Sam pushed his office door open and walked in.
Mia straightened at once, her hands releasing from each other as she rose slightly from the chair, anticipation tightening her chest.
Sam smiled.
“Miss Bennett, you’re hired,” he said. “If you want to start right now, you may. Otherwise, you can join from tomorrow.”
For a moment, Mia just stared at him.
Then her face lit up, a bright smile spreading across her lips. She hadn’t expected it to be this easy.
“Thank you,” she said, standing up fully.
She turned, walked to the door, and stepped out, letting it close softly behind her.
The moment she entered the hallway, her gaze lifted—and froze.
Alexander was still there.
He was leaning casually against a doorway farther down the corridor, one shoulder pressed to the frame, arms loose at his sides, eyes already on her—as if he’d been waiting.
Her steps slowed as she walked toward him.
Only when she drew closer did her eyes flick sideways, catching the sign mounted beside the door.
CEO
Her breath hitched.
She looked back at Alexander, and in that instant, something clicked in her mind.
Mia stopped walking. Her body stiffened.
“Mr. Graves… you arranged this job?” she asked, her eyes narrowing as her brows drew together tightly.
“Of course,” Alexander answered instantly without the slightest hint of shame.
Mia froze.
For a full second, she could only stare at him, shock flashing across her face. Then her lips pressed into a thin line.
“You’re such a stalker!” she snapped, her voice rising sharply. Her eyes burned with anger as she glared at him. Without waiting for his response, she spun around on her heel and stormed away, her heels striking the floor hard with each step.
Behind her, a wide grin spread across Alexander’s face, sharp and unapologetic, as if her fury only amused him more.
***
“Mia, wait!”
One of her coworkers, Freddie, came jogging out of the building just as she reached the entrance. Slightly out of breath, he waved to get her attention. Mia stopped reluctantly and turned around.
It had been three days since she had joined Kayla Corporation. Freddie was a little older, somewhere in his thirties, dressedneatly with a warm, friendly smile that didn’t feel threatening. He scratched the back of his head awkwardly before speaking.
“You joined recently, right?” he said easily. “I noticed you haven’t really made any friends yet. How about we go for dinner? Do you have any plans tonight?”
Mia hesitated, her fingers tightening around the strap of her bag. Her instinct was to refuse. She glanced down the road, then shook her head lightly.
“It’s really not necessary,” she said softly. “Maybe later.”
