Chapter 5
Chapter Five
Solenn
The restaurant was packed, buzzing with conversation and the clinking of glasses.
The low lighting and rustic decor gave it a warm, intimate feel, but it did nothing to quiet the thoughts running through my mind.
I spotted Nina easily—she always managed to grab the best table, tucked in the corner near the window.
She was already halfway through her sangria, scrolling through her phone, probably waiting to grill me the moment I sat down.
As soon as I slid into the seat across from her, she set her phone down and grinned. "Alright, spill."
I picked up the menu, pretending to be deeply interested in it. "Spill what?"
She scoffed, leaning forward on her elbows. "Don’t even start. You had your big interview today. Tell me everything. Was he as terrifying as they say?"
I hummed, still staring at the menu like I was debating my entire life’s choices over a plate of overpriced pasta. "He was... intense."
Nina’s eyes widened slightly. "Ooh, do tell. Did he breathe fire? Do you sign a contract in blood? Blink twice if you’re under duress."
I smirked, finally setting the menu down. "No fire. No blood contracts. Just a lot of staring, a lot of being analyzed like a science experiment, and a very clear impression that I talk too much."
Nina gasped dramatically. "You? Talking too much? Impossible."
I snorted, taking a sip of my water. "I may have over-explained a tiny bit. But in my defense, he asked."
She squinted. "Did he ask, or did you just take it as an invitation to give him your entire life story?"
I tilted my head. "Both things can be true."
She burst out laughing, shaking her head. "Oh my god, Solenn. This is Maverick Spencer we’re talking about. The same guy who reportedly made an entire executive team sweat just by existing. And you sat there and gave him a TED Talk?"
I sighed, dramatically placing a hand over my heart. "And yet, somehow, I survived."
"Unbelievable." She shook her head, then narrowed her eyes. "Okay, but what does he look like? Be honest. Is he as disgustingly hot in person as he is in those finance magazines?"
I paused, fingers lightly tracing the rim of my glass. "I mean…"
Nina sat up straighter. "Oh. Oh, hell no."
I lifted a brow. "What?"
She pointed at me accusingly. "That pause. That criminal pause. Solenn Wheeler, do not tell me you think he’s hot."
I shrugged, trying to play it cool. "Objectively speaking, he’s… well-groomed."
"Well-groomed?" She gave me the most unimpressed look of all time.
"And tall," I added. "And, you know, decent-looking."
Nina nearly choked on her drink. "Oh my god. You do have a crush on him."
I rolled my eyes. "I do not have a crush."
She gasped, clutching her chest dramatically. "Oh, this is amazing. I never thought I’d live to see the day when you—queen of avoiding corporate men like the plague—would fall for the actual devil in Prada."
I sighed. "I said he’s attractive. That’s just an observation. That doesn’t mean I like him."
She leaned in, grinning. "But you could like him."
I grabbed a breadstick and pointed it at her. "I will stab you with this."
She laughed, taking a sip of her drink. "Okay, okay, fine. But admit it—he got under your skin, didn’t he?"
I hesitated for half a second too long.
Nina’s jaw dropped. "You like him."
I groaned, dropping my head onto the table. "This is why I don’t tell you things."
She cackled, clearly having the time of her life. "This is golden. I mean, it’s terrible for you. But for me? Fantastic entertainment."
I lifted my head and gave her a look. "You’re a horrible friend."
She grinned. "And yet, you keep me around."
I sighed, leaning back in my chair. "Honestly, I don’t even know if I got the job. I probably talked myself out of it."
Nina tilted her head. "Do you want the job?"
I hesitated. "I… think so. I mean, it’s high-pressure, but I like that. And it’d be a challenge."
She smirked. "And you’d get to stare at his stupidly attractive face every day."
I pointed the breadstick at her again. "You’re the worst."
She winked. "I try."
We spent the rest of dinner laughing, eating, and somehow devolving into a debate about whether I’d survive more than a month under Maverick’s rule. Nina was convinced I’d either quit, cry, or combust. I was convinced she underestimated me.
By the time I got home, I was full, slightly buzzed, and ready to collapse onto my couch. Kicking off my shoes, I flopped onto the cushions, exhaling heavily as I unlocked my phone. A dozen notifications lit up the screen, but one email stood out immediately.
Subject: Job Offer – Spencer & Co.
I sat up instantly, my heartbeat picking up speed as I clicked it open.
Dear Ms. Wheeler,
We are pleased to offer you the position of Executive Assistant to the CEO at Spencer & Co. Please find attached your official offer letter, including details of your compensation package, benefits, and employment start date. We look forward to welcoming you to the team.
I stared at the screen, fingers hovering over the email.
I got the job.
A slow, disbelieving smile tugged at my lips. I read the email again, my heart pounding for reasons I refused to analyze too deeply.
I should’ve been focused on the salary, the benefits, the workload. But all I could think about was Maverick Spencer sitting behind that massive desk, watching me with those unreadable gray eyes, looking at me like I was a puzzle he hadn’t figured out yet.
I bit my lip, staring at the acceptance email.
I had no idea what I’d just signed up for.
And I wasn’t ready for it.