Chapter Twenty-Three

Leilani POV

The woman walked to her a small grimace on her face as she gestured

"Ms. Jordan ,Right this way. Mr. Wolfe is expecting you."

Her heart skipped a beat.

Was that bad, she hadn’t expected to meet the CEO himself, especially not in a first interview.

It couldn't be normal could it but then this was Sebastian Wolfe was there anything that was abnormal for him.

Swallowing her nerves, she followed the woman through the maze of glass offices, until they stopped in front of a large door. The woman knocked once before opening it.

"Mr. Wolfe, your 10 a.m. is here," the woman announced before excusing herself and leaving Leilani alone at the door.

" Come in " she heard from the other side of the door and she swallowed and pushed the door open and walked into it.

Sebastian Wolfe stood behind a massive desk, his back to her as he looked out over the city skyline.

He was tall, with an air of authority that was impossible to ignore, impeccably dressed in a dark suit that fit him like it had been tailored by a master.

When he turned, her breath caught in her throat for a moment. He was just like the pictures, she was struck by the sharpness of his features—chiseled jaw, piercing dark eyes, that drew her in—deep, intense, and calculating, as though he could see straight through her.

He was a handsome man and he knew it.

"Ms. Jordan,I presume " he greeted her in a low,his voice was smooth, but there was an edge to it, a kind of quiet power that made her stand a little straighter.

"Yes," she replied, finding her voice as she extended her hand.

"Leilani Jordan." he took her hand in his, the grip lasting far longer than she expected and she looked up at him, he let go

"Please, have a seat." He muttered gesturing, Leilani sat, in one of the plush chairs in front of his desk,trying to steady her breathing.

Well she was officially in need of a date, anything to take off her mind from whatever this man was lighting up in her.

Sebastian walked around his desk studying her with an intensity that made her want to squirm, but she held his gaze, determined not to let him see her nerves besides she was a full grown woman who had done a lot of growing while taking care of her children. She didn't need, a man in her life right now.

"I’ve reviewed your resume," he said, sitting down behind his desk.

His movements were slow and deliberate, as if he had all the time in the world.

He reminded her too much of Gustin, it was almost uncanny.

"It’s impressive. You’ve been out of the corporate world for a while, but your previous experience speaks for itself."

Leilani nodded, her hands resting in her lap.

"Yes, I took time off to focus on personal issues . But I’m ready to get back into the workforce and—"

He held up a hand, cutting her off,

"I’m not concerned about your time away. You have an interesting background. But I have to ask—why come here? Surely, with your connections, you could have pursued opportunities elsewhere. Perhaps at your ex husband's home."

Leilani froze, her finger turning white from all the squeezing she was doing. He knew she was Gustin's ex-wife doing for a moment she wondered what the hell she should do.

Should she be honest? Should she tell him that she had no other choice? That the only other job offer on the table came from his biggest rival and she didn't feel like seeing him everyday and having her wounds poked at.

" I'm not trying to get you in trouble," he muttered

" What I am interested in is why you applied here, to Spectre."

"Spectre is a leading company in its field," she said carefully.

"And it’s a place where I believe my skills can contribute meaningfully."

Sebastian leaned back in his chair, studying her with those piercing eyes of his.

"Interesting," he said, his tone thoughtful.

"A diplomatic answer," he said with a faint smile.

"But I wonder if that’s the whole truth."

"I’ve had a few offers," she lied keeping her tone steady. God she'd go to hell for this!

"But Spectre feels like the right fit for me. I want to work somewhere where innovation and forward thinking are prioritized."she continued

Sebastian nodded slowly, as if weighing her words.

"Very well. I appreciate your honesty, Ms. Hart. Spectre does value innovation, but we also value loyalty. This is a competitive field, and the lines between rivals can sometimes blur." He muttered his brow arched, she knew exactly what he was trying to stay he was testing her.

"So I hope you understand that working here will put you in direct opposition to your husband " he muttered,

"Ex-husband. I’m here to do the best job I can," she said firmly.

"For whichever company gives me the opportunity." She said hinting that she would do the same if she got a job at a rival company if it came to that.

Sebastian regarded her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then, he stood, signaling that the interview was over.

"Good answer. We’ll be in touch," he said, offering her a brief nod.

"Thank you for coming in, Ms. Jordan ."

Leilani stood as well, her legs feeling a bit unsteady beneath her. She nodded shaking his hand and made her way to the door, her heart pounding in her chest.

She couldn’t help but feel like she had just made a deal with the devil.

But as the doors slid shut and the elevator began its descent, she wondered if maybe that wasn't exactly what she needed. She had no illusions about Sebastian Wolfe. He was ruthless, calculating, and dangerous. But he was offering her a chance—a chance to rebuild her life, to find stability for her children.

And maybe, just maybe, to finally move on from Gustin Hardin.