Eva slumped onto the couch of her small apartment, the events of the day still swirling in her mind. The firm handshake with Nathan Burns, the quick tour of his opulent office, and the mountain of paperwork she had signed—it all felt surreal. She still couldn't quite wrap her head around how her life had changed so quickly.
Her gaze drifted to the single suitcase sitting by the door. It was the only luggage she had brought from her old life—a deliberate decision to leave as much behind as possible. But the memories lingered, tethered to her like an invisible weight.
The doorbell rang, jolting her from her thoughts.
Eva padded over and opened it to find her neighbor, Mrs. Castillo, holding a casserole dish. The older woman smiled warmly, her gray-streaked hair pulled into a bun.
"I thought you might not have had time to cook with the move," Mrs. Castillo said, thrusting the dish into Eva's hands.
"That's so kind of you. Thank you," Eva said, genuinely touched.
"Anything for my favorite new tenant," Mrs. Castillo replied. "How's the new job?"
"It's… a lot to take in," Eva admitted, stepping aside to let the woman in.
Mrs. Castillo settled onto the couch, her sharp eyes scanning the modest apartment. "You'll get the hang of it. New beginnings are always overwhelming."
Eva nodded, setting the casserole on the counter. "Yeah, it's just… different. I've never worked in such a fast-paced environment before."
"And the boss? Is he nice?"
Eva hesitated, thinking of Nathan's piercing gaze and commanding presence. "He's… professional."
Mrs. Castillo chuckled. "Professional, huh? That's code for demanding, isn't it?"
Eva smiled faintly, not wanting to give too much away. "Let's just say he has high expectations."
The older woman's expression softened. "You'll be fine, Eva. You're stronger than you think."
After Mrs. Castillo left, Eva sat in silence, the casserole untouched. Her neighbor's words lingered, but they didn't erase the doubts that gnawed at her.
The next morning, Eva woke early, her body still adjusting to the new routine. She stood in front of the mirror, adjusting her blouse and smoothing her skirt. She had to admit, she looked the part of Nathan Burns' assistant—polished, efficient, and poised.
At least on the outside.
The subway ride to the office was uneventful, but the moment she stepped into the sleek lobby, her nerves kicked into overdrive. She had spent the night reading up on Nathan's business ventures, trying to familiarize herself with the company's workings.
As she approached her desk, Eva was greeted by Melanie, the cheerful receptionist she had met the day before.
"Good morning!" Melanie chirped. "Ready for day two?"
"As ready as I'll ever be," Eva replied with a nervous laugh.
Melanie leaned closer, lowering her voice. "Pro tip: Always have coffee ready when Mr. Burns arrives. He's a nightmare without it."
Eva made a mental note, offering a grateful smile. "Thanks for the heads-up."
By mid-morning, Eva was deep into organizing Nathan's schedule when the man himself strode into the office. He was on the phone, his tone brisk and authoritative.
"I don't care what the projections say," Nathan said as he passed her desk. "Make it happen."
Eva quickly stood, coffee in hand, and followed him into his office. She placed the cup on his desk as he ended the call, his gaze flicking to her briefly.
"Efficient," he said, his tone neutral.
"Thank you," she replied, unsure if it was a compliment or mere observation.
Nathan sat down, scrolling through his phone. "Any messages?"
Eva handed him a folder. "Just these. I also confirmed your meeting with the investors for tomorrow and rescheduled the lunch with Mr. Jacobs to next week."
He glanced at her, a flicker of approval in his eyes. "Good."
Eva relaxed slightly, feeling a small sense of accomplishment.
The day passed in a blur of phone calls, meetings, and endless emails. By the time Eva left the office, she was exhausted but proud of herself for surviving another day.
As she walked home, her thoughts drifted to Nathan. He was undoubtedly demanding, but there was a sharp intelligence and undeniable charisma about him that made it impossible not to be intrigued.
She shook her head, chastising herself. He was her boss, nothing more.
But as she unlocked her apartment door, Eva couldn't shake the feeling that her new job would be far more complicated than she had anticipated.