Chapter 1 The First Day
The glass doors of Knight Holdings towered above Elena Brooks like a promise she had spent years chasing.
She tightened her grip on the strap of her handbag and stared at her reflection in the polished glass.
You can do this.
After countless rejected applications, sleepless nights, and endless interviews, today was finally the day.
Her dream job.
Her dream company.
She smoothed the wrinkles from her white blouse, adjusted her black pencil skirt, and stepped inside.
The lobby was breathtaking.
Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling.
Marble floors gleamed beneath expensive heels.
Employees hurried past, each looking as though they had somewhere important to be.
Elena couldn’t stop smiling.
“Good morning,” the receptionist greeted warmly.
“I’m Elena Brooks. Today is my first day.”
The receptionist’s smile widened.
“Welcome to Knight Holdings. The HR manager is expecting you.”
Twenty minutes later…
After completing the paperwork and receiving her ID card, Elena was led to the executive floor.
The atmosphere changed the moment the elevator doors opened.
The laughter disappeared.
Everyone became quieter.
More serious.
Almost… nervous.
She leaned closer to another assistant.
“Why is everyone so tense?”
The woman blinked at her.
“You’ve never met Mr Knight, have you?”
Elena shook her head.
“No.”
The assistant sighed.
“You’ll understand soon enough.”
Before Elena could ask another question—
Bang!
A heavy office door swung open.
A tall man stepped out.
Tailored charcoal suit.
Black tie.
Sharp jawline.
Dark eyes that revealed absolutely nothing.
The entire floor froze.
Even the sound of keyboards stopped.
Without looking at anyone, he spoke.
“My coffee.”
Three words.
Cold.
Calm.
Demanding.
A young assistant rushed forward with trembling hands.
“I’m sorry, sir. I had to—”
He looked at the cup once.
“This isn’t what I ordered.”
The room fell silent.
“I’m… I’m sorry.”
“You have five minutes to learn the difference.”
He handed the untouched cup back and walked away.
No shouting.
No insults.
Just quiet disappointment.
Somehow…
That felt even worse.
Elena watched him disappear into the corner office.
She frowned.
“Seriously? Over coffee?”
The assistant beside her whispered,
“That’s Adrian Knight.”
“The CEO?”
“The one and only.”
Elena folded her arms.
“He could smile once in a while.”
The assistant almost laughed.
“Please don’t ever say that where he can hear you.”
A voice interrupted them.
“Elena Brooks?”
She turned.
“Yes?”
“The CEO wants to see you.”
Her smile vanished.
“What?”
“The CEO.”
“Now.”
Her heartbeat quickened.
“I’ve been here less than an hour.”
She took a deep breath and walked toward the enormous office door.
She knocked softly.
“Come in.”
His voice was deep.
Controlled.
Impossible to read.
She pushed the door open.
The office was quiet, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city.
Behind a large oak desk sat Adrian Knight.
He didn’t look up immediately.
Instead, he finished signing a document before lifting his eyes to meet hers.
For a brief moment…
Time seemed to stop.
Elena politely smiled.
“Good morning, sir. I’m Elena Brooks.”
Adrian didn’t answer.
He simply looked at her.
Not with surprise.
Not with curiosity.
With recognition.
It’s her.
The girl from the rain.
The one he’d searched for.
After seven years…
She was standing in his office.
And she had absolutely no idea who he was.
