CHAPTER 2

SCARLETT FOSTER

The older gentleman standing beside Caleb cleared his throat, breaking the heavy silence that hung over the room.

"Mr. Montgomery? Is everything alright?"

Caleb didn't take his eyes off me for a single second. The shock on his face smoothed over into an impenetrable, mask-like composure, though a sharp muscle twitched in his jaw.

"Everything is fine, Mr. Hayes," Caleb said, his voice flat and controlled, completely devoid of the warmth I used to know. "You may leave us. I'll be handling this candidate personally."

Mr. Hayes looked between us with a flicker of confusion, but he quickly grabbed his tablet and nodded. "Of course, sir. Have a good evening."

As the door clicked shut behind Mr. Hayes, the room plummeted into a suffocating quiet.

Every single cell in my body screamed at me to turn around, walk down that hallway, and never look back. My hands were shaking so violently that I had to clutch my wet leather portfolio against my chest just to hide it. Five years ago, this man walked out of my life without a real explanation, leaving me to piece my broken heart back together on my own. Now, he was standing here, wrapped in an expensive tailored suit, looking every bit like the powerful, untouchable CEO he had become.

Twelve dollars and forty-three cents.

The brutal reality of my bank account slapped me back into place. I didn't have the luxury of pride tonight. I didn't have the luxury of running away. If I didn't get a job offer by tomorrow morning, I would be sleeping in my car.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, forced my shoulders back, and took three steps forward into the room.

"Mr. Montgomery," I said, using his last name like a shield. My voice trembled slightly on the first syllable, but I managed to level it out. "I didn't realize Montgomery Enterprises was the parent company behind this opening."

Caleb slowly walked around the sleek glass conference table, his long strides agonizingly quiet on the carpet. He stopped just a few feet away from me. Up close, the subtle scent of his sandalwood cologne hit me, bringing a sudden, unwanted wave of memories that threatened to pull me under.

He didn't say anything at first. His intense gray gaze swept over me, taking in every detail—my damp hair, my rain-soaked blazer, and the raw exhaustion I was trying so hard to hide.

"Scarlett," he murmured, his voice low and tight. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here for the interview," I replied, forcing myself to look straight into his eyes. "The executive assistant position. But if you've already filled it, I won't waste any more of your time."

"Sit down," he commanded gently, gesturing toward one of the leather armchairs near his desk.

"I can stand."

"Sit down, Scarlett. You're soaked and you're shaking."

I refused to budge. "I'm fine. If we're doing this interview, let's just get straight to the point."

A dark shadow passed over Caleb's face. He let out a slow breath, stepping closer until the distance between us felt entirely too small. "You always were stubborn," he said quietly, a faint, melancholic edge bleeding into his tone before he quickly wiped it away. He picked up the file folder Mr. Hayes had left on the desk and flipped it open.

"Your resume is impressive," Caleb said, his tone shifting into something strictly professional. "Four years of managing operations for a high-profile firm. Flawless references. Excellent organizational skills." He closed the folder with a soft thud and looked at me. "Why did you leave your last job?"

"I was laid off," I answered bluntly. No point in lying. "Budget cuts."

"And your current living situation?"

My jaw tightened. "I don't see how that's relevant to my qualifications."

"It's relevant if you're applying for a position that requires long hours and immediate availability," he countered, his eyes searching my face. "Answer the question."

"I'm relocating," I said, keeping my tone as cold as possible. "I need a job that starts immediately. That's why I came tonight."

Caleb stared at me for a long, agonizing moment. The silence stretched between us like a pulled wire, ready to snap at any second. I could see the wheels turning in his head, the suppressed questions dancing in those storm-gray eyes. He wanted to ask what happened to me over the last five years. He wanted to ask why I looked so desperate.

And I wanted nothing more than to demand why he broke my heart and vanished without a trace.

Instead, we just stood there, two ghosts playing the roles of employer and applicant.

Caleb leaned back against the edge of his desk, crossing his arms over his chest. "This job isn't easy, Scarlett. It demands total dedication. Travel, late nights, direct reporting to me."

"I am fully capable of handling the workload, Mr. Montgomery," I said, emphasizing his title again. "I keep my personal feelings strictly separate from my work."

"Do you?" he asked softly, taking one slow step toward me.

"Yes," I lied, stepping back just as quickly to maintain the distance between us. "If you hire me, you get a professional. Nothing more, nothing less."

Caleb looked down at the file in his hand, then back up at my face. He pulled an executive pen from his inner jacket pocket, signed the bottom of the contract page, and slid the paper across the mahogany desk toward me.

"The salary is double what your previous company paid you," Caleb said, his voice deep and steady. "Starting tomorrow morning at eight o'clock sharp."

I stared at the paper, then at the pen he offered me. It was everything I needed to save myself from total ruin, but signing it meant tethering myself to the one man I promised I would never see again.

Without another word, Caleb placed the pen on top of the document and stepped back, waiting for my decision.