Chapter 4

Sarah woke with a strange heaviness sitting in her chest.

It was not quite fear, yet it was far too unsettling to be dismissed as simple anxiety. It lingered somewhere in between, quiet and persistent, like a storm gathering in the distance.

For several seconds, she remained still beneath the covers, staring blankly at the ceiling while her thoughts spiraled endlessly.

What if he fires me?

What if he decides to make my life miserable?

The questions refused to leave her alone.

She shut her eyes briefly and exhaled slowly before whispering a small prayer under her breath. Only then did she force herself out of bed.

Even getting dressed felt exhausting that morning. Her movements were slower than usual, distracted and clumsy at times, as though half her mind had already gone ahead to the office to prepare for whatever Calvin Hart intended to do next.

By the time she finally left the apartment, her nerves were stretched painfully thin.

She arrived earlier than usual, hoping the quiet would help settle her thoughts.

Instead, it only made her more uneasy.

The building was unusually silent, with only the faint hum of the air conditioning echoing through the lobby. Sarah adjusted the strap of her bag nervously as she stepped toward the elevator.

Then she heard it.

Footsteps.

Steady.

Measured.

Behind her.

Her stomach tightened instantly.

She did not even need to turn around to know who it was.

Why is he here this early?

Taking a slow breath, she turned quickly. “Good morning, sir.”

Calvin gave no verbal response. He merely inclined his head once before stepping into the elevator.

Sarah swallowed hard and followed after him.

The doors slid shut almost immediately, sealing them inside the confined space together.

The silence that followed felt unbearable.

The elevator suddenly seemed far too small, the air too thick, the atmosphere painfully tense.

Sarah kept her eyes fixed ahead, willing herself to stay calm.

Then both of them reached for the elevator button at the exact same moment.

Their fingers brushed briefly.

The contact lasted barely a second, but Sarah felt it instantly, sharp and startling, like an electric current racing up her arm.

She pulled her hand back immediately. “I’m sorry,” she said quickly. “I didn’t realize you were reaching for it.”

“Mm.”

That was all he gave her.

No glance.

No expression.

Nothing.

Sarah pressed her lips together tightly, silently cursing herself.

Unfortunately, her eyes betrayed her.

They lingered on him longer than they should have.

And for the first time since yesterday, she truly noticed him.

Not just his appearance.

Everything about him had changed.

The awkward boy she remembered from secondary school was completely gone. In his place stood a man who carried power effortlessly, the kind of presence that commanded attention without demanding it.

He looked calm in a way that felt dangerous.

Controlled in a way that unsettled her.

As though nothing could ever shake him.

Calvin tilted his head slightly, though he still did not fully look at her.

“You should take a picture.”

Sarah blinked in confusion. “What?”

Only then did he turn his head slightly toward her, his expression unreadable.

“Since you seem unable to stop staring.”

The embarrassment hit her instantly.

Heat rushed to her cheeks so fast it almost hurt.

“I—I’m sorry,” she stammered quickly, lowering her gaze.

“No need for apologies, Miss Williams.”

The elevator doors opened before she could respond.

Calvin stepped out without another word, leaving Sarah standing there for a second longer than necessary.

The moment the doors closed behind him, she let out a sharp breath and pressed a hand against her forehead.

“Get yourself together, Sarah,” she muttered under her breath. “What is wrong with you?”

Several minutes later, she stood outside his office clutching a file tightly against her chest.

She knocked once.

“Come in.”

Sarah stepped inside carefully.

“Good morning, sir. Your schedule for today includes a meeting with Cole’s Enterprises at two o’clock, followed by—”

Her voice faltered slightly.

She could feel it again.

His gaze.

Watching her silently.

Not interrupting.

Not speaking.

Just observing her with an intensity that made her increasingly aware of every movement she made.

“Coffee.”

Sarah paused mid-sentence.

“…Sir?”

“Get me coffee, Miss Williams.”

His tone remained flat and detached, and he did not even bother looking up from the document in front of him.

“…Okay, sir.”

She turned immediately and left before he could say anything else.

When she returned several minutes later, she placed the cup carefully on his desk.

Unfortunately, their fingers brushed again.

This time, the contact lasted slightly longer.

