It was supposed to be a normal first day. Olivia Carter, eager but nervous, walked into the sleek, intimidating lobby of Starling Enterprises. She had spent weeks preparing—perfecting her resume, choosing the right outfit, and convincing herself she could handle whatever this corporate world threw at her.

What she didn’t prepare for was Lucas Cross.

As she entered the elevator, she collided with a man in a perfectly tailored suit, causing her to spill her coffee all over the floor. She looked up, and there he was: tall, striking, and impossibly handsome. His icy blue eyes seemed to pierce right through her.

“Watch where you’re going,” he said coldly, his tone making her cheeks burn with embarrassment.

“I’m so sorry!” Olivia stammered, trying to mop up the mess with a handful of napkins. “I didn’t mean—”

He raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “It’s fine,” he muttered, stepping into the elevator. “Just... be more careful next time.”

The doors closed, and Olivia could only stare at the floor, cursing her luck. That was Lucas Cross—the senior executive everyone at the office talked about but no one actually interacted with. She couldn’t believe her first encounter was such a disaster.

Later that day, things didn’t get any better. Olivia was trying to find her footing, getting lost in the maze of cubicles and offices when she bumped into another coworker.

“Woah, careful there!” a voice called out.

Olivia looked up to find Ethan, a charming, easygoing guy with messy brown hair and a warm smile. He was the kind of person who immediately made you feel at ease, and he seemed to radiate a friendly energy.

“Sorry! I’m still getting used to everything,” Olivia laughed nervously.

“No worries!” Ethan grinned. “I saw your coffee incident with Lucas. Honestly, you’re not the first, and you definitely won’t be the last.” He gave her a playful wink.

“Great,” Olivia muttered. “Just what I need—another embarrassing story for the office.”

Ethan chuckled. “Well, if it makes you feel better, Lucas is like that with everyone. Just a bit of a... well, a prickly pear.”

Olivia couldn’t help but laugh. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

The next morning, things took an unexpected turn when Olivia was tasked with a big project. She quickly realized that the client was notorious for only dealing with “high-profile” employees. Panicked, she turned to Ethan for advice, and he suggested something totally ridiculous: “Why not go undercover? You know, dress up, change your whole vibe. It’ll get you the client’s attention, I swear!”

With no better ideas, Olivia reluctantly agreed. The plan worked—maybe a little too well.

As she started gaining the client’s approval, Olivia was thrown into the awkward position of keeping up the disguise—while also trying to keep Lucas from noticing. It wasn’t long before both Lucas and Ethan started showing an interest in her, making Olivia’s new office life even more complicated.

Olivia had barely managed to survive her first week at Starling Enterprises. Between navigating the complex corporate culture, learning the ropes of her new job, and trying not to embarrass herself any further in front of Lucas Cross, she was already feeling overwhelmed.

But the real challenge had come when she was assigned a project that required her to win over a notoriously difficult client. The only problem? The client wouldn’t even speak to someone at her level—unless, of course, they were high-profile enough to catch his attention.

In a moment of panic, she had turned to Ethan, her easygoing, ever-smiling coworker, who had given her the craziest suggestion.

“You should go undercover,” he’d said, his grin widening as he explained the plan. “Change your look, your vibe. Pretend you’re someone else. Trust me. It’ll work.”

At first, Olivia had laughed at the idea. But with no better option, she’d reluctantly agreed. Now, as she stood in front of the mirror, carefully adjusting her new wardrobe—tailored suit, polished heels, and a sleek ponytail—she barely recognized herself.

“Okay, undercover Olivia,” she muttered to her reflection, steeling herself for what lay ahead.

The next morning, Olivia stepped into the office, her new persona in full effect. She made her way to the conference room where the client meeting was taking place, her heart pounding in her chest. As she entered, she was greeted by the client—Mr. David Jacobs, a sharp-eyed businessman who immediately sized her up.

“So, you’re the one handling this project now?” Mr. Jacobs asked, clearly unimpressed.

Olivia swallowed her nerves and put on her best “high-profile” act. “Yes, Mr. Jacobs. I’m Olivia Carter. I’m confident we can work together and achieve the best results.”

The way Mr. Jacobs raised an eyebrow at her told Olivia she had passed the first test. He leaned back in his chair, studying her with a knowing look. “Well, let’s see if you’re as capable as you look.”

Meanwhile, Ethan had been watching from the sidelines. He leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, a smug look on his face as Olivia expertly handled the meeting. She didn’t even look nervous anymore. In fact, she seemed completely at ease in her new role, her confidence growing with every passing second.

Ethan couldn’t help but be impressed. Olivia was smart, capable, and surprisingly good at this whole undercover thing.

Later that afternoon, as Olivia walked back to her desk, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was being watched. She turned around, only to find Lucas Cross standing in the hallway, his intense gaze following her every move.

He didn’t say anything, but Olivia’s heart skipped a beat. She quickly turned away, trying to act casual, but her nerves betrayed her.

Why was Lucas staring at her like that? And why did it feel like there was something more behind those icy blue eyes?

She had to admit it: the attraction between them was undeniable.

Later that day, as Olivia sat at her desk going over the client meeting notes, Ethan popped up next to her, his usual playful grin on his face.

“You’re doing great, undercover Olivia,” he teased, leaning in close. “I think Mr. Jacobs likes you.”

