Chapter 2 - The Boss in the BoardroomShe walked into work expecting a presentation. She walked into his kingdom instead.
Isa arrived at Harrison Strategic Group seventeen minutes early.
She had never been late in seven years.
Not once.
Today, she almost was.
The marble lobby seemed different.
Same walls.
Same elevators.
Same receptionist.
Yet everything felt hostile now.
She kept hearing the news anchor.
Declan Vale.
CEO.
Owner.
Billionaire.
The elevator doors opened.
Maya immediately grabbed her arm.
"Where were you?"
Isa blinked.
"Home."
"Whose home?"
Isa stared at her.
Maya's eyes widened.
"Oh my God."
"Don't."
"You slept with him."
"Maya."
"You absolutely slept with him."
"I have a presentation."
"You had a one-night stand with a billionaire and you're worried about PowerPoint?"
"Yes."
Maya lowered her voice.
"How billionaire?"
Isa handed her phone over.
Maya read the article.
Her face transformed.
"Oh."
"Exactly."
"How did you not know?"
"Because he didn't tell me."
"Did you ask his last name?"
"No."
"Isa."
"I was busy."
"Busy doing what?"
Isa gave her a look.
Maya coughed.
"Right."
Before she could say anything else, the entire floor went quiet.
People straightened at their desks.
The elevator opened.
Declan stepped out.
Suit.
Black tie.
Three executives behind him.
Two security men.
A woman from legal.
He looked completely untouchable.
Isa's stomach dropped.
His eyes moved across the room.
Then found hers.
Nothing in his expression changed.
Not even a flicker.
He walked past.
Her heart slammed against her ribs.
Maya whispered, "He knows you're here."
"Obviously."
"No. I mean he knows you're his girl."
Isa nearly choked.
"I'm going to kill you."
"You can't. I'm enjoying this too much."
At 8:30, every employee packed into the main conference room.
The board sat at the front.
Declan stood beside the screen.
He spoke with the confidence of someone who had never needed permission to enter a room.
"I know Harrison has had uncertainty during the acquisition."
No one moved.
"That uncertainty ends today."
He clicked the remote.
A new organizational chart appeared.
Several senior executives were removed.
Gasps spread.
"Anyone who stays will be evaluated based on performance, not loyalty to the previous administration."
Isa's fingers tightened around her pen.
Then he looked directly at her.
"That includes everyone."
Her pulse jumped.
The presentation moved on.
At 8:52, the head of strategy stood.
"Mr. Vale, there is one issue."
Declan nodded.
"Our client presentation scheduled for Monday morning. The lead strategist is Isa Burn."
Isa felt every head turn.
Declan looked at her.
"I know."
The room went silent.
"I've reviewed Ms. Burn's proposal."
Isa swallowed.
"And?"
"It's excellent."
A few people relaxed.
Then he added:
"Which is why I've decided to hear it personally."
Isa stared at him.
"You'll present at ten."
Her supervisor stood.
"Mr. Vale, the board usually..."
"I didn't ask what the board usually does."
Silence.
He turned to Isa.
"Ten o'clock."
She nodded.
"Yes, Mr. Vale."
His eyes darkened at the title.
Mr. Vale.
Interesting.
At 9:05, Isa returned to her desk.
She had barely opened her laptop when an assistant appeared.
"Mr. Vale wants to see you."
Her stomach twisted.
The assistant led her to the private executive office.
Declan stood with his back to the room.
"Close the door."
Isa did.
"Last night..."
"Doesn't exist professionally."
She blinked.
"That's not what I was going to say."
"Then what?"
"That you lied."
He turned.
"I didn't lie."
"You let me think you were nobody."
"I never said I was nobody."
"You told me your grandmother named you."
"She did."
"You didn't tell me you owned a company."
"I didn't think it mattered."
"It matters now."
His eyes softened.
"I'm still the same man."
"No. You're my boss."
He stepped closer.
"I didn't know that when I met you."
"I believe you."
"Do you?"
She couldn't answer.
He stopped in front of her.
"Because I need you to believe one thing."
"What?"
"I'm not going to punish you for not knowing."
She stared at him.
"Punish me?"
His expression tightened.
"You didn't see the way people look at my money last night."
"I didn't know your money existed."
"I know."
"And that's why you liked me?"
"Partly."
The honesty stunned her.
"Partly?"
"Because you talked to me like I was a person."
"That's a low standard."
"For me, it was rare."
A beat of silence.
Then he said quietly:
"And because I haven't stopped thinking about you."
Isa looked down.
"This can't happen again."
His jaw tightened.
"That's your decision."
"Yes."
"Fine."
She turned toward the door.
"Isa."
She stopped.
"Ten o'clock."
She looked back.
"Come in there and destroy the room."
Despite herself, she smiled.
"I intend to."
He smiled too.
For a moment, the CEO disappeared.
Then his phone rang.
Declan answered.
"Yes."
His expression went cold.
"What?"
A long pause.
"You're certain?"
Isa watched the color drain from his face.
He ended the call.
"What happened?"
He looked at her.
"Someone leaked the acquisition documents."
"So?"
"One file was never supposed to leave my office."
"What file?"
He stared at her.
"Your employment file."
Isa's blood turned cold.
"My what?"
Declan stepped closer.
May you like
"Someone has been digging into you."
:::
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