CHAPTER TEN
ALEXIA P.O.V
I didn't expect to see him here.
Of all places.
Of all times.
But neither of us spoke. We had nothing to say to each other—and I definitely wasn't about to leave just because he showed up.
So we stayed there…
In silence.
Cold. Thick. Uncomfortable.
"Are you brave… or just stupid?" his voice finally cut through the air.
I scoffed. "I could say the same about you."
A low, dark chuckle escaped him.
"Do you have any idea who I am… and what I can do to you?" he asked.
"I know," I replied coolly. "And I don't care. Don't think those little threats of yours work on me."
I tilted my head slightly.
"You should be the one scared of me."
A bluff.
But I said it anyway.
"Is that so?"
His voice dropped.
Then—
He started walking toward me.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
My breath hitched as he closed the distance between us until our faces were only inches apart.
Too close.
Way too close.
His emerald eyes locked onto mine—deep, intense… almost hypnotic.
It felt like something was pulling me in.
My heart started racing.
Wait.
Why was my heart racing?
"You claim you're not afraid," he murmured, a smirk forming on his lips, "yet you stopped breathing like I was about to kill you."
I frowned.
Only then did I realize—
I had stopped breathing.
I quickly scowled, brushing it off.
"You're overthinking it. I didn't hold my breath," I said, waving my hand dismissively.
"Hm."
That was all he said.
He took a slow drag from his cigarette…
Then turned—
And walked away.
Just like that.
"…What a lunatic," I muttered under my breath.
I lingered for a moment, staring up at the night sky, letting the cool breeze calm my nerves before heading back inside.
I had a busy day tomorrow.
—
The Next Day
"Where is the meeting scheduled?" I asked as I walked into the building.
"12:00 PM, ma'am," Nadia replied.
"Good."
As I walked through the office, murmurs followed me like whispers in the wind.
I glanced around.
Just as Nadia had said—
Most of them weren't working.
Some were chatting.
Others were glued to their phones.
A few… actually doing something.
Pathetic.
That was about to change.
I pushed open my office door—
And froze.
My so-called assistant was sitting in my chair.
Feet on my desk.
Munching on chips.
Watching TV.
For a split second, I just stared.
Then—
"Making yourself comfortable, are we?" I said coldly.
"Hm? Yes, very much—" he replied lazily, not even turning around.
Then he did.
And his entire body stiffened.
"Ma… ma… ma'am! You're back—!"
"You're fired," I said flatly.
His eyes widened.
"A-and clean up this place before you leave."
"Nadia," I added without looking away from him, "arrange a staff meeting immediately."
"Yes, ma'am," she responded and stepped out.
"Ma'am, please!" he begged. "You can't fire me! I've been the most hardworking person here! I keep everything in order—you can tell by my appearance!"
I looked him up and down.
His clothes were stained with crumbs and grease.
Disgusting.
"Yes," I said slowly. "I can see that clearly."
He grinned—thinking I agreed.
"How incompetent you are," I finished coldly.
His smile vanished.
"You call this keeping things in order?" I scoffed. "You can't even manage your own life, let alone a company. You're a walking dumpster."
I leaned slightly forward.
"Now get out of my office before I make you."
He scrambled up and ran out like his life depended on it.
Pathetic.
"Ma'am, they're ready," Nadia said shortly after.
I nodded and walked into the meeting room.
A large circular table dominated the space. Glass walls surrounded us—clear, sharp, exposing everything.
I took my seat at the head.
Only after I sat did everyone else dare to follow.
"I assume you all know why you're here," I began. "So let's not waste time."
Silence.
Good.
"Because of your collective laziness, this company has turned into a complete mess."
I let my gaze sweep across them.
"A respectable organization has become… what? An indoor cinema?"
No one spoke.
"But ma'am—" one employee started nervously, "we don't usually act like this. We just thought it would be fine to take a short break. And… we assumed you were—"
"Dead?" I cut in sharply.
He went quiet.
"I was gone for one year, and you all decided that meant I was dead?" I said, my voice dropping dangerously. "And that gave you the right to turn my company into your personal playground?"
No one dared respond.
"I'm giving you one last chance," I continued. "So listen carefully—anyone who slips up, even slightly, is gone."
I leaned back.
"Now… how is the new project progressing?"
The head of the robotics engineers stood up.
"The designs are complete. All that remains is development."
"And what's stopping you?" I asked.
They exchanged glances.
Interesting.
"Is there something everyone seems to know… except me?" I said slowly.
Nadia stepped forward slightly.
"Ma'am, the project requires significant funding. At the moment, the company is short on resources. Most investment firms have withdrawn. We're currently left with only one."
Right.
"The company we're meeting today," I said. "You still haven't told me their name."
"Nexus Investments, ma'am."
I froze for a split second.
"…Nexus Investments."
The name echoed in my mind.
Then—
It clicked.
My eyes widened slightly.
Mr. Robot.
Asher.
He was the CEO.
Which meant—
He was coming here today.
A flicker of annoyance crossed my face.
If he refuses to sign because of a piece of sushi… then he's more childish than I thought.
"Ma'am?" Nadia called softly, concern evident.
Right.
The meeting.
"Meeting dismissed," I said abruptly, standing up and walking out.
Nadia followed immediately.
"Ma'am… is something wrong?" she asked gently.
I glanced at her.
Nadia wasn't just my secretary.
She was… more.
A confidant.
Almost like a big sister.
She could always tell when something was off.
"No," I said.
A lie.
A very obvious one.
—
"Ma'am, they're here," Nadia informed me later.
Already?
"That was fast…" I murmured.
"Very well. I'll be there shortly."
She nodded and left.
I took a deep breath.
This is going to be awkward.
But whatever.
I wasn't running.
I walked toward the meeting room with steady steps.
Nadia opened the door for me.
And there he was.
The expressionless robot.
Our eyes met.
And just like that—
The tension from last night came rushing back.