As soon as Shane arrived downstairs, he noticed the lovely young woman sitting across from his secretary. She appeared calm and collected, casually adjusting her dark, long hair with a black tie.
Shane was struck by her beauty but quickly tried to hide his reaction. He turned to his secretary, avoiding eye contact with the woman, and asked, “Who’s here to see me?”
The secretary gestured towards the woman and said, “Here she is, sir.”
The young woman immediately stood up and greeted him with a polite smile. “Good morning, sir. My name is Julie Andres.”
Shane nodded, trying to appear unaffected. “Ah, Miss Julie Andres. You’re the new recruit in Human Resources, right?”
“Yes, sir,” she replied warmly, her posture straight and professional.
Shane glanced at her briefly, still trying to control his feelings. “Okay, Miss Julie. Let’s head to my office for a quick interview,” he said, turning away quickly and heading to his office.
Julie followed him, keeping a respectful distance. As they walked through the hallway, Steve, watching from his office, noticed them on the security cameras. He zoomed in on the footage, captivated by Julie’s appearance.
He couldn’t help but admire her beauty, his curiosity growing with each step she took toward Shane’s office.
Once they reached Shane’s office, he gestured for her to sit. “Please, have a seat,” he said, taking his chair behind the desk.
“Thank you,” Julie said as she sat down gracefully, her hands folded in her lap.
Shane tried to remain professional. “So, Miss Julie, are you familiar with the responsibilities of this position?”
“Yes, sir. I understand the role and what will be expected of me,” she responded confidently.
“Good. And you’re aware that the job requires you to live on-site?” Shane asked, leaning slightly forward, his eyes scanning her face for any sign of hesitation.
Julie nodded calmly. “Yes, sir. I’m fully aware of that.”
“Alright then,” Shane said, leaning back in his chair, “you can start on Monday.”
Julie’s eyes lit up with surprise. “Really? Thank you so much, sir! I’ll be ready.”
Shane forced a smile, feeling a mix of emotions he couldn’t quite understand. “It’s no problem. You’re all set for now, so you can head out.”
Julie stood, offering another warm smile. “Thank you again, sir. I look forward to starting.”
Shane watched her leave, his heart still racing from the interaction. He hadn’t expected to feel so drawn to her. As the door clicked shut behind her, Shane exhaled deeply, trying to regain his composure.
Moments later, Shane went to Steve’s office, and Steve excitement apparent.
“Hey, Shane,” Steve said, a grin spreading across his face, “who was that stunning woman?”
Shane rolled his eyes but smiled at his friend’s enthusiasm. “That’s Julie Andres, the new HR hire.”
“She’s gorgeous!” Steve exclaimed, practically bouncing in his seat. “I couldn’t take my eyes off her.”
Shane felt a pang of discomfort but pushed it down. He knew how Steve could get when he was interested in someone. “Yeah, she’s starting on Monday,” Shane said nonchalantly.
Steve’s grin grew wider. “I can’t wait to meet her.”
Shane felt conflicted. Part of him wanted to tell Steve how he felt, but he knew that wasn’t an option. Steve was his boss, and there was no way he could compete with him. Besides, keeping things professional was the right thing to do. “I’m sure you’ll like her,” Shane said, forcing a chuckle. “She seems smart and capable.”
“More than that,” Steve added, his eyes shining. “She’s perfect.”
Shane stood up, trying to end the conversation. “Well, I’ve got to check on Thomas and the others. I’ll catch up with you later.”
Steve waved him off, still caught up in his daydreams about Julie. “Yeah, sure. Just keep me updated.”
Shane left the office, heading outside to clear his head. He needed space to think. It wasn’t just about Julie-it was about managing his own emotions and his relationship with Steve. He couldn’t let this turn into a problem.
***
As Julie left the building, a sleek black car was waiting for her in the parking lot. She glanced around before getting in. The driver, a man in a suit, nodded to her as they pulled away. The ride was quiet, giving her time to reflect on the interview and the task ahead.
After about ten minutes, they arrived at a secluded location where her boss, Melissa, and Raymond, another operative, were waiting. Julie stepped out of the car and walked over to them.
Melissa eyed her closely. “Well?” she asked, her voice cold and commanding.
“I’ve got the job,” Julie replied, standing tall. “I start on Monday.”
Melissa’s lips curled into a small, satisfied smile. “Good. Now, listen carefully. There are two tasks for you. First, I want you to find out everything you can about this Mr. Steve. He’s the key to everything.
Secondly, there are two individuals-Hannah and Louis. They haven’t been seen for days. I need you to confirm if they’re still in that building. They might be crucial to our plans.”
Julie nodded, fully understanding the gravity of the situation. “I’ll do my best, ma’am.”
Melissa’s smile disappeared, replaced by her usual stern expression. “I expect nothing less. You’ll be staying at a hotel for the next few days. All expenses are covered, so don’t worry about that.”
“Understood,” Julie replied, maintaining her professional demeanor.
Raymond, who had been standing silently beside Melissa, briefly made eye contact with Julie. It was a fleeting moment, but the tension between them was palpable. He looked away just as quickly, but the discomfort lingered.
“Good,” Melissa said, dismissing them with a wave. “Get to work.”
Julie nodded and headed back to the car. She couldn’t afford to let anything-or anyone-distract her. Not even Raymond. As the car pulled away, her mind was already racing with plans for her mission at Steve’s company.
***
Back at the office, Steve was still thinking about Julie, oblivious to the danger she might bring into his world.