~~~~~
ROSE POV
"Mommy!"
Noel's voice cut through the kitchen smoke before the smell did.
"Coming, champ!" I lunged for the pan, yanking it off the burner just in time. A few noodles had gone black and curled at the edges, but the rest survived. Thank goodness. We couldn't afford to lose a meal to my own distraction — not today, not any day.
I plated what was left, added a scoop of broccoli, and set it in front of her.
Her whole face fell.
"Not again, Mom. I thought you promised?" She rolled her blue eyes — a habit far too sophisticated for a five-year-old.
"I never remembered," I said, deadpan.
"Argh."
I dropped into the seat across from her. "You could start with a thank you."
She twisted her lips, which somehow made her cuter instead of more annoyed. "Thank God, and thank you, Mommy. But—"
My phone rang before she could finish her negotiation.
"Hurry up and eat, or you'll be late," I said, pointing my fork at her plate like a warning. "I have an interview."
I waited until she'd swallowed at least one spoonful before I answered the call, already halfway to the bedroom.
"You're a lifesaver, Anna," I whispered.
"You need to stop feeding my goddaughter vegetables," she said, all mock-severity.
"Vegetables aren't poison."
"Whatever. Are you ready?"
My stomach dropped at the question — not from doubt, but from how much was riding on it.
"Thank you, Anna. I don't know how I'll ever repay you."
She laughed. "You'll know exactly how, the moment you get that job. Go get it, girl."
I hung up and looked at myself in the hallway mirror — tired eyes, a blouse I'd ironed twice to hide how old it was. This interview wasn't just a job. It was groceries that wouldn't run out. It was Noel never having to know how close we sometimes came to nothing.
I couldn't afford to fail at this.
---
I sat across from the HR desk twenty minutes later, resume in hand, palms damp.
The man reviewing it had a sharp, well-put-together face — the kind Anna probably meant when she joked that her office was a den of cuties.
"You're hired, Ms. Clifton."
I blinked. That was fast. Too fast to trust.
He extended a hand. "Congratulations."
I shook it, ignoring the ridiculous flutter it sent through my chest. Focus, Rose. You're here for a paycheck, not a crush.
"Thank you, sir." I straightened. "Though — I should mention, I applied for Project Manager. Not—"
"You'll be starting as GLOBAL TECH's new PA," he said, cutting cleanly through my sentence.
My jaw dropped. "Personal Assistant?"
"Double the salary. Double the allowance."
The number alone was enough to make my throat tighten — but I had zero experience assisting anyone, let alone whoever I'd be assisting.
"Still hesitating?" His brow lifted, unreadable.
I thought of Noel's small voice this morning. Of Anna, who'd pulled every string she had to get me this far. Of the noodles I'd almost burned because I was too busy panicking about rent.
This wasn't a moment for hesitation.
"Okay," I said. "When do I start?"
His mouth curved. "Today. In fact—" he glanced at his watch, then toward the frosted-glass office at the end of the hall, where a shape moved behind the glass, sharp and impatient, already barking something at someone through the door. "—you're about to meet him sooner than you think."
I followed his gaze.
Whoever was behind that door didn't sound like a man who smiled often.
I had no idea yet how much that was about to change everything.
---
ADRIAN POV
I strode past my staff's greetings without slowing down, my mind already three meetings ahead and one migraine deep.
"Good morning, Sir Adrian."
"Chairman."
I didn't stop for any of it. The moment I dropped into my chair, the mountain of files on my desk seemed to grow taller out of spite.
Can this day get any worse?
I buzzed the intercom, and Daniel appeared a minute later — too composed for a man who knew exactly how much was riding on today.
"Good morning, sir—"
"Where are we with the hires?" I cut in. "I can't keep running this place solo."
"The interviews for the two open roles start today, sir."
Two. Secretary. Project Manager. Both empty far too long, and both my fault for dragging my feet on approving the postings.
"Just get me a PA," I said. "Today. I don't care who."
Daniel's forehead creased. "Sir, the postings are for Secretary and—"
"Are you questioning me?"
He bowed his head instantly. "No, sir."
It was reckless, filling a role that mattered with whoever walked in first. But reckless was starting to feel like the only speed I had left.
I had no idea I was about to hire the one person in this building who wouldn't be intimidated by me.