Chapter 2 — A Cold Welcome
Sophie
The elevator dinged softly, its shining steel doors sliding open to reveal the twenty-seventh floor of Cross Enterprises. Sophie stepped out, her heels clicking against the polished tile floor as she took in her surroundings. The reception area was austere yet immaculate—cream walls, a sleek black couch, and abstract art that seemed deliberately ambiguous, as if daring the viewer to interpret its meaning. A glass partition separated the room from the rest of the office, offering a glimpse of the corporate hive within.
Her stomach twisted, a familiar knot of nerves tightening as she clutched her tote bag a little closer. This was no noisy diner with clattering plates and shouted orders; this was polished silence, where even her footsteps felt overly loud. She squared her shoulders, silently reminding herself that she’d worked hard to get here. She couldn’t afford to falter now.
The receptionist, a statuesque woman with a sharp bob and an air of effortless authority, looked up from her computer. Her assessing gaze slid over Sophie like a laser, taking in every detail from her budget-friendly blouse to her slightly scuffed ballet flats. Sophie resisted the urge to smooth her skirt.
“Good morning,” she said, keeping her voice bright and professional. “I’m Sophie Bennett. It’s my first day as Mr. Cross’s assistant.”
The woman arched an eyebrow with impeccable control. “Wait here,” she said crisply, before picking up the phone.
As Sophie stood there, clutching her bag like a lifeline, she became acutely aware of the faint hum of the air conditioning and the pristine stillness around her. The entire space radiated an intimidating kind of perfection, down to the meticulously arranged fresh flowers perched on the reception desk. Even the coffee she could smell faintly in the air seemed like it belonged in a different tax bracket. A pang of self-doubt flickered, but she pushed it aside. She could handle this. She had to.
The receptionist hung up the phone and gave a curt nod. “Mr. Cross’s office is down the hall. Second left. He’s expecting you.”
“Thank you,” Sophie said, adjusting her blouse as she moved toward the glass partition. The polished floor reflected her silhouette as she passed rows of cubicles and glass-walled offices, where voices murmured about projections and market forecasts. She caught glimpses of sleek desks and overly perfect coffee mugs, and for a moment, her mind flashed back to her old job’s break room with its perpetually sticky counters and dented microwave. She shook the thought away. This was a different world, and she needed to rise to the occasion.
She reached the imposing double doors from her interview, her heart thudding in her chest. Taking a calming breath, she knocked twice, waited a beat, and pushed the door open.
Daniel Cross sat behind his desk, his piercing blue eyes fixed on her with an intensity that made her falter for half a second. Sunlight slanted through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating his tailored charcoal suit and casting sharp angles across his face. The office was as meticulously curated as she remembered—sleek, modern, and utterly impersonal. Her gaze flicked to a faint scuff on the edge of his desk, barely noticeable but oddly at odds with the perfection around it. She wondered briefly if it had been left there during a moment of frustration.
“Ms. Bennett,” he said, his tone even and precise.
“Good morning, Mr. Cross.” Her voice was steady, though the grip on her bag tightened slightly.
“I trust you’re ready to begin?”
“Yes, absolutely.”
He gestured toward a smaller desk positioned in the corner of the room, its surface pristine and devoid of any personal touches. “That will be your workspace. You’ll find everything you need in the drawers. Your first task is to familiarize yourself with my calendar, ongoing projects, and the briefing notes for tomorrow’s board meeting. Interrupt only when critical.”
Sophie nodded, moving to the desk and setting her tote bag down carefully. “Understood.”
He watched her for a moment longer, his expression unreadable. “Rachel Adler, two doors down, can answer any questions you have. Precision and discretion, Ms. Bennett. That’s all I require.”
“Of course,” she said, trying to decipher whether she detected the faintest softening in his tone. As briskly as he had spoken, his words about “discretion” lingered in her mind—was it a warning, or something else entirely?
