Chapter 1 The Worst Day of My Life
Rain pounded against the glass windows of Knight Corporation, turning the city skyline into a blur of gray.
Isabella Carter tightened her grip on the folder in her hands and took a deep breath.
“This is your chance,” she whispered to herself.
After months of searching for a stable job, she’d finally landed an interview at the most prestigious company in the city. The salary was more than she had ever dreamed of earning—enough to pay her mother’s mounting medical bills and keep a roof over their heads.
Failure wasn’t an option.
“Miss Carter?”
She looked up as the receptionist smiled politely.
“The CEO is ready to see you.”
Her stomach dropped.
The CEO?
She had been told she would be interviewed by the Human Resources department.
Trying to hide her nerves, Isabella followed the receptionist down a long hallway lined with elegant artwork and polished marble floors.
Every employee they passed lowered their voices.
“The boss is in a terrible mood today.”
“He fired two executives this morning.”
“I heard someone lost a billion-dollar contract.”
Isabella swallowed hard.
This was not helping.
The receptionist stopped outside a pair of towering black doors.
“Good luck.”
The doors opened.
Behind a massive desk sat the man everyone feared.
Adrian Knight.
Young.
Powerful.
And devastatingly handsome.
His tailored black suit fit him perfectly, and his sharp jawline made him look more like a movie star than the billionaire CEO of one of the world’s largest companies.
Without looking up from the documents on his desk, he spoke.
“You’re three minutes early.”
Isabella blinked.
“Is… is that a problem?”
He finally raised his eyes.
Cold blue eyes met warm brown ones.
For a brief second, the room fell silent.
Something unfamiliar flickered across Adrian’s face before disappearing.
“Sit.”
She obeyed.
He flipped through her résumé.
“Business degree. Excellent references. Fluent in three languages.”
He closed the file.
“Why do you want this job?”
“Because I need it.”
“I asked why.”
She met his gaze.
“Because my mother is ill, and I’m willing to work harder than anyone else to give her the care she deserves.”
He studied her for a long moment.
“You didn’t ask for sympathy.”
“No.”
“You didn’t lie.”
“No.”
“You answered honestly.”
“Yes.”
A faint smile touched the corner of his mouth before vanishing.
“Good.”
Before Isabella could relax, Adrian pressed a button on his desk.
“Cancel the remaining interviews.”
Her eyes widened.
He looked directly at her.
“You start tomorrow.”
“What?”
“You heard me.”
“I… I haven’t even finished the interview.”
“I’ve already made my decision.”
She stared at him in disbelief.
“Why me?”
Adrian leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable.
“Because everyone else tried to impress me.”
His eyes never left hers.
“You didn’t.”
Outside, thunder rolled across the city.
Neither of them realized that this meeting would change both of their lives forever.
