Lily had barely settled at her desk, trying to type an email with shaky fingers, when her phone buzzed.
Knight – Office. Now.
Her stomach did a somersault. For a split second, panic clawed up her throat—Great. Here comes lecture number eighty-two. Reckless, unprofessional, impulsive…
Melissa leaned over, eyes sparkling. "Uh oh. The dragon summons."
"Don't call him that," Lily hissed, though her pulse was hammering.
Melissa smirked. "Fine. The Ice King summons."
Lily groaned, grabbing her notebook like a shield. "If I don't come back, avenge me."
She pushed herself to her feet and made the trek down the bullpen toward his glass office. As always, people's heads subtly lifted, eyes darting to watch her cross the invisible line into his territory.
Alex was at his desk, jacket discarded, sleeves rolled up just enough to reveal the lean strength of his forearms. He didn't look up as she entered.
"Close the door."
The familiar command sent a shiver down her spine. She obeyed, then stood there, clutching her notebook like it might protect her from whatever storm was brewing.
He glanced up finally, his gaze sharp, cool, unreadable.
"You didn't collapse," he said.
Lily blinked. "…What?"
"In the meeting," he clarified, tone clipped. "You stumbled. You recovered. You adapted."
Her heart skipped. Was this… praise? From him?
She raised a brow. "Wow. Such glowing words. Should I frame that for my wall? 'Didn't collapse — Alexander Knight.' Has a nice ring to it."
A flicker—so fast she almost missed it—crossed his face. Not a smile, but something close.
"Don't get complacent," he said, voice firm again. "One good presentation doesn't make you competent. Consistency does."
Lily rolled her eyes. "There it is. I was wondering how long it would take before you ruined it with a lecture."
His gaze sharpened, locking with hers. "I don't give lectures. I give clarity. You want to last here? Learn the difference."
For a moment, the silence between them thickened, charged. Lily felt her cheeks heat, but she refused to look away.
"Careful, Mr. Knight," she said lightly, though her voice wavered just enough to betray her nerves. "At this rate, you might almost sound… supportive."
His eyes lingered on her. Too long. Just enough to make her breath hitch.
Then he leaned back in his chair, dismissing her with a tilt of his head. "Get back to work, Carter."
Lily exhaled, turning to leave, her pulse racing far too fast for a conversation that had lasted less than three minutes.
As she closed the door behind her, she caught her reflection in the glass—cheeks flushed, lips curved in a small, disbelieving smile.
For the first time, she realized she wasn't terrified of his feedback.
She almost wanted it.
_________________
By the time Lily reached her apartment that evening, exhaustion clung to her bones, but underneath it was something lighter—something almost buoyant.
She kicked off her shoes, dropped her bag onto the couch, and collapsed beside it with a dramatic groan.
"Okay, Carter," she muttered aloud, staring up at the ceiling. "You didn't collapse. You adapted. You actually impressed people. Maybe you're not a total disaster."
A laugh bubbled out of her—half relief, half disbelief. She curled into the couch, pulling her blanket over herself, replaying the moment in the meeting when the Eastons had actually nodded along to her words.
For once, she didn't see her father's fall in her mind when she closed her eyes. She saw herself standing in that room, steadying her voice, speaking with confidence.
It wasn't perfect. But it was hers.
For the first time since joining Knight Enterprises, she let herself feel it fully: pride.
_______________
Across the city, Alexander Knight sat in his penthouse, skyline glittering behind him. The quiet hum of the city should have been calming, but his mind was far from still.
The memory of Lily in the meeting replayed—her shaky start, her decision to toss aside her notes, the metaphor that had made Easton lean forward.
She had adapted. She had impressed. She had proven him right to test her.
And yet, that unsettled him more than if she had failed.
His phone buzzed. A single notification slid across the screen.
Unknown Number:Tell Knight the Brooks deal is moving. The land won't stay his much longer.
Alex's jaw tightened, the faintest crack in his otherwise impassive mask.
Sebastian Brooks. Always circling. Always waiting for weakness.
For a moment, Alex allowed himself to stare at the message before locking the phone and setting it aside.
Lily Carter's progress was significant—but in his world, victories were fragile. Shadows waited at every corner, ready to devour the unprepared.
He poured himself a glass of scotch, the amber liquid catching the light as he turned back to the window.
In one part of the city, Lily Carter drifted into restless but hopeful sleep, proud of her small win.
In another, Alexander Knight stood watch over an empire already under siege.
And somewhere in the darkness, Sebastian Brooks smiled, waiting for his chance to strike.