Chapter 3 3

CHAPTER 3

The text from SL Enterprises still showed on her phone, and Isla couldn't stop staring at it. "Congratulations, Ms. Hart. We are pleased to offer you the position at SL Enterprises."

She let out a scream that startled her cat, sending it running across the apartment.

Isla dropped onto the couch, heart racing. Her first real job in the city, at one of the most prestigious companies she had ever dreamed of working for and she had gotten it.

Without thinking, she grabbed her phone and dialed the one person who always shared her highs, her lows, and her quietest thoughts,Maya.

"Hello?" Maya's voice came through, cheerful and slightly coarse.

"Maya, Guess what?" Isla practically screamed.

"What? Did you finally win the lottery or something?" Maya teased, her tone warm and teasing.

"No,but better. I got the job at SL Enterprises. Can you believe it?" Isla said, bouncing on the couch.

Maya was silent for a beat, and then a scream of her own erupted. "No way. That's amazing. You deserve this, Isla. I knew you could do it."

Isla smiled at the sound of her best friend's excitement. "I know, right? I still can't believe it. I mean, Adrian Blackwell personally approved me." She hesitated, her voice dropping slightly. "He's kinda intimidating."

Maya laughed, and Isla imagined her shaking her head with that knowing smirk. "Intimidating? Isla, you're probably going to charm him before he even realizes it. Just make sure you don't fall into the 'he's mysterious trap too fast, okay?"

Isla chuckled, feeling a flutter in her chest. "Don't worry, I'm not stupid. But I can't lie, Maya, there was something about him. The way he looks at people, it's like he sees right through you."

"Sounds like trouble," Maya said, mock seriously. "Promise me you'll keep your guard up. Not everyone in that office is going to be happy for you."

"I know," Isla said, nodding even though Maya couldn't see her. "But I'm ready. I've handled worse."

"Good," Maya said softly. "And hey,celebrate tonight. You earned it."

"I will. Thanks, Maya," Isla said, smiling.

She ended the call, feeling a mix of excitement and nervous energy. She had a job, yes, but a new world awaited her, full of expectations and no doubt, challenges she couldn't yet imagine.

By the next morning, Isla was dressed carefully, choosing an outfit that balanced professionalism with her personality. She couldn't find her necklace after searching for hours so she just decided to let it go and wear a lookalike so as not to run late to work.

The city streets were alive, commuters passing around her as she stopped a cab.

"Eyes forward, Isla. Focus," she told herself, taking deep breaths as the cab whisked her towards the glass and steel building that housed SL Enterprises.

Inside, the elevator ride felt like a countdown, each floor ticking closer to her new reality.

When the doors opened, she stepped into the office and was immediately hit by the quiet sound of organized chaos,keyboards clicking, phones ringing, soft chatter in the background.

The receptionist smiled politely at her.

"Good morning, Ms. Hart,Mr Blackwell is expecting you."

Isla nodded, walking toward the elevators again. Her breath quickened as she neared the top floor.

Today, she thought, is the first day of proving that she belonged here.

Adrian Blackwell was at his desk, reviewing reports, when he noticed her approach. He looked up, and their eyes met. The same intensity as the interview, but somehow sharper, more immediate.

"Good morning, Ms. Hart," he said, his voice calm and deliberate. "Ready for your first day?"

"Yes," she replied, keeping her tone professional, though her stomach turned happily. "Absolutely."

He nodded, studying her for a moment longer than necessary. "Good. Your desk has been prepared. Everything else you might need is there. And if not, someone will assist you."

"Thank you," she said, feeling a warmth in her chest at his acknowledgment.

As Isla settled into her office , Victoria Grant appeared. Her heels clicked with a steady rhythm that sounded a bit threatening, stopping a bit from Isla's desk.

"Well, look who made it through," Victoria said lightly, smirking. "I didn't think you would survive the interview, let alone the first day."

Isla met her gaze evenly. "I like to surprise people," she said, careful to keep her voice calm.

Victoria's smile didn't soften. "We will see how long that lasts," she said, turning and moving on, leaving Isla with a sharp, lingering tension.

The morning passed in a blur of files, emails, and introductions. Isla passed the demands of her new job carefully, letting her instincts guide and lead her. She noticed subtle cues,whispers, exchanged glances, and the quiet ways colleagues measured her every move.

At a short break, Isla poured herself a cup of coffee on the kitchen counter. The sound of light footsteps announced someone approaching.

"First day nerves?" Charles Whitman asked, resting against the counter.

"Something like that," she replied, forcing a smile.

"You will do fine," he said, eyes studying her carefully. "Just trust your instincts and don't let anyone get inside your head. Not everyone here plays fair."

"I'll remember that," she said softly.

"I'm Charles Whitman,"he said, stretching forth his hand for a handshake .

"Isla Hart," Isla replied , acknowledging his handshake.

Charles gave her a small, approving nod and walked away, leaving her to sip her coffee and think.

By midday, Adrian approached her desk, walking with the quiet confidence that seemed to follow him like a shadow.

"Everything going smoothly?" he asked, stopping just short of her desk.

"Yes," she replied. "Though I have a lot to learn, I'm managing."

"Good," he said, watching her with a look that made her breath sharpen. "SL Enterprises is demanding. It will test you in ways you can't imagine. But you seem very capable of handling the work."

"Thank you," she said, meeting his eyes steadily.

He gave a small nod and moved on, leaving a subtle tension in the air,unspoken, electric, impossible to ignore.

By the end of the day, Isla felt a mixture of tiredness and exhilaration. She had survived her first day, yes, but she had also seen the fights.

Victoria's subtle stunts, the silent observations of her colleagues, and Adrian's intense, unreadable presence.

When she stepped outside, the city was shining in the late afternoon light. She let herself breathe, allowing a small smile to curl her lips.

She had made it, and tomorrow she would face the office again, together with her skills, instincts, and the quiet strength that had carried her this far.