Chapter 1 — First Impressions

Alessia

The air inside Alexander Airlines Headquarters was crisp, humming with quiet intent. Alessia Cora clutched the strap of her weathered leather tote, her knuckles whitening as she stepped into the lobby. Her flats clicked faintly against the polished marble floor, a sound that felt dwarfed by her surroundings. The scent of freshly ground coffee wafting from a sleek café tucked into one corner barely registered in her mind. Her hazel eyes darted around, absorbing the sharp lines and gleaming surfaces, the glass elevator gliding upward with a whisper, and the employees in impeccably tailored suits walking with purpose. Everything about the place screamed authority, ambition, control.

And then there was her. Petite and slightly breathless, Alessia felt the weight of her thrift-store blouse, the faint scuff on her left shoe, and the overwhelming sense that she didn’t quite belong. She adjusted her tote, the familiar touch of its worn leather grounding her. This was her chance—her first day as the executive assistant to the CEO of one of the most prestigious airlines in the country. It had taken determination, sleepless nights, and plenty of self-doubt to get this far. She wasn’t about to let her nerves ruin it.

“Miss Cora?” A clipped, professional voice cut through her thoughts. Alessia turned to see a tall woman with pin-straight hair and a tailored blazer walking toward her. The name on her badge read "Lisa." Her expression was kind but brisk, her tone softened by a faint smile. “I’m here to show you to your desk. Follow me.”

Alessia summoned a polite smile, though her fingers tightened on the strap of her bag. “Of course. Thank you.”

As they rode the elevator to the fourteenth floor, Alessia’s mind churned. She’d spent the last week combing through every article, press release, and staff bio she could find about Alexander Airlines, rehearsing names and acronyms like she was cramming for a final exam. Brianna, her best friend and relentless cheerleader, had even quizzed her between sips of latte at their favorite café, declaring each correct answer a victory worthy of a celebratory toast. But now, standing in this gleaming building where even the air felt charged with purpose, Alessia’s carefully crafted composure felt alarmingly fragile.

The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime, and Alessia stepped into an open-plan office space that managed to be even more intimidating than the lobby. Sunlight poured through floor-to-ceiling windows, casting sharp reflections across glass-walled conference rooms and chrome-trimmed desks. Rows of ergonomic workstations stretched in one direction, occupied by employees typing furiously or murmuring into headsets. On the opposite side, the glass partitions of the executive offices loomed, their occupants barely visible behind the sleek designs.

“This is where the executive team works,” Lisa said, her heels clicking with precision as Alessia hurried to keep up. “Your desk is just outside Mr. Alexander’s office.” She gestured toward the largest glass door at the farthest end of the floor. “He prefers to keep interruptions to a minimum, so make sure to filter requests carefully.”

Alessia nodded, though her stomach tightened with each word. From what she’d read, Reece Alexander was brilliant, demanding, and utterly uncompromising. The kind of boss who expected perfection and had no patience for anything less. Alessia’s flats felt positively deafening against the floor as they approached her workstation.

Her desk was sleek and modern, bordered by meticulously arranged potted plants that Alessia suspected were mostly for show. A small, handwritten note was pinned to the corner of the computer monitor: “Welcome aboard! - HR.” Alessia’s lips twitched in a small, cautious smile at the gesture, though it did little to ease the tight coil of nerves in her stomach. The chair looked more ergonomic than anything she had ever sat in, and the computer setup gleamed with cutting-edge functionality. Lisa walked her through the daily schedule and computer system, speaking with an efficiency that left Alessia scrambling to keep up. She scribbled notes in the notebook she pulled from her well-worn tote, the pages filling quickly with bullet points and reminders in neat handwriting. By the time Lisa left her with a clipped “Good luck,” Alessia felt like she’d just stepped off a rollercoaster.

Taking a deep breath, she smoothed her pencil skirt before sinking into the chair. Her desk was so pristine it almost felt wrong to disturb it. Alessia fished through her tote, pulling out a pen and blinking at the faint scent of leather that still clung to the bag. She clicked the pen nervously, jotting down anything she hadn’t already committed to memory and mentally rehearsing her approach for the day.

The clicking of the pen stopped abruptly when the glass door behind her swung open.

