In a blink of an eye, it was already Monday...
The morning sunlight streamed through Charlotte's window as her alarm buzzed. She silenced it quickly, already wide awake.
It was her first day at Grayson Enterprises and she needs to be up early.
She had spent the past two days burying herself in company research, determined to leave everything about Alexander behind and start fresh.
By 7:30 am, Charlotte stepped out of the bathroom, her damp hair wrapped in a towel. Lena burst into the room holding a handful of outfits.
"We're making a statement today!" Lena declared, tossing a dress onto the bed. Charlotte sighed, smiling faintly.
"I'm not trying to walk a runway. I just want to make a good impression."
"Exactly!" Lena countered, holding up a sleek black skirt and white shirt. "Professional, confident, and elegant. Trust me."
After a few outfit changes, they finally settled on the black office skirt and crisp white shirt tucked in neatly. Charlotte slipped on white heels, and Lena rolled her blonde waves into a neat bun.
"Perfect!" Lena clapped, stepping back to admire her. "You don't even need makeup; your skin is glowing already."
Charlotte chuckled softly. "Thanks, but I'm already running late."
"Fine, let's go grab some bites." Lena uttered, while she led the way to the dining table.
They hurried through a quick breakfast, and by 8:10 am, Charlotte was out the door, her bag in hand.
A taxi pulled up as if on cue, and after a short ride, she found herself in front of Grayson Enterprises by 8:55 am.
Charlotte stepped out, clutching her bag tightly as she tilted her head back to take in the towering skyscraper. The sleek glass reflected the morning light, and the building's grandeur sent a shiver of nerves down her spine.
'Bigger than I imagined,' she thought, her jaw dropped in awe.
Compared to Alexander's company which she thought was the biggest, this was a whole new world.
Adjusting her bag on her shoulder, she squared her shoulders and hurried inside, the grand revolving doors pulling her into what felt like an entirely new chapter of her life.
Charlotte adjusted her bag and approached the receptionist at the front desk. The young woman looked up with a polite smile.
"Good morning. I'm Charlotte Williams. I'm here to start work today."
The receptionist nodded and gestured toward a group gathered in a corner of the lounge.
"Good morning, Miss Williams. Please join those individuals. Someone will be with you shortly to begin the orientation."
"Thank you," Charlotte said with a smile before heading toward the group.
She noticed a mix of faces, men and women of varying ages. Some seemed older than her, while some were of the same age as her.
"Good morning," she greeted softly as she approached.
Some nodded politely, a few murmured greetings, while others, particularly some ladies of her age, gave her dismissive looks but she didn't care.
Charlotte took a seat near the edge of the group, hearing whispers behind her.
"She's stunning," one of the men murmured.
"She carries herself so well," another man added in a low voice.
"Way too dressed up for the first day," one lady whispered sharply. "Trying too hard."
Charlotte kept her head high, smiling faintly to herself.
'Thanks, Lena,' she thought, silently grateful for her friend's fashion sense. She wasn't going to let the cattiness bother her.
At 9:20 sharp, a man in his late forties walked in, accompanied by several staff members. His sharp suit and commanding presence silenced the group immediately.
"Good morning, everyone," he began, his voice clear and authoritative. "I'm Harris Jackson, the Head of Human Resources but you can call me Mr. Harris... Congratulations on passing the interview process and officially joining Grayson Enterprises."
Charlotte froze.
'Interview process?' she thought, her stomach tightening. She hadn't gone through one. She had only applied and received an offer.
But she kept her expression neutral, deciding to stay quiet. No point in raising a red flag now. She has been hired anyway!
Mr. Harris continued, outlining company policies, expectations, and their roles. He emphasized professionalism and hard work, ensuring everyone understood the prestige of working at Grayson Enterprises.
While showing picture slides to buttress the company core values and expectations, he entertained a few questions to clarify things he had explained.
After 30 minutes, he paused. "Any more questions?"
The group remained silent, and Mr. Harris nodded. "Good. Those with me will show you to your respective departments, and you'll start immediately. That's all."
Following his last word, everyone stood, gathering their things. But as Charlotte rose, Mr. Harris approached her.
"Miss Williams?" he called.
"Yes, sir?" she responded, her nerves prickling.
"Follow me," he instructed, motioning toward the elevators.
She hesitated briefly, noticing she was the only one being separated from the group. With a thumping heart, she followed him to the elevator.
They stepped inside, and Mr. Harris pressed the button for the top floor. Charlotte's palms grew clammy, and she gripped her bag tightly.
The elevator ride felt endless, the quiet tension building with each passing second.
When the elevator finally dinged, the doors opened to a sleek, luxurious space. The top floor was immaculate, with glass walls offering breathtaking views of the city.
A plaque by the door read: **CEO's Office.**
Charlotte's heart pounded. 'The CEO? On my first day?'
Mr. Harris led her through the grand double doors into the office. A man stood inside, his back to them, gazing out of the floor-to-ceiling windows.
"Good morning, Mr. Grayson," Mr. Harris greeted formally.
Charlotte quickly followed suit, her voice steady. "Good morning, si—"
The last word died in her throat as the figure turned slowly, and Charlotte's legs knocked against each other. Her eyes popped out in shock.
It was him... the man from the beach. The one she had rudely blasted after he saved her from falling.
Ethan Grayson's piercing gaze met hers, a flicker of recognition passing through his sharp, striking features but he immediately discarded it.
His casual demeanor from the beach was replaced by an aura of power and control.
'This should be… interesting.' Ethan thought.
His stern deepened as he folded his arms, leaning casually against his desk while staring at the woman in front of him...