Chapter 2

The morning sun streamed through the towering windows of Evergreen Corporations, casting long shadows on the pristine floors. Sophia arrived early, determined to avoid any accusations of tardiness. Her heels echoed against the marble as she made her way to her desk, her mind racing with thoughts of the day ahead.

“Good morning, Miss Allen,” said Trisha, a friendly colleague from the marketing department. She had taken Sophia under her wing, offering helpful tips and advice on navigating the cutthroat environment of Evergreen.

“Morning, Trisha,” Sophia replied with a warm smile. “Any tips for surviving Damian Westwood today?”

Trisha chuckled. “Rule number one: don’t take it personally. He’s tough on everyone, but if he keeps pushing you, it’s because he sees potential.”

“Potential?” Sophia scoffed, settling into her chair. “It feels more like he’s trying to crush me under his boot.”

Trisha leaned in conspiratorially. “Word of advice? Push back. He respects people who stand their ground.”

Sophia nodded thoughtfully. Damian’s cold demeanor and cutting remarks still stung, but she wasn’t about to let him win. If he wanted a fight, she was more than ready.

By mid-morning, Damian was already pacing in his corner office, barking instructions into his phone. His sharp suit and perfectly styled hair gave him the appearance of control, but inside, his thoughts were anything but calm.

Sophia Allen.

Her name had been haunting him since the moment she walked into that conference room. There was something about her—her fiery spirit, her refusal to back down—that unsettled him. She was a stark contrast to the yes-men and women who usually surrounded him.

Damian prided himself on his ability to read people, to find their weaknesses and exploit them. But with Sophia, he couldn’t quite figure out what made her tick.

“Damian.”

He turned to see Michael, his trusted friend and COO, standing in the doorway. Michael raised an eyebrow. “You’re brooding. What’s got you so worked up?”

“Nothing,” Damian replied curtly, though the edge in his voice betrayed him.

Michael smirked. “Let me guess—Sophia Allen?”

Damian stiffened. “She’s unpolished and far too bold. I don’t have time for employees who think they can challenge me.”

Michael laughed. “Maybe that’s exactly what you need. Someone to shake things up.”

Damian ignored the comment, turning back to his desk. “She’ll either fall in line or fail. I won’t tolerate anything less.”

Sophia’s first real assignment came later that day—a group project to pitch a marketing strategy for one of Evergreen’s biggest clients. The stakes were high, and failure wasn’t an option.

As she worked late into the evening, sketching out ideas on her notepad, she couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. She glanced up and saw Damian standing in the doorway, his arms crossed and his expression unreadable.

“Still here?” he asked, his voice carrying that familiar edge.

“I could ask you the same,” Sophia replied without missing a beat.

Damian’s lips twitched, almost as if he wanted to smile but thought better of it. “Let me see what you’ve got.”

Sophia hesitated for a moment before handing him her notes. Damian scanned the pages, his sharp eyes flicking over each word.

“It’s decent,” he said finally, though his tone suggested otherwise. “But you’re missing the bigger picture. This campaign needs to connect emotionally with the audience, not just present facts.”

Sophia bristled. “I appreciate the feedback, but I think the facts are just as important. A strong foundation builds trust.”

“Trust,” Damian echoed, a hint of bitterness in his voice. “Trust is a luxury we can’t afford in this business.”

Sophia frowned, sensing something deeper beneath his words, but before she could respond, Damian handed her notes back.

“Revise it,” he said simply. “You have until tomorrow.”

As he turned to leave, Sophia called after him. “You know, Mr. Westwood, you might get better results if you tried encouragement instead of criticism.”

Damian paused, glancing back at her. “And you might survive longer if you learned when to keep quiet.”

Their eyes met, a silent battle of wills, before Damian walked away.

Hours later, Sophia sat alone in the office, her mind replaying the exchange. Damian’s words were harsh, but there was something in his eyes—something haunted—that made her wonder what lay beneath his icy exterior.

Meanwhile, Damian sat in his penthouse apartment, staring out at the city lights. His mind was a storm of conflicting emotions. He hated how Sophia challenged him, how she seemed to see right through him. But he couldn’t deny the spark she ignited, a spark he hadn’t felt in years.

As the night stretched on, neither of them realized how deeply they were beginning to affect each other. Their worlds had collided, and the impact was only just beginning.

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