Turning The Tide

The next day couldn't have arrived any faster. Every ticking second felt like an eternity as I approached Jayden's office. I paused at the door, taking deep breaths to calm my nerves before I mustered the courage to knock. Leaving Leo behind at the hospital was tough, but I wanted to ensure our future with this meeting.

The atmosphere was tense as I entered. Sitting behind his imposing desk, Jayden looked up with that unreadable gaze of his.

Jayden's expression remained unreadable, but he gestured for me to take a seat. I sat across from him, the room filled with an almost unbearable silence. This office was filled with memories that almost felt sinful; I shifted uncomfortably.

I feared he might ask why I called him crying so late at night. I tucked my hair behind my ear and nibbled my lip, a nervous tic of mine. His eyes followed my movement intensely. I couldn't help but feel exposed. He always had a way of knowing what I was thinking.

Finally, Jayden broke the silence, his voice crisp and businesslike.

"What happened to your hands?" he asked, eyeing my bandaged hands.

"W-wha? My hands?' I look down at my hands. "It's nothing; that's not what I came here for. Could you please get to the job?" I blurted out, my hands instinctively flying to my mouth.

'Shit, I should be careful how I speak to him.'

A quiet sigh escaped Jayden as he leaned back in his seat. "Like I said last time, I have an offer for you, Briana. I need a new secretary, someone I can trust."

I nodded; that was easy enough to follow.

"I can do that. Is there anything specific you want me to know? I asked.

"Nothing I can think of for now; you know me well enough to understand how I like things done." The familiarity of his tone stirred an unsettling mix of emotions.

I didn't like what his voice was doing to me.

I sat up straighter, my voice barely above a whisper.

"I'm here for business, Jayden, not to rehash the past."

'Fuck! Briana, get it together.'

He nodded; the flicker in his eyes told me he didn't believe me either.

"Good. Then we understand each other. Your responsibilities will be strictly professional, with no personal entanglements."

I nodded again, my mind swirling with a mix of emotions. I couldn't deny that I needed the job, and the opportunity to provide a better life for my child would definitely open up in this space.

"You start next week. Use this weekend to sort yourself out. I'll have the official mail sent to you," he said, standing up.

I tensed as he walked around the table, stopping by my side.

He leaned close, "Welcome to the Steele Family."

"S-sure! I'll be here Monday morning!" I jumped up and rushed out of the room.

I leaned against the cold elevator wall on my way down and tried calming my heart. Why did I still react this way to him?

Softly slapping my cheeks, I took deep breaths.

'Get a grip, Briana; this person dumped you without a backward glance.'

The elevator doors opened, and I walked into the lobby.

'I got the job. I actually got a job!'

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After the intense encounter with Jayden, I left his office feeling an odd mix of relief, uncertainty, and a smidge of triumph for standing my ground—well, sort of.

Once I stepped out of that towering building, the crisp air seemed to breathe new resolve into my lungs.

Rushing back to the hospital, where Sophie cared for Leo, I burst into the room, greeted by the delightful sound of Leo's laughter. Sophie looked up from her book, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"Hey, Ria! You're back earlier than expected. How did it go?" Sophie asked, anticipation in her voice.

Leo, bouncing on his tiny toes, greeted me with outstretched arms and a contagious giggle.

"Mommy, Mommy! Up!" he squealed, his bright hazel eyes gleaming.

"Hey, little lion, did you behave for Auntie Sophia?" I scooped him up, planting kisses on his pale cheeks.

"Hmm," he held up his stuffed lion, laughter echoing through the room, dissipating the tension from my shoulders.

It was clear that his fever was under control.

"Guess what? Mommy got a new job today."

Leo tilted his head, hazel eyes locking onto mine. "New job, Mommy?" he asked.

Sophia beamed. "Really? Tell me everything!" she exclaimed, setting her magazine aside.

"Jayden offered me an assistant position."

Sophie's eyes widened in surprise and then lit up with joy. "That's incredible news, Ria! Congratulations!"

Leo, sensing the jubilation, clapped his tiny hands as if joining the celebration. "Yay, Mommy!"

I couldn't suppress the grin that crept across my face. I chuckled, hugging him close. "That's right, little champ. Yay, Mommy, indeed."

Sophie reached out, squeezing my hand in celebration. "I'm so happy for you, Ria. You deserve this."

Her genuine happiness warmed my heart, reinforcing the feeling that I might have made the right choice.

"Thank you so much; things will get even better for us."

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I felt nervous and excited the following day as I walked towards Jayden's office building. My heart was pounding, a mix of being thrilled and anxious.

Taking a deep breath, I straightened the wrinkles on my suit and stepped into the grand building.

'Let's do this!'

The polished marble floors echoed my footsteps as I approached the elevators. My coworkers, or at least I thought they were, exchanged glances as I approached the receptionist. It was like walking into a sea of designer-clad, makeup-caked faces; I stood out like a sore thumb.

"Briana Summers? Mr. Jayden is waiting for you," Olivia, the receptionist from before, stated, giving me another once-over.

The clear judgment hung as we rode the private elevator to the top floor. Olivia's icy silence made it clear what she thought of me.

"Jayden doesn't usually hire personal assistants," Olivia remarked with a condescending smirk.

"I wonder what makes you so special."