“Miss Cora.”

The voice was low, precise, and instantly commanding. Alessia turned, her heart thudding against her rib cage. Reece Alexander stood in the doorway, his tall frame cutting an imposing figure against the sunlight streaming in behind him. His tailored charcoal suit fit him perfectly, his polished shoes silent on the floor. His dark hair was immaculate, but it was his eyes—piercing blue and unyielding—that held her attention. They scanned her, cool and assessing, and Alessia had the unnerving sensation of being appraised and dismissed in the same breath.

She scrambled to her feet, clutching her notebook like a shield. “Mr. Alexander,” she said, her voice carefully steady despite the tightness rising in her throat. “Good morning.”

His gaze flicked to the notebook in her hands, then back to her, unreadable. “I trust Lisa briefed you on the essentials.”

“She did, sir,” Alessia replied quickly, though her palms were damp. “I’m ready to get started.”

Reece’s expression didn’t shift—no smile, no nod of encouragement. He held out a slim folder, his movements deliberate. “Your first task is to review the agenda for today’s executive meeting. Summarize any items requiring immediate follow-up and have it on my desk by eleven.”

Alessia took the folder without hesitation, though her stomach twisted. She’d barely adjusted to her desk, and now she had to tackle an executive meeting agenda? But she nodded all the same. “Understood.”

Reece lingered a moment longer, his gaze steady and unreadable. Alessia thought she glimpsed the faintest flicker of curiosity in his eyes, but it was gone before she could be sure. Then, without another word, he turned and disappeared back into his office, the door closing with a quiet, decisive click.

Alessia exhaled sharply, sinking back into her chair. Her notebook was already open on her desk, and she flipped to a fresh page, muttering under her breath. “First impressions. No pressure.”

The next few hours passed in a blur of rapid note-taking, frantic Googling, and quiet determination. One item on the agenda—a reference to a recently proposed policy—had her stumped for several long minutes until she unearthed a detailed article hidden in the company’s press archives. Every unfamiliar acronym or name was carefully cross-referenced, her notes expanding in neat rows of bullet points until she felt confident she had parsed even the most cryptic details.

By the time she finished typing up the summary, her shoulders ached from the tension of leaning forward, but her work was complete. At 10:58, Alessia straightened her blouse, grabbed the neatly printed document, and walked to Reece’s office. She knocked lightly, her pulse hammering as she waited for his clipped “Come in.”

The office was just as she’d imagined—minimalist and immaculate, with polished surfaces and a single abstract painting hanging on one wall. Alessia stepped inside, feeling the weight of the silence, broken only by the faint hum of the city beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows. Reece didn’t look up immediately, his focus fixed on his computer screen. When he finally did, his eyes settled on her with that same cool appraisal.

“I’ve summarized the agenda,” she said, holding out the document. Her voice was steady, but the nerves prickling her skin were impossible to ignore. “Let me know if there’s anything that needs adjustment.”

Reece took the paper without a word, his eyes scanning it with swift efficiency. Alessia stood frozen, hands clasped tightly behind her back, unsure whether to stay or retreat. The quiet stretched unbearably, and her mind raced with every possible flaw he might find.

At last, he set the paper down and looked up, his expression as composed as ever. “This will do for now.”

The words were brusque but not dismissive, and Alessia resisted the urge to sag with relief. Instead, she gave a polite nod. “Thank you, sir.”

Reece said nothing more, already turning his attention back to his computer. She slipped out of the office, closing the door softly behind her. Back at her desk, Alessia allowed herself a moment to exhale.

The rest of the day settled into a rhythm—emails, phone calls, scheduling requests. Alessia stayed focused, aware of every movement and sound in the bustling office around her. By the time she finally stepped out of the building, the sun was low in the sky, casting a golden glow over the city’s glass towers. The cool evening air kissed her cheeks as she clutched her tote closer, exhaustion weighing on her limbs.

As she walked toward the subway station, the hum of the city soothed her frayed nerves. She stroked the strap of her tote absentmindedly, a small, hopeful smile tugging at her lips. She had survived her first day. And as the streetlights flickered to life around her, she felt the first spark of confidence that maybe, just maybe, she could thrive here.