He turned back to the papers on his desk, dismissing her without another word.
Settling into her chair, Sophie powered up the computer. The neutral gray desktop background greeted her like a reminder of just how blank this new chapter of her life was. She opened his calendar and was immediately overwhelmed by the sheer number of meetings, calls, and deadlines. The meticulous color-coded blocks felt like a labyrinth, but she inhaled deeply and began sorting through the chaos. If she could navigate the diner’s busiest shifts, she could handle this.
An hour later, a cheerful voice broke through her focus. “Knock-knock. Is this the new assistant I’ve been hearing about?”
Sophie swiveled to see a woman with sleek black hair and a bright yellow blazer that practically defied the monochrome aesthetic of the office. She held two steaming coffee cups, her grin wide enough to brighten even Daniel’s brooding office.
“That depends,” Sophie replied cautiously, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face as she stood.
The woman laughed. “I’m Rachel Adler. Welcome to the lion’s den.” She extended one of the cups. “Pro tip: caffeine is non-negotiable around here.”
Sophie took the cup with a grateful smile. “Thanks. I’m Sophie. Nice to meet someone who doesn’t look ready to fine me for smiling.”
Rachel laughed again, leaning casually against Sophie’s desk. “Oh, don’t worry. That comes later. Let me guess—Cross gave you the deluxe freezer treatment?”
“You could say that.” Sophie sipped the coffee, savoring the warmth. “He’s... intense.”
Rachel rolled her eyes fondly. “Intense is his default setting. Don’t take it personally. The man’s married to his job, and he expects everyone else to be too. But once you crack the code, he’s fair. Mostly.”
“Good to know,” Sophie said, feeling herself relax for the first time all morning.
Rachel eyed her with curiosity. “What’s your story? How’d you wind up in this wonderland of glass and gloom?”
Sophie hesitated. “Let’s just say I needed a job, and I’m not afraid of a challenge.”
Rachel’s grin turned knowing. “Fair enough. Well, if you ever need the scoop on office politics or just want to vent, I’m your girl. Oh, and avoid the tuna salad in the cafeteria. Trust me.”
“Noted,” Sophie said, smiling. For the first time, she felt a small spark of hope. Maybe this place wouldn’t be entirely unbearable.
By late afternoon, Sophie had started to find her rhythm. She managed to reorganize Daniel’s calendar, familiarize herself with some of the projects, and even draft a rough outline for the briefing notes. The satisfaction of small accomplishments steadied her nerves, though she still felt the weight of everything she didn’t know.
She was just about to step out for a quick lunch when Daniel appeared in the doorway, the sharpness of his presence startling her.
“Ms. Bennett,” he said, his voice crisp but not unkind.
“Yes, Mr. Cross?”
“I need these documents scanned and sent to legal immediately,” he said, placing a folder on her desk. “After that, finalize the briefing notes for tomorrow’s board meeting. The files are in the shared drive.”
“Of course,” Sophie said, reaching for the folder.
He paused, his gaze lingering on her for a moment longer than necessary. “Rachel seems to have taken a liking to you.”
Sophie blinked. “She’s been very welcoming.”
Daniel nodded faintly, his expression difficult to read. “Good. You’ll need allies.” He turned and walked back to his desk without waiting for a response.
As Sophie worked through the rest of the day, her mind kept circling back to his words. Allies. Was it a warning? Or something else entirely?
By five o’clock, her head was spinning from the sheer amount of new information she’d absorbed. As she packed up her bag, Rachel popped her head in.
“How’d the first day go?”
“Survived,” Sophie said with a tired smile.
“Congrats. That’s more than some can say. Come on, I’ll walk you out.”
As they stepped into the elevator, Sophie glanced back at the office she’d just spent the day navigating. It was sleek, intimidating, and so far removed from the world she knew. But as the elevator doors slid shut, she squared her shoulders. She’d made it through day one. Tomorrow, she’d do it all over again.
