CHAPTER 3 – THE CLOSED DOOR
CHAPTER 3 – THE CLOSED DOOR
Conference Room 31 was on the executive floor.
An area interns were never supposed to enter.
Every step toward the private elevator felt like another mistake I couldn't undo.
My hands were damp.
My heartbeat refused to slow.
When the assistant outside the conference room saw my visitor badge, she simply smiled.
"Mr. Leprince is expecting you."
Of course he was.
She opened the door.
The room was enormous.
Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the city.
A long walnut conference table stretched through the center.
Andrew stood with his back toward me, jacket removed, sleeves rolled neatly to his forearms.
He didn't turn immediately.
For several seconds neither of us spoke.
Finally—
"I wasn't expecting to see you again."
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
I swallowed.
"Neither was I."
He slowly faced me.
Those same blue eyes from Thursday night searched my face.
"You never told me where you worked."
"I didn't know."
"I never asked."
"Neither did I."
Silence.
The memory of that night hovered between us like another person inside the room.
He took one slow step closer.
"Did you know who I was?"
"No."
His gaze never moved.
"If you had known..."
"I never would have gone home with you."
The words landed harder than I intended.
Something flickered across his face.
Not anger.
Regret.
"I believe you."
I released a breath I hadn't realized I was holding.
"Good."
"Because if you had known," he continued quietly, "you also would have known that I never... do things like that."
I almost laughed.
"So congratulations."
"I suppose we both broke character."
For the first time...
he smiled.
A small one.
Real.
Then it disappeared.
"What happened Thursday stays Thursday."
I nodded immediately.
"Agreed."
"No one will ever know."
"Good."
"I'll transfer you to another department if that's what you want."
I blinked.
"You'd do that?"
"It would avoid unnecessary rumors."
His professionalism almost made me angry.
"So that's it?"
"What else should it be?"
"You tell me."
His jaw tightened.
"I have six thousand employees, Elila."
"My personal life doesn't enter this building."
Neither should yours.
The sentence stung.
Not because it was cruel.
Because it was logical.
"I understand."
He studied me for another long moment.
"Are you all right?"
The question caught me off guard.
"What?"
"You look pale."
"I'm just nervous."
"About me?"
"About losing everything because of one stupid decision."
His expression softened almost imperceptibly.
"It wasn't stupid."
I looked away.
"It wasn't?"
"No."
"It was reckless."
"But not stupid."
The honesty in his voice made my chest ache.
Before either of us could say another word—
Knock.
The door opened.
A beautiful woman stepped inside without waiting.
Elegant navy suit.
Diamond earrings.
Perfect posture.
She stopped the instant she saw me.
Andrew's face hardened.
"What is it, Victoria?"
The woman looked between us.
"I wasn't aware you had company."
"I do."
Her eyes settled on me.
Cold.
Measuring.
Disapproving.
"I'm Victoria Hart."
She extended her hand.
"Chief Operating Officer."
I shook it.
Her grip was firm.
"So you're the new intern everyone has been talking about."
I forced a smile.
"I suppose."
Andrew interrupted.
"Victoria."
A warning.
She ignored it.
"I hope Mr. Leprince isn't overwhelming you already."
"I'm fine."
"Good."
"Because he has very high standards."
She smiled.
But nothing about it felt friendly.
"I'll wait outside."
"No," Andrew replied.
"What is it?"
"The board meeting has been moved forward."
She glanced at me again.
"They're waiting."
"I'll be there."
Only then did she leave.
The door closed.
Andrew rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"For her."
"You didn't seem surprised."
"I'm not."
"Does she always dislike strangers?"
"No."
"Only people she sees as a problem."
A chill ran through me.
"What exactly am I?"
He looked directly into my eyes.
"I haven't figured that out yet."
That evening, after returning home, I collapsed onto my tiny apartment couch.
Koko arrived ten minutes later carrying pizza.
She took one look at my face.
"Oh no."
"What happened?"
I buried my face in a pillow.
"I slept with my CEO."
Silence.
Then—
"...I'm sorry."
"What?"
"I think I heard that wrong."
"You didn't."
She blinked.
Twice.
"Your CEO?"
"Yes."
"The billionaire?"
"Yes."
"The Andrew Leprince?"
I groaned louder.
"I hate my life."
Koko stared for nearly a full minute before whispering,
"...Well."
"That's definitely worse than sleeping with your professor."
Three weeks passed.
Life slowly returned to normal.
Or at least...
I pretended it had.
Andrew never contacted me again.
At work, he treated me exactly like every other intern.
Professional.
Distant.
Untouchable.
Sometimes our eyes met across laboratories or conference rooms.
Nothing more.
May you like
Until one Monday morning...
Everything changed.
