Crossing Paths
Amara's first week at the company felt like a blur of emails, meetings, and endless reports. She was the new assistant—the one nobody noticed unless something went wrong. It was just the way she liked it, blending into the background, keeping her head down.
But then there were moments—when the air shifted, when Gregory Hayes, the CEO, walked through the office. His presence was palpable. People went quiet, and everyone straightened up like soldiers in his line of sight.
She hadn't seen him face-to-face yet. He'd been a shadow, just a name she heard whispered in meetings. She didn't expect to cross paths with him anytime soon.
That is, until Thursday afternoon.
She was sitting at her desk, organizing a file, when the sound of heavy footsteps broke the stillness. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up as the unmistakable form of Gregory Hayes appeared at the edge of her cubicle.
He looked as sharp as ever, his tailored suit crisp and imposing. His eyes—dark and unreadable—locked onto hers with surprising intensity.
"Amara Daniels, right?" His voice was firm, commanding.
"Y-yes, sir," she stammered, trying to maintain her composure.
"Good," he said curtly. He leaned against her desk, his presence forcing her to look up at him. "I need these reports sorted. The numbers are off. Get it done by noon tomorrow."
She blinked. "I—um, I didn't realize—"
"No excuses," he cut her off. His gaze narrowed, and there was an edge to his voice she hadn't expected. "You either do this or you don't belong here. Make it happen."
She froze, her chest tightening. The sharpness in his tone felt like a slap, and a wave of embarrassment washed over her.
"Understood?" he pressed, his eyes cold and unwavering.
"Yes," she whispered, feeling small.
He didn't even wait for a response as he turned and walked away, his steps echoing in the silence that followed.
Amara stared after him, her hands trembling as she tried to absorb what had just happened.
Her first confrontation with him, and she'd been dismissed without a second thought.
She felt a mix of frustration and confusion. He didn't know her—didn't know anything about her—but he was already pushing her to prove herself in a way she wasn't sure she could.
But one thing was certain: she would not back down.