I just love it when the elevators go up. Something about going up while everyone else stayed below felt fucking right.
Damien stood beside me, arms crossed, jaw tight. He had been quiet since we stepped in, which usually meant he was about to say something annoying.
Right on cue.
"Logan," he began, voice low. "Testing the reactor tomorrow isn't safe."
I didn't even look at him. "Here we go."
"I'm serious, Logan. It isn't safe," he continued anyway. "The energy load is unstable. The storm forecasts alone should be reason enough to..."
"Oh my God," I said, rolling my eyes. "Do you ever shut up?"
Damien exhaled through his nose. "You're gambling with people's lives."
I scoffed. "Relax. I'm gambling with my tech. There's a big difference."
"The reactor has proven to be unstable in the past," he snapped. "I know you're rushing it because you want headlines."
I leaned closer, lowering my voice. "You know what your problem is, Damien?"
He didn't answer.
"You don't have balls."
His jaw clenched. "Say that again."
I smiled slowly. "You heard me. You overthink things. You hesitate. You hide behind excuses, over and over again."
The elevator kept rising.
I tilted my head. "That's why you'll always be the spare part," I said, voice smooth and smug, "and never the original."
The elevator dinged and the doors slid open.
Damien glared at me. Nothing but pure rage in his eyes. And let's just say if eyes could kill, I would have died.
But I wasn't bothered.
I leaned back, hands in my pockets, grin lazy and arrogant.
"Isn't this your floor?" I asked. "Go on. Wouldn't want the spare part missing his stop."
Damien stepped out without another word, shoulders stiff, hands clenched at his sides. He didn't look back.
"Pathetic," I muttered.
"Sir?" a small voice said beside me.
I glanced down.
Maya.
Right. She had been in the elevator the whole time.
I had almost forgotten she existed.
"Yes?" I said flatly.
She swallowed. "Y-you have a meeting in thirty minutes. Mr. Caldwell from Helios Corp. He flew in this morning."
I stepped out of the elevator, adjusting my cufflinks. "If he wants my time, he can wait."
She hurried to keep up as we walked down the hallway. Long white walls with glass offices and employees stiffening as I passed.
Power did that to people.
"Sir, Helios is a major investor," she said carefully. "This partnership could—"
I stopped walking.
Maya nearly crashed into my back.
"Sir, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to—"
"Shut up," I muttered.
She did. Instantly.
My gaze was fixed down the hallway. Because something—no, someone—had just stepped into my line of sight.
A LITERAL GODDESS.
Walking toward us like she had no idea she had just stolen my attention.
Dark skin, smooth and glowing. She was tall. And looked extremely confident. Posture straight as her heels clicked softly against the floor.
She wasn't smiling.
Didn't need to.
I had never seen her before. And I never forgot a face worth remembering.
I slowly turned my head toward Maya.
"Who," I asked calmly, "is that gorgeous specimen?"
Maya followed my gaze and stiffened. "S-sir?"
"That woman," I said. "And why hasn't she graced my bedroom yet?"
Maya froze.
"I—I don't know, sir," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
I chuckled dryly. "You don't know? You're my assistant. You're supposed to know everything."
"I can find out," she rushed. "I'll check the employee records."
"How useless can you be?" I spat, eyes still on the woman. "Cancel Caldwell," I added, already walking again.
"Sir?" Maya squeaked as she followed.
"I'm suddenly in the mood for a different kind of investment."
I walked straight toward her. And up close....
Jesus.
She was even more gorgeous than I anticipated.
Her skin was rich and warm-looking, flawless like it had never known stress. Her hair was thick, curly, full, refusing to be tamed. A few strands framed her face giving her this soft, beautiful look.
And her eyes...
...Bright Hazel.
She turned when she sensed me standing there, and the moment her gaze lifted to my face, her expression changed. Surprise flickered first. Then recognition. Then something close to disbelief.
"Oh my God," she said quietly.
I smiled slowly.
That reaction never got old.
"Lost?" I asked, voice smooth and calm, already knowing the answer.
"Yes," she replied, nodding once as she gathered herself. "I think I took the wrong elevator."
Her voice was steady. No nerves. No breathless excitement. It was new and Interesting.
"I'm here to apply for the secretary position," she continued. "But I'm not sure which floor this is."
I let my eyes drag over her boby, not in a hurry, not ashamed, taking my time like I was inspecting something I might buy.
Secretary.
The irony almost made me laugh.
"Well," I said, "you're standing on the most important floor in the building."
Her brows lifted slightly. "I am?"
"Yes."
I extended my hand. "Logan Creed."
Her eyes widened properly this time.
"The Logan Creed?"
I smirked. "There's only one."
She shook my hand, clearly caught off guard. "I'm Edna. Edna Vance."
The name settled easily. It suited her.
"I didn't expect to meet you like this, Sir." she admitted, a small smile touching her lips. "You're… a visionary."
I accepted the compliment like it was a fact, not praise.
"I know."
Her smile widened.
"I've followed your work for years," she said, "The neural grid expansion, the lightning-based energy conversion, the way you merged clean power with urban infrastructure, no one's ever done that before. You didn't just make it sustainable, you made it scalable."
I tilted my head slightly.
"And that interview with the New York Post," she continued, practically glowing. "When you said innovation wasn't about saving the world, it was about owning the future? That was insane. People hated it, but you were right. You were amazing...You are amazing."
She laughed softly, shaking her head. "You turned renewable energy into a weapon. Into dominance. That's… fucking brilliant."
I watched her closely as she spoke, the way her eyes lit up, the way her hands moved when she got excited. Intelligent admiration. Not shallow praise. That kind was rare.
Especially for a woman.
And yeah, let's just say it did things to me.
Most women praised the money. The suits. The power.
She praised the mind.
And I loved it. It was like developing a new kink.
"I'm terribly sorry for keeping you here and rambling," she said quickly, clearly flustered now. "I'm sure you have far more important things to do than stand around talking to a nobody."
She let out a small, nervous laugh and added, almost joking, "If you could just point me toward HR, I would really appreciate it. I still actually need this job."
I studied her for a moment, enjoying the way she tried to downplay herself, the way she didn't yet realize how much power I had over the next few seconds of her life.
Then I smirked.
"I don't think there's any need for that," I said easily. "You're already hired."
Her mouth fell open. "I—what?"
"The job," I repeated calmly. "It's all yours. No need for interviews, or tests, no waiting either."
She stared at me like I wasn't making any sense.
"Are you serious?" she asked, almost afraid to hope.
"Completely."
Her hand flew to her chest. "Oh my God. Thank you. I—I don't even know what to say."
"Say yes," I replied. "And be grateful you walked into the right hallway."
"Yes," she said quickly, still stunned. "Yes, of course."
I smirked.
"And since I don't do favors for free," I continued, voice lowering just enough to change the air between us, "consider this part of your initiation. I expect gratitude."
She frowned. "I don't understand."
I leaned closer, close enough that there was no room for misunderstanding anymore.
"I decide who rises in this building," I said quietly. "And I decide how. That being said, I'll give you the opportunity to be fucked by me tonight. And if I like how you taste, you'll move up faster than anyone else in this company ever has."
Her entire face drained of color.