Bella Gray tugged at the hem of her blazer, nerves coiling tightly in her stomach. The glass tower of Wolfe International Holdings loomed over the heart of Gaborone's central business district, reflecting the golden sunlight that made the city come alive. The buzz of early-morning traffic filled the air, mingling with the soft chatter of people filing into offices. Bella drew in a deep breath, reminding herself why she was here.
This wasn't just any job. It was her shot at proving she belonged in the corporate world, a world dominated by men in sharp suits and women with polished smiles. She had clawed her way through interviews to get a position as the executive assistant to Damien Wolfe, the elusive billionaire CEO with a reputation for being cold, brilliant—and completely untouchable.
She glanced at her reflection in the lobby's glossy doors. Her brown curls, which she'd spent an hour taming, were already threatening to escape their confinement. "You've got this," she whispered to herself, squaring her shoulders. This job was a dream come true, and nothing—especially not first-day jitters—was going to get in the way.
The moment Bella stepped into the marble-floored lobby, the chill of the air conditioning hit her. The space smelled of fresh flowers and leather, and everything gleamed with an understated luxury. She approached the front desk, where a receptionist gave her a quick once-over. "You must be the new assistant," the woman said with a polite, disinterested smile. "Mr. Wolfe's office is on the top floor."
Bella nodded, muttered a soft thank you, and hurried toward the elevator. The smooth hum of the lift calmed her nerves slightly, but as it ascended, her heart beat faster. She could handle demanding clients and complicated schedules. But Damien Wolfe was known for making people crumble with just a glance.
The doors opened with a soft chime, revealing the executive floor. Everything was sleek and modern, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering a stunning view of Gaborone. Bella's gaze drifted to the horizon, where Kgale Hill stood tall in the distance, a familiar landmark that reminded her she was home.
She hadn't taken more than two steps into the office when a sharp voice pulled her from her thoughts. "You're late."
She spun around to find herself face to face with Damien Wolfe. He was nothing like the corporate giants she'd imagined. Tall and broad-shouldered, he wore a perfectly tailored black suit that hinted at the strength beneath it. His dark, calculating eyes pinned her in place, and his jaw, set in a hard line, made it clear that he didn't tolerate incompetence.
"I—" Bella stammered, her cheeks heating under his intense gaze. "I took the elevator straight up. I thought I was on time."
Damien's eyes flicked to the sleek watch on his wrist, then back to her. "It's 8:01. My assistants arrive at eight sharp."
Bella swallowed. One minute late, and already she'd made a bad impression. "It won't happen again."
He didn't respond, just gave a curt nod before brushing past her, the faint scent of sandalwood trailing in his wake. "My schedule is on your desk. Keep up, or you won't last long."
As he disappeared into his office, Bella exhaled the breath she hadn't realized she was holding. What a way to start.
The rest of the morning was a blur of activity. Bella settled into the rhythm of her new job, organizing Damien's appointments, taking notes during meetings, and making sure every task was completed before he could ask. He rarely spoke to her, but when he did, his instructions were clear and concise, leaving no room for mistakes.
By noon, Bella had a stack of papers to sort through and a slight headache from concentrating too hard. She had just taken a sip of water when her phone buzzed with a text from her best friend, Lena Blake.
Lena: How's the new job? Met the Ice King yet?
Bella smiled. Lena, with her sharp humor, had been her rock since their university days. She quickly typed back: Already messed up. Late by one minute. Pray for me.
Lena's response came almost immediately: Girl, you're doomed. You'll be lucky if you survive till Friday. Want me to dig up some escape routes? ;)
Shaking her head, Bella chuckled softly and put her phone away. As terrifying as Damien Wolfe seemed, she wasn't a quitter. She'd worked too hard to get here.
By mid-afternoon, Bella had settled into a tentative groove, feeling a little more confident—until it all went sideways.
She was rushing back from the printer with a stack of reports Damien needed for an upcoming meeting when disaster struck. Turning a corner too quickly, she collided with something—or rather, someone. The papers scattered in every direction, and to her horror, so did the contents of her freshly made cappuccino.
Right down the front of Damien Wolfe's pristine white shirt.
"Oh my god." Bella's heart stopped. "I am so, so sorry!"
Damien stared down at the spreading coffee stain on his chest, his expression unreadable. For a moment, Bella wished the ground would open up and swallow her whole. She scrambled to pick up the scattered papers, babbling apologies as she went.
He didn't say a word—just stood there, looking at her as if she were a particularly annoying puzzle he couldn't figure out.
Bella straightened, clutching the wrinkled reports to her chest. "I'll—I'll get you a new shirt. Or a dry cleaner. Or—"
Damien raised a hand, silencing her mid-sentence. "It's fine."
His tone was calm, but Bella wasn't fooled. This man didn't do fine.
"I'll replace the reports," she offered, hoping to salvage what little dignity she had left.
"You will," Damien said smoothly. "And you'll do it before the meeting in twenty minutes."
Bella blinked. "Twenty—"
"You're wasting time."
With that, he turned and disappeared into his office, leaving Bella standing there, mortified. Day one, and she was already on thin ice.
After what felt like an eternity of reprinting the reports and praying the universe would somehow grant her a do-over, Bella managed to make it to the meeting room just in time. Damien's cold gaze flicked to her as she set Gothe stack of papers on the table.
"Five seconds to spare," he murmured, almost as if amused.
Bella bit back a retort. Amused, my foot. The man was impossible.
As the meeting progressed, Bella watched Damien in action. He was sharp, decisive, and commanding—everything she wasn't but desperately wanted to be. Even though he'd made her first day feel like a disaster, she couldn't deny the strange pull she felt toward him.
When the meeting finally ended, Bella gathered her things and headed back to her desk, exhausted but determined.
She might have spilled coffee on her boss and barely survived the first day, but tomorrow was a new day. And she wasn't going to let Damien Wolfe—or anyone else—intimidate her.
Bring it on.