I chose not to engage, maintaining my calm facade. The snide comments stung, but I wasn't too surprised. This was the world of the rich and snobby. Olivia's attitude would probably be one of the many I would face going forward.

The elevator opened and saved me from the suffocating smell of Olivia's perfume. Jayden's office door opened, revealing the man himself immersed in work. The stern lines of his face softened slightly as his eyes met mine.

'Ignore it, Brianna! It means nothing.' I reminded myself mentally as I walked further into the room.

"Briana," he acknowledged—his voice, a low rumble that sent a shiver down my spine.

"Good morning," he greeted, his voice soft. "Sit down."

I sat, feeling the intensity of his gaze as he outlined my responsibilities. "You're not just a personal assistant. You're an extension of me," he stated, his tone calm. "I expect nothing but excellence. Can you deliver that?"

I met his gaze, and determination burned in my eyes. "I didn't take this job to deliver anything less, Jayden," I replied, my voice steady.

He nodded and looked back at the files on his desk. "Great, let's get to it then."

The day was filled with tasks and demands. Jayden's world was a complex web of meetings, negotiations, and strategic decisions. I shadowed him closely, my notepad ready to capture every directive.

In a rare moment of respite, Jayden leaned back in his chair, his gaze assessing. His dark hair was getting mussed as he ran his fingers through it.

I wonder if it's still as soft as it was back then.

'Get a hold of yourself, Miss Summers!' My cheeks flushed as I turned to arrange the files to distract myself.

"You're holding up well," he remarked, a glimmer of acknowledgement in his eyes.

"Were you not expecting me to?" I didn't look up from the files I was sorting; there was a presentation in a few minutes.

He murmured something I couldn't catch. "What did you say?" I asked.

"Nothing, keep it up," he said.

I frowned at him; why was he acting weird? 

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Later that day, a woman came to the office, her blonde curls bouncing with each step; if her top went any lower, it would be a belt.  I cleared my throat as her perfume threatened to suffocate me.

"Jay darling, you didn't answer my calls." her shrill voice grated in my head; judging by Jayden's grimace, I wasn't the only one who felt that way.

Jayden handed me a file and said, "I need this delivered to the 38th floor. It's urgent."

"Can't you just send a mail?" my hands went to my mouth; I needed a filter. 

She finally decided to acknowledge my presence. "Who is this? I didn't know you hired a help; why is she speaking to you like that?" she glared condescendingly. 

Jayden sighed as he massaged his temple. Ignoring her question, he answered, "I could, but this needs to be sent physically," he motioned towards the door.

"Don't you know workplace etiquette? or manners at all?" she asked, turning to me. She was basically glaring a hole in my head.

"Now, Brianna." Jayden reminded me; I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. 

Frowning, I took the files and left them alone, 'if he wanted me out of the office, he could have just said so.'

Navigating the busy office floor, I felt the judgmental glances from both male and female staff. Whispers followed me as I made my way to the elevator, the invisible line between the elite and the rest becoming increasingly apparent.

As I stood by the elevator, the man behind the desk greeted me with a smug grin and a condescending tone.

"Ah, you're one of the boss's new hires, right? The flavour of the month?"

I narrowed my eyes at him but turned away as the door saved him from my tongue-lashing. 

Upon reaching the 38th floor, I encountered Mark, a senior executive known for his sharp tongue and disdain for newcomers.

"Running errands already, are we?" he quipped, a sly smile on his lips as he took the file.

I met his gaze squarely. "Efficiency is part of the job," I replied, calm.

"Sure, you wouldn't be here if you weren't efficient in what you do." he looked at me from head to toe.

I took a deep breath and relayed Jayden's information to him before leaving. 

I didn't trust myself not to smack that look off his face.

Back in Jayden's office, I found him engrossed in several documents. The bi-ahem, the lady was gone. "So fast?" I asked, walking into the room. He grunted, not looking up from his work. "Here's the document you requested," I said, placing it on his desk.

I moved to the large floor-to-ceiling window in Jayden's office, hoping to let some fresh air in. The choking scent of her perfume still hung in the air, and I needed a breather.

Gently sliding the window open, I let the cool breeze filter into the room, welcoming the relief it brought. The soft rustling of curtains mixed with the muted sounds of the city outside provided a momentary distraction from the stifling atmosphere within the office.

A tired sigh escaped me; it was only the first day, and these fools were already on my neck.

Jayden glanced up, his eyes meeting mine with a silent question on his raised brow.

Without words, I knew he was asking for more than the report. A flood of unspoken thoughts clogged my throat, wrestling to get out.

Jayden's gaze lingered, "Is there anything else?" he finally asked.

I hesitated, my mind wavering between telling him about the workers' behaviours and risking proving their claims right or working through things on my own.

"No, that's all," I replied, hoping my voice didn't betray anything.

The tension hung in the air, and he kept staring for a while, making me uncomfortable.

"Can you stop that? I already told you there's nothing else," I glared at him.

He infuriated me; I despised how he could figure me out so easily like I was still the same naive girl back then. The audacity to act like this after everything drove me mad. And the worst part? The possibility that I might actually need his help.

Jayden returned to the documents with a nod, yet the charged energy lingered— I turned towards the door and sighed. This was the first day, and I was already getting so stressed.