Episode 2: The First Day
Jasmine arrived early, earlier than she'd ever dared to arrive for any job. 7:45 AM—Phoenix Corp's sleek glass entrance loomed ahead, its modern exterior reflecting the morning sun. The air was crisp, but it wasn't the weather that gave her chills—it was the weight of what she'd stepped into.
She had no idea what kind of man Callum Reed was. All she knew was that his cold demeanor in the interview hadn't been an act. He was every bit as intimidating as she had imagined. But today would be different. Today, she was determined to make an impression.
After a quick briefing from the HR department, she was shown to the executive floor. The atmosphere there was sterile—professional, efficient, but cold. It felt like every employee here was a piece of a perfectly calculated machine, and she was about to be part of it.
She made her way to Callum's office, feeling like a small fish in a massive ocean. His door was open, the soft hum of his computer the only sound. He didn't even look up when she entered.
"Miss Hart. You're early," Callum said, his voice clipped.
"Good morning, Mr. Reed," Jasmine replied, setting her bag down on the desk beside her.
Callum glanced up from his screen. There was something unreadable in his eyes—a mix of surprise and annoyance. "I see you're punctual. I can appreciate that."
"I take my job seriously," she said, keeping her voice steady. "And I'm here to learn."
He raised an eyebrow, his gaze sharp. "Let's hope you're capable of more than just showing up early."
Jasmine felt the sting of his words, but she held her ground. She wasn't here to back down. She was here to prove herself.
"I can handle whatever you throw at me," she said, meeting his gaze.
For a brief moment, the silence between them was thick with unspoken words. Then, Callum stood and walked toward the floor-to-ceiling window, his back turned to her.
"There's a meeting in fifteen minutes. You'll need to take notes and handle the documents for me."
Jasmine nodded. "Understood."
As Callum started speaking on the phone in his usual authoritative tone, Jasmine tried to organize her thoughts. She had a feeling this job would be far from easy. But she was determined to not just survive it—she would thrive.
The meeting began with the usual high-level discussions, but Jasmine could feel the tension rise as Callum started asking difficult questions. His colleagues seemed to stiffen under his gaze, clearly intimidated by his relentless pursuit of perfection.
Jasmine couldn't help but watch him. There was something magnetic about him—something dangerous. Every word he spoke was sharp, calculated, designed to get what he wanted, and yet… he wasn't entirely detached. There was something beneath the surface that made him seem… vulnerable, even if he would never admit it.
As the meeting ended, Jasmine quickly gathered the documents and followed Callum back to his office. He didn't acknowledge her presence, but she noticed the slight tension in his shoulders—he was more stressed than he appeared.
"You did well in there," Callum said unexpectedly, his voice softer than before.
Jasmine blinked, surprised. "Thank you. I—"
Before she could finish, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She fumbled for it, pulling it out quickly.
Message from Unknown Number:
"You've made your choice. Don't regret it."
Her heart skipped a beat. The words felt like a warning. Who was sending these messages? And why now?
Callum's gaze shifted to her phone, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Is everything alright, Miss Hart?"
Jasmine quickly silenced her phone, slipping it back into her bag. "Yes, everything's fine, Mr. Reed."
He studied her for a long moment before nodding curtly. "I need the reports from the Henderson project by the end of the day. Don't keep me waiting."
"Understood."
Jasmine watched as Callum retreated back into his world—his perfect, cold world. But something told her that today was just the beginning. The storm was coming, and she wasn't sure she was ready for what it would bring.
---
Just as she was about to sit down at her desk, Jasmine's phone buzzed again. She pulled it out, her breath catching in her throat as the new message appeared on her screen.
"You don't know what you're getting into. Stay away from Callum Reed."
Her pulse quickened as she stared at the text, trying to make sense of it. Who was this person? And why were they so insistent on keeping her away from Callum? She glanced over at his office, her thoughts swirling.
Was she in over her head?
As she slipped the phone back into her bag, a deep unease settled in her chest. Something told her that this was only the beginning. There were dark, hidden layers to this job she had yet to uncover, and Callum Reed was at the center of it all.
But was she ready to uncover the truth?