Alora's POV
Alora arrived thirty minutes early.
The office was still quiet, but she could already feel the tension in the air.
Some employees whispered while others hurried from one department to another.
Lauren appeared beside her.
"You're early."
"I didn't want to make a bad first impression."
Lauren nodded.
"Good. The boss will be here in fifteen minutes."
She led Alora into the executive pantry.
"This is where you'll prepare his coffee every morning."
Alora looked at the expensive coffee machine.
"It doesn't seem difficult."
Lauren almost laughed.
"Every secretary before you said the same thing."
She pointed toward a small notebook hidden inside a drawer.
"I wrote down everything."
Alora picked it up.
Mr. Williams' Coffee
Premium dark roast.
One shot of espresso.
Water at the exact temperature.
No sugar.
No cream.
Serve immediately.
"Is coffee really that important?"
Lauren sighed.
"No."
"Then why..."
"He fires people when he's angry."
Alora swallowed.
Ten Minutes Later
The sound of expensive shoes echoed through the hallway.
Everyone immediately stood.
"Good morning, Mr. Williams."
Justin didn't answer.
His sharp blue eyes swept across the office before stopping on Alora.
"The new secretary."
Lauren stepped forward.
"Yes, sir."
Justin looked at Alora for a long moment.
"So..."
"You came back."
Alora frowned.
"I'm sorry?"
He narrowed his eyes.
"You still look familiar."
"I'm afraid you're mistaken."
"Hmm."
Without another word, he disappeared into his office.
Everyone finally breathed again.
The Coffee Test
Lauren looked at Alora.
"This is it."
Alora picked up the tray.
Her hands trembled only slightly.
She knocked.
"Come in."
Justin didn't even look up.
She placed the cup on his desk.
"Your coffee, sir."
He reached for it.
The office outside became completely silent.
Everyone was listening.
Justin took one sip.
Another.
Then another.
He slowly placed the cup down.
"It's acceptable."
Silence.
Lauren blinked.
The accountants outside nearly dropped their files.
Acceptable?
That was the highest compliment Justin had ever given a secretary.
Justin finally looked at Alora.
"You'll stay."
She released the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.
"Thank you, sir."
As she turned to leave—
Justin suddenly spoke.
"Miss Alora."
She stopped.
"If I discover you've lied to me..."
He leaned back in his chair.
"...I'll find out."
Alora forced a calm smile.
"I have nothing to hide."
For some reason...
Justin didn't believe her.
Elsewhere...
A black luxury car stopped outside Dalton Steel's headquarters.
His private investigator entered the office carrying a brown envelope.
"I've found something about Alora."
Dalton slowly looked up.
"What is it?"
The investigator placed three children's school photographs on the desk.
Dalton's eyes froze.
The two boys...
Had his eyes.
"Who... are these children?"