Chapter 5

Eon shot her a stern glare. "Did you do something wrong?"

The new CEO had suddenly asked to see her by name. Athena had been completely caught off guard, and so had everyone else, including her direct supervisor, Eon.

She blinked innocently. "I honestly don't know."

Her palms were slick with sweat, and her heart pounded uneasily in her chest. The more she'd tried to avoid him, the more impossible it had become.

Eon warned her harshly. "Whatever trouble you've caused, deal with it yourself. Don't drag me down with you. Understand?"

He was one of Sharon's people. During the two years Athena had worked under him, he'd faithfully carried out Sharon's orders and made her job as difficult as possible.

Now, on Julian's very first day, he'd bypassed the chain of command and summoned her directly. As far as Eon was concerned, Athena had to have offended him. If she ended up being punished, reporting back to Sharon would be much easier.

Sharon had assigned him one task from the beginning: find a way to make Athena slip up. Unfortunately, she'd spent the past two years being painstakingly careful and hadn't made a single mistake. He'd been wondering how to pin something on her when she conveniently landed herself in trouble with the big boss.

This couldn't have worked out better. The bigger the disaster she'd caused, the happier Sharon would be. Before that happened, though, Eon needed to make sure he was completely removed from the situation so he wouldn't be implicated because of her.

"I understand, Mr. Holt," Athena replied with her head lowered.

She was about to leave when Eon grabbed her arm and leaned in threateningly. "Remember this. If you dare say anything out of line in front of the CEO, don't expect to have an easy time working under me ever again."

Athena shot him a mocking glance. As if she'd ever had an easy time working for him. Following Sharon's instructions, he'd constantly suppressed and bullied her in the workplace.

Now he was the one panicking. He was afraid she'd report him to Julian, so he wanted to intimidate her before she went upstairs.

He was worrying for nothing. She had something far more important to confirm during this meeting. Someone as insignificant as him wasn't even worth mentioning.

Rolling her eyes inwardly, Athena shook off his hand and headed straight for the elevator.

She rode it to the top floor, the executive level reserved exclusively for the CEO. She had worked at the company for two years and had never set foot above the twelfth floor, much less the top.

The secretary led her to the CEO's office and knocked.

"Come in," a deep, icy male voice called from inside.

Athena let out a long breath. The loose strands of hair across her forehead lifted with the exhale before settling back into place.

After steadying herself, she stepped inside. The office was decorated in a stark black-and-white palette. Its sharp, minimalist design reflected its owner's cold, distant personality.

At a glance, she spotted the tall man seated behind the desk. His head was lowered as he reviewed a stack of documents.

She couldn't clearly see his face, but the powerful aura surrounding him felt strangely familiar.

He seemed to have forgotten she was there. From the moment she'd entered, he hadn't looked up from the papers in his hands or spared her another glance.

Unwanted memories surfaced in Athena's mind. That day on the examination bed when he'd examined her.

'Oh, no! Why am I thinking about that?' Just as she mentally scolded herself, she suddenly felt an intense, piercing gaze fixed on her.

Athena snapped back to reality. Only then did she realize the man had already raised his head. His fathomless dark eyes had apparently been studying her for quite some time.

Their eyes met.

A single glance was enough for the overwhelming pressure radiating from him to crash over her. Her heart pounded wildly.

The corners of Julian's lips curved into a faint, meaningful smile, though it never reached his eyes. "You seem surprised to see me."

A vein throbbed at Athena's temple. "S... Sorry, Mr. Sterling... I was simply stunned by your presence. I guess I stared a little too long."

Julian raised an eyebrow, his gaze darkening. "So, Miss Kingsley, you've fallen for me?"

"How could I?" Athena hurried to explain. "I'm just one of your employees. I'd never dare have inappropriate thoughts about you. I only admire you."

The man before her radiated authority and cold restraint. His deep black eyes remained fixed on her without blinking. It felt as though he were calmly sizing up his prey.

After several long moments, he finally asked, "How's your condition?"

Athena froze again. Meeting those fathomless dark eyes made her heart skip a beat. That single question was as good as admitting he'd been the doctor who had examined her that day.

Her face flushed scarlet as she answered awkwardly, "A-A little better..."

She didn't dare look at him again.

Julian regarded her thoughtfully. "Your condition isn't something that's easily cured. If you need anything, come see me anytime."

Athena couldn't help trembling. What did he mean by that? If she had a need, she could come to him?

She couldn't blame herself for overthinking it. From the moment she'd seen Julian again, her body had reacted instinctively. Now, as she stood alone with him in the same office, the yearning buried deep inside her only intensified.

'Oh no! My addiction is acting up again!'

Athena pressed her legs together and spoke quickly. "Thank you for your concern, Mr. Sterling. If there's nothing else, I'll head back to work now..."

She couldn't afford to embarrass herself in front of him again. Right now, she desperately needed to find a restroom and deal with a very personal problem. As soon as the words left her mouth, she hurried toward the door.

"Did I say you could leave?" Julian's commanding voice rang out behind her.

Athena stopped in her tracks. "Mr. Sterling, is there something else you need?"

Julian kept his heated gaze fixed on her. Then he rose from his executive chair and walked toward her, one deliberate step at a time.

He was tall and broad-shouldered, with a lean waist and perfectly balanced proportions. His tailored black trousers accentuated his long, straight legs.

'This man is impossibly handsome. What would it feel like to sleep with him?' Athena caught herself daydreaming. Her mouth went dry. The more she imagined it, the more unbearable her body's yearning became. She wanted him so badly.

Julian leaned close and murmured beside her ear, "What are you thinking about?"

"I want to do you..." The words nearly slipped out before Athena caught herself at the last second. "I mean... work. I want to work with you... and learn from you."

When she looked up again, she realized he'd somehow closed the distance between them. They were standing so close that his masculine scent enveloped her completely.

Her mind went blank. Breathing in his intoxicating scent only made her crave him more. Desire clouded her judgment and tangled her thoughts. She'd almost confessed exactly what was on her mind.

Julian looked down at her, his expression impossible to read.

Athena lowered her head, her heart pounding. She had actually dared to lust after his body. He had to be furious. She'd been fully prepared for him to fire her on the spot.

Unexpectedly, he simply said, "I happen to be short an assistant. Starting tomorrow, you'll serve as my executive assistant."