing a blend of apprehension and intrigue. While watching the trees speed past her, she couldn't ignore the sense that a significant change was on the horizon.
Upon reaching the cabin, with towering pines and a pristine lake surrounding it, the atmosphere changed. Laughter and camaraderie filled the air as her coworkers got comfortable. When Natalie went outside, she discovered that she was by herself with Alexander, both of them standing on the cabin's porch while the sun was setting behind the mountains.
"Seems like we're going to have to be together," she remarked, breaking the quiet.
He looked at her, a hint of amusement in his eyes. It appears that you are fond of that concept.
"Almost not," she replied sharply, a smile appearing on her face against her will.
Natalie felt the walls between them starting to crumble for the first time. Perhaps this weekend will be a change from usual. Perhaps she would at last have the chance to meet the man hidden underneath the mask—the genuine Alexander Pierce.
However, with the sun setting, she was unaware of the impending complexity of the situation.