Ethan stood in the sleek, sterile lobby, the smell of freshly polished floors mingling with the faint scent of Chinese takeout. He could hear the distant hum of conversation from behind the heavy glass doors, but all he could think about was the moment Lila Devereaux's eyes had locked onto him. Cold, calculating, with just the slightest hint of disdain.
What had possessed him to make that offhand comment about her project? He didn't even know what "encryption protocols" were beyond a vague understanding that they had something to do with computers. But somehow, as soon as the words left his mouth, he'd felt like he'd landed a punch. The silence that followed had been almost palpable.
He shifted awkwardly, clutching the delivery bag like it was his lifeline. The receptionist eyed him warily from behind her desk.
His phone buzzed in his pocket, a much-needed distraction. He pulled it out to find a message from his older brother, Jason.
**Jason**: *When's the next food delivery? The rent is due, bro.*
Ethan sighed, replying with a quick, **Just finished a delivery. On my way.**
But just as he was about to pocket the phone, the elevator doors slid open again. Lila stepped out, now without the suited man, but with a determined look on her face. Her heels clicked sharply on the marble floor as she approached him.
"Follow me," she said curtly, turning without waiting for a response.
Ethan hesitated but obeyed. What else was he supposed to do?
She led him down a corridor lined with frosted glass and minimalist decor. At the end of the hallway was a sleek conference room. As they approached, Lila pushed the door open without knocking, and inside, a small group of executives paused their conversation, blinking in confusion at the sight of Ethan.
"Ms. Devereaux?" one of them asked, looking between her and Ethan.
Lila didn't respond immediately. She stepped inside, walking toward the large glass table. "This is the food delivery guy," she said, voice devoid of any emotion.
Ethan could practically feel the weight of their gazes. The suits and expensive ties looked at him like he'd somehow wandered into the wrong world.
"I think he knows something about the encryption flaw in our firmware," Lila continued.
Ethan's stomach dropped. "Wait, hold on. I didn't mean—"
"You didn't mean what?" Lila cut him off. "To mention it? Or to get it right?" Her tone was sharp, but there was an edge of curiosity behind her words.
He swallowed, suddenly aware of just how out of place he was in this room. "I mean… yeah, but I'm just a delivery guy. I don't know much about tech stuff. I just saw the details online and thought—"
"Enough." Lila's voice snapped, though she didn't seem angry, just focused. "Do you know anything else about the system?"
Ethan shifted on his feet. He couldn't tell if she was testing him or genuinely interested. Either way, he needed to tread carefully.
"I know you've been rushing the updates. A few companies have gotten sloppy when they push new tech too fast. I wasn't sure if you had a security audit in place, but—"
"Enough," Lila repeated, but this time, there was a flicker of something—maybe respect—in her eyes.
She turned to the others in the room. "We need to run a full audit. Now."
The group of executives exchanged uncertain glances, but no one argued. Lila's reputation preceded her. She could make or break anyone who crossed her path, and it seemed her interest in Ethan had just shifted from irritation to genuine attention.
When the last of them had left the room, Lila didn't immediately address him. Instead, she stood at the window, staring out at the city below.
"I don't appreciate being interrupted," she said after a long pause, still not looking at him. "But I have to admit, you've done something I didn't expect."
Ethan shifted uncomfortably. "I didn't mean to make a scene."
"You didn't," she said, finally turning to face him. Her gaze was steady, but there was an odd softness to it now. "You've managed to get my attention, and that's not an easy thing to do. But it's not a free pass."
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "A pass for what?"
Her lips curled into a small, enigmatic smile. "For a job."
"What?" He blinked, convinced he hadn't heard her right.
"A job." Lila repeated, crossing her arms. "I need someone to help me with my… 'extra' projects. You've already proven you can think outside the box. So, I'm offering you something. You'll get paid well. Just help me with the tech side of things. Fix whatever you saw."
Ethan opened his mouth to protest, but Lila held up a hand. "Think of it as an opportunity. Work with me, and I'll see what else you're capable of."
He couldn't believe what he was hearing. A job? From a CEO? The same woman who had practically thrown him out of her office just an hour ago?
"I don't know," Ethan said slowly, rubbing his chin. "I'm not exactly cut out for tech. I mean, I barely know how to fix my phone when it breaks."
Lila's eyes narrowed, but there was a glimmer of amusement in them now. "It's not about what you know. It's about how you see things. I can teach you what you need to know."
Ethan hesitated, considering her offer. He could use the money, sure. And the chance to learn something new? That was tempting. But the idea of being in her world—a world so foreign to him—was both thrilling and terrifying.
"I'll think about it," he said at last.
Lila gave him a sharp nod. "You'll have 24 hours."
With that, she turned, her heels clicking once again as she walked toward the door.