The Night Before I Knew Him

June

Two days and twelve hours.

That's how long it's been since I did the thing I said I'll never do. Again which is: sleep with a stranger.

It's hard getting 'em off your mind when you're done with 'em.

I try not to think about it, I just shove it down where all my bad decisions lives. Rent-free.

Because, I am here now... In front of my dream company — The building is so tall, it feels like it’s leaning over me.

Apex Corporation — A.C. in thirty-foot chrome letters, gleams above the entrance like it owns the sky. Which, technically, it might. The glass exterior mirrors everything: traffic, tourists, pedestrians, the massive LED screen that loops corporate ads like digital worship. But all I can see is my own face, small and wide-eyed.

I pause on the sidewalk and inhale. Once. Twice. Again.

"Calm down, breathe." I tell myself.

I clutch my leather folder tighter to my chest. It's the first day, a new start. Internship at the biggest enterprise in Las Vegas. It’s everything I worked for. Everything I need right now and the thing I can’t afford to screw up.

I swipe my newly acquired ID at the front security panel. It blinks green. It's game on.

The inside of Apex is whole different world. It's cold and lighting with breathtaking marble floors. People in neutral colored suits moving like blood through veins fast, efficient, and without hesitation. I already feel behind.

A woman with sleek black hair and an Apple headset greets me in the lobby. "You’re June Pearl Alexander?"

"Yes," I reply, trying not to sound like I just stepped out of a dream.

She offers a tight smile. "I’m Brenna. You’re assigned to the Strategy & Innovation team on Floor 39. Follow me."

The elevator ride is fast. Very fast.

I smooth my hair in the reflection of the polished walls. It feels like everyone in this building knows something I don’t. Like they were born wearing pinstripes and I’m still figuring out how not to sweat through my blouse.

When we reach the 39th floor, the doors open to a wide, open workspace featuring chrome desks, massive touchscreen boards, a floor-to-ceiling window view of the city that makes my knees a little weak.

A man in a navy suit walks toward us with a tablet tucked under his arm. He looks like he's in late thirties, has efficient energy with a business smile.

"June?" he asks.

"Yes. That’s me." I answer, almost too quickly.

"I’m David Scott, head of Strategy. Welcome aboard. We’re thrilled to have you."

"Thank you so much," I say, my voice just a touch too high. "I’m really excited to be here."

He nods and gestures toward the team bullpen. "Let me introduce you around."

As we walk, he points out departments: Market Analytics, Product Forecasting, Risk Oversight — and it all spins in my head like I’ve stepped into a live-action case study.

We reach a semicircle of desks where a few team members are mid-discussion.

"This is June, our new intern," David introduces with a clap of his hand.

I smile nervously, "Hi. I am June Alexander."

They all turn, polite and curious.

"June will be shadowing some of you this quarter,” he continues, "learning how Apex moves in fast and—"

The door bursts open.

A tall, thin man in a black vest, clearly senior in rank, strides in with the kind of urgency that makes everyone shut up.

"Scott. Sorry to interrupt."

David straightens. "Of course, Mr. Paul."

Mr. Paul doesn’t smile. "The CEO just dismissed his secretary. We need a temporary replacement now. Someone sharp, quick, discreet."

David blinks. "Uh… well…"

His eyes flick to me. I blink back.

“You’re June, right?” Paul asks, already assessing me like a file he doesn’t have time to read.

"Yes?" I answer, half-answer, half-question.

"You’re the new intern."

"Yes. Yes Sir."

"Good. You’re promoted. For the week."

"Wait, I—what?" I snap my head at David and he gives me an awkward shrug. "You said you wanted exposure to the executive side of things."

I open my mouth. Close it. Exposure wasn’t supposed to mean escort to hell.

"Come," Paul says. "He’s waiting."

My stomach tightens. My ears catches the murmurs and whispers of my almost-colleagues.

"It's just been a month since he became CEO, and he's already sacked three secretaries," one says.

"Good luck to her," another muttered.

"Poor thing. She just got here."

What? A new CEO?

I didn’t know about this development.

Way to go, June. That’s what you get for skipping your research just to surprise yourself at your dream company.

I’m cooked.

As I follow Paul, my heels suddenly becomes too high, my heart too loud, and my brain too aware of how this place smells like cold coffee, printer toner, and high ambition.

We take a different elevator. The numbers climb fast as usual in my brain.

Stop breathing like you’re going to faint, June. You’re fine. You’re fine.

The elevator dings on the top floor and stops, causing my heart to have a little spike.

We step out into a hallway lined with black-tinted glass. The carpet here is thicker, I note, quieter even, and every surface gleams.

Paul gestures to the double doors at the end. "There. Good luck, and please don't get fired early." he says, half-smiling, half-pleading.

And then he’s gone, like he had just presented bait to thousands of hungry fishes. (I am too dramatic, I know)

It's just me now.

I push the doors open, it doesn't open. Shit. Am I supposed to push or pull? I tried the latter, and it opens. Good job, June.

I see him...

He’s standing at the far end of the office, back to me, his suit jacket off, sleeves rolled to the elbows. Looking out the window like he owns the horizon. Which, apparently, he does, I mean, he is the CEO of the biggest enterprise in the city.

But wait... I know that back. I know the slope of those shoulders. That veiny arms is familiar, too familiar, I tried to get it out of my head, days ago.

He slowly turns, and I forget how to stand.

I knew it! Slate-gray eyes, like metal under ice.

Twitchy Jaw. He's the same man, from the hotel. From the night I try to forget.

He stares at me and I try to stare back.

Neither of us says a word. The silence spreads like a crack in glass waiting to shatter.

His face doesn’t flinch, but his jaw tenses, just enough for me to notice.

I think I stop breathing altogether.

Because this man, the one who pressed me into a hotel mattress two nights ago, who left without a name, who touched me like... like I was the only thing in the world keeping him alive.

Is my new boss. The CEO of Apex Corporation.

My eyes drop to the golden nameplate in front of him: Hermes Grande, that's his name.

And he looks at me like he doesn’t know me.

Like I don’t already know him.

I'm real cooked!!! You don't need to say it... I'll help.

I SLEPT WITH MY BOSS???