Eva's first day at Burns Enterprises began with chaos. She'd spent hours the night before poring over articles about Nathan Burns and his company. His reputation was as intimidating as his presence: a ruthless businessman who had built an empire in tech and investments before turning thirty-five. Now, at thirty-seven, he was a billionaire, a philanthropist, and, according to gossip columns, a notorious playboy.
Standing in front of the mirror in her tiny apartment, Eva smoothed down her blazer for the hundredth time. You can do this. It's just a job. She forced herself to take a deep breath, grabbed her bag, and headed out.
When Eva stepped into the bustling office space on the thirty-fourth floor, her confidence wavered. Phones rang incessantly, employees darted back and forth, and the air buzzed with urgency.
"Miss Blackwell!" A sharp voice pulled her attention. A woman in a sleek black dress and impossibly high heels strode toward her, her expression neutral but her tone curt. "I'm Diana Carter, Mr. Burns' executive secretary. Follow me."
Eva hurried to keep up, clutching her bag like a lifeline. Diana didn't bother with pleasantries as she led Eva through the maze of desks and glass offices, speaking at a rapid pace. "Mr. Burns has an eight o'clock conference call, followed by a nine-thirty meeting with the board. He likes his coffee black, no sugar, and expects it on his desk by seven fifty-five. You'll have access to his schedule and emails but will need my approval before making any changes. Do you understand?"
"Yes," Eva replied quickly, though her head was already spinning.
Diana stopped abruptly outside a pair of heavy wooden doors. She turned to Eva, her sharp gaze scrutinizing her from head to toe. "A word of advice: Mr. Burns doesn't tolerate mistakes. Don't give him a reason to regret hiring you."
Before Eva could respond, Diana pushed open the doors, revealing Nathan's expansive office.
Nathan was seated behind his desk, reviewing a stack of documents. He didn't look up immediately, giving Eva a moment to observe him. His sleeves were rolled up, revealing strong forearms, and his tie was slightly loosened. Even in his focused state, he exuded an air of effortless authority.
"Miss Blackwell," he said finally, his voice low and commanding. "Welcome to the circus."
Eva managed a polite smile. "Thank you, Mr. Burns."
He gestured to the chair across from his desk. "Sit. Let's set some ground rules."
She sat, her palms damp against her skirt.
"Rule one: Be efficient. I don't have time to repeat myself. Rule two: Respect boundaries. You're here to assist me professionally, not to pry into my personal life. Rule three…" His gaze locked on hers, and she felt the weight of his presence. "Don't lie to me. Ever. I value honesty above all else."
"Understood," she replied, her voice steady despite the fluttering in her chest.
Nathan leaned back, studying her. "Good. Diana will brief you on your tasks for the day. Prove to me you can keep up, Miss Blackwell, and we'll get along just fine."
By mid-morning, Eva was drowning. The sheer volume of tasks on her to-do list was overwhelming. She had barely delivered Nathan's coffee before being bombarded with emails, requests, and a last-minute errand to collect documents from the legal department.
As she rushed back to his office, balancing a stack of files and her tablet, she collided with someone in the hallway. Papers scattered everywhere.
"Watch where you're going!" a voice snapped.
Eva looked up to see a tall blonde woman glaring at her. She recognized her immediately: Sabrina Hartwell, the stunning and sharp-tongued vice president of marketing.
"I'm sorry," Eva stammered, scrambling to gather the papers.
Sabrina crossed her arms, smirking. "You must be the new assistant. Good luck keeping up with Nathan. He tends to chew through assistants like they're appetizers."
Eva bit her tongue, refusing to rise to the bait. "I'll keep that in mind."
By lunchtime, Eva was exhausted. She hadn't eaten, hadn't sat down, and hadn't had a moment to breathe. But as hectic as the day had been, she felt a strange sense of satisfaction. She was doing this—surviving in the fast-paced world of Burns Enterprises.
Just as she finished organizing Nathan's afternoon schedule, her phone buzzed. A text from Sophia:
How's the new job? Are you surviving or should I send reinforcements?
Eva smiled, quickly typing back:
Surviving. Barely.
The door to Nathan's office opened, and he stepped out, his expression unreadable. "Miss Blackwell, cancel my three o'clock. I need those quarterly reports ready for the board meeting tomorrow."
"Of course," she replied, scrambling to adjust his schedule.
He paused, studying her for a moment. "You're handling the chaos better than I expected."
Eva blinked, startled by the compliment. "Thank you, Mr. Burns."
A ghost of a smile touched his lips. "Don't thank me yet. The real test is tomorrow."
That evening, as Eva walked back to her apartment, she couldn't help but replay the day's events in her mind. Nathan Burns was every bit as demanding and enigmatic as she'd been warned, but there was something about him that intrigued her. He wasn't just a ruthless businessman; there were layers to him, layers she couldn't quite see yet.
For the first time in a long time, Eva felt like she was on the edge of something new. Something that could change everything.