Sarah felt the warmth of his hand instantly, and her breath caught embarrassingly fast. She withdrew her hand almost immediately and cleared her throat, trying desperately to regain composure.

“As I was saying, sir, you have a meeting with Cole’s Enterprises at two PM, and—”

“I’m hungry.”

Sarah froze.

Slowly, she lifted her eyes toward him.

“…Sir?”

Calvin finally looked up from his desk.

“I usually don’t derive pleasure in repeating myself Miss Williams.”

Her brows tightened slightly in confusion. “With all due respect, sir, that isn’t part of my job description. I’m your personal assistant, not—”

“Then you’re free to leave.”

The words were calm.

Too calm.

That was what unsettled her the most.

There was no anger in his voice, no irritation or impatience. He spoke with complete control, like someone who already knew exactly what choice she would make before she made it.

Sarah tightened her grip on the file in her hands.

He was testing her.

And he knew she knew it.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then finally—

“I’ll do it,” she said quickly.

Too quickly.

A faint curve touched Calvin’s lips.

It was not quite a smile.

If anything, it looked worse.

Amusement.

“Good.”

He rose smoothly to his feet and adjusted the sleeve of his watch.

“Follow me.”

Sarah hesitated briefly before following him down a corridor she had never noticed before. The further they walked, the more confused she became.

Calvin stopped beside what appeared to be an ordinary wall panel and pressed something hidden beneath it.

A soft click echoed immediately.

Then a concealed door slowly opened.

Sarah stopped walking.

Her eyes widened.

Inside was not another office.

It was an apartment.

A fully furnished private living space hidden within the company building itself.

There was a modern kitchen, a dining area, a spacious living room, and beyond that, what looked like another hallway leading deeper inside.

For a moment, Sarah genuinely forgot how to speak.

“What… is this?”

Calvin ignored the question completely and walked straight into the kitchen like nothing about the situation was unusual.

“Make creamy pasta and chicken nuggets,” he said casually as he opened the refrigerator. “Everything you need is there.”

He reached for an apron and placed it on the counter before finally looking at her.

“When you’re done, press the bell.”

And then he walked out.

Just like that.

The door shut behind him, leaving Sarah standing alone in complete silence.

For several long seconds, she remained frozen exactly where she was.

Then she dragged both hands over her face in disbelief.

“Oh my God…”

Her voice came out barely above a whisper.

“This man is unbelievable.”

Immediately, she pulled out her phone and dialed Ann’s number.

The call connected almost instantly.

“Ann,” Sarah said the second she answered, “you are not going to believe what this man just did.”

“What now?” Ann asked, already sounding amused.

As Sarah explained everything, Ann burst into uncontrollable laughter.

“Wait,” she gasped between laughs. “Your boss brought you into his private apartment to cook for him?”

“This is not funny!” Sarah snapped, horrified.

“It’s a little funny,” Ann admitted shamelessly. “I’m sorry, but your boss sounds insane.”

“I swear I’m going to lose my mind.”

“Relax,” Ann said, still laughing softly. “Think of it as survival training.”

“Survival training? Ann!”

By the time the call ended, Sarah still looked mildly traumatized.

Nevertheless, she tied the apron around herself and began cooking.

The entire time, she muttered angrily beneath her breath.

“This man is actually a demon… a literal demon…”

Surprisingly, the food turned out well.

Once she finished plating everything neatly, she pressed the bell Calvin had pointed out earlier.

Several seconds later, the door opened.

Calvin walked back inside.

His gaze moved first to the food before settling on her.

“You took long enough.”

Sarah resisted the urge to roll her eyes. “I’m sorry, sir. I’d like to return to my office now.”

Instead of responding immediately, Calvin walked toward her slowly.

Sarah’s heartbeat quickened involuntarily.

He stopped directly in front of her, close enough for her to notice the faint scent of his cologne.

Then he tilted his head slightly.

“No.”

Sarah blinked. “…No?”

His gaze locked onto hers completely.

Cold.

Steady.

Unmoving.

“Feed me, Sarah.”

For a second, she genuinely thought she had heard him incorrectly.

“…What?”

“You heard me.”

His voice dropped slightly lower this time, calm and deliberate.

And suddenly, Sarah understood something that made her stomach tighten painfully.

This was not just punishment anymore.

It was something else entirely.

Something personal.