Olivia smiled, feeling a rush of relief at his words. “Thanks. I think he bought the act. But the hard part is keeping up the charade.”

“You’re good at it,” Ethan said, his tone serious for once. “But don’t forget—you’re still Olivia Carter. The real you.”

Olivia felt a knot form in her stomach. She didn’t know if she was ready to give up her undercover identity, especially with Lucas watching her so closely. But for now, she had to keep going—because if she didn’t, the project—and her career—could be over before it even began.

As the day came to an end, Olivia gathered her things and headed out of the office. Just as she was about to step into the elevator, she felt a presence beside her.

It was Lucas.

“Olivia,” he said, his voice low and commanding, “We need to talk.”

Olivia stood frozen in front of the elevator doors, heart pounding. Lucas Cross stood just a few feet away, staring at her with those piercing blue eyes. There was something about his gaze, intense and calculating, that made her feel like she was being cornered.

“Olivia,” he said, his voice low, but the words felt like a command. “We need to talk.”

Every instinct in Olivia’s body screamed at her to run, to escape, but she couldn’t. She had to face this. She had to face him. And yet, the words caught in her throat as she tried to speak.

She forced herself to speak, her voice betraying her nerves. “I—what about?”

His lips curled slightly, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes. It was cold, almost predatory. “I saw your little performance this morning. With Mr. Jacobs.”

Olivia’s breath hitched. Her mind raced. Had he figured it out? Had he seen through the disguise she’d so carefully crafted? No. She couldn’t let him see that she was flustered. She had to stay in control.

“I don’t know what you mean,” she lied, forcing the words out with an air of innocence.

Lucas raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. He stepped closer, his presence overwhelming, making her heart race even faster. “Don’t play games with me, Olivia. You’re not as clever as you think you are.”

A cold shiver ran down Olivia’s spine. His words had a weight to them, as though they weren’t just about the disguise—there was something deeper, something more dangerous in his tone.

Before she could react, the elevator doors chimed open. Lucas glanced at them, then back at Olivia. He didn’t wait for her to respond before stepping into the elevator.

“You’re coming with me,” he said, his voice unyielding.

Olivia’s mind was a whirlwind of confusion and fear as the elevator doors slid shut, trapping her inside with Lucas. Her pulse raced as the elevator ascended in silence. What was he going to say? What did he know? And why did he seem so… calm?

“Do you know what’s going on, Olivia?” Lucas’s voice cut through the quiet, sending a jolt of panic through her chest.

Olivia swallowed, her throat dry. “I don’t understand what you’re talking about,” she said, her words barely above a whisper.

Lucas didn’t say anything for a moment, his gaze sharp, almost predatory. “I know you’re hiding something. You’re not the person you’re pretending to be. And I don’t take kindly to secrets.”

Olivia’s stomach dropped. Was he threatening her? Was he really onto her cover? Was everything about to unravel?

But before she could speak again, the elevator came to a stop. The doors opened to a dimly lit hallway. Lucas stepped out without looking back, and Olivia had no choice but to follow.

They walked in silence, her every step heavy with dread. Olivia could feel the tension in the air—like a storm that had been building for days and was finally ready to break.

At the end of the hallway, Lucas stopped in front of a closed door. He turned to her, his face a mask of cool indifference. “In here,” he commanded.

Olivia stepped into the office, barely registering the sleek, modern design before her. The door clicked shut behind her, and Lucas locked it with a deliberate motion. Her pulse quickened. What was happening?

“I don’t like being kept in the dark, Olivia,” Lucas said, turning to face her. “You’ve been pretending to be someone you’re not. And I’ve been watching you. The questions I’ve had, the things I’ve noticed… they don’t add up.”

Olivia’s heart hammered in her chest. This was it. She had nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said, her voice shaking despite her best efforts.

Lucas’s eyes narrowed, and for a brief moment, the ice in them cracked, revealing something else—something far more dangerous. “You’re lying,” he said, his voice dark with barely contained anger. “You want to know what I think?”

Before she could answer, he took a step closer, invading her space. Olivia stepped back instinctively, her pulse racing in her throat.

“I think you’re hiding a lot more than you’re letting on. And I think you know exactly who I am… and what I’m capable of.”

The words hung in the air, heavy and suffocating. Olivia’s mind scrambled for an explanation, anything to turn the situation around, but the truth was, she didn’t know what Lucas was thinking or what he was about to do.

Meanwhile, back at the office, Ethan had no idea what was going on. Olivia had been gone for over an hour, and no one had seen her since she’d walked off with Lucas. Ethan tried calling her, but her phone went straight to voicemail.

He paced in his cubicle, a knot of anxiety forming in his stomach. Where was she?

He’d never seen her act this way before—so distant and shaken. Had something happened? Was she okay? Ethan couldn’t shake the feeling that something had changed between her and Lucas, and it didn’t sit well with him.

Back in Lucas’s office, Olivia took a shaky breath as she faced him. This was it—the moment everything could either fall apart or change forever.

“I know you’re hiding something, Olivia,” Lucas repeated, his voice cold. “And I want to know what it is. What’s your game?”

The question hung in the air, loaded with implications. And Olivia realized, with a sick feeling in her stomach, that whatever happened next would change everything—both at work and in her heart.