Chapter 30 First day
Melissa’s POV
I woke up before my alarm.
My stomach was already twisting with nerves,it was my anxiety mixing with something else I didn’t want to name. Today was my first day working for Gavin. The job I have been wanting desperately all my life. Saying I feel overwhelmed was an understatement.
I showered quickly, then stood in front of my closet for twenty minutes trying to decide what to wear.
I settled on black slacks and a cream silk blouse. Then I sat in my vanity doing my makeup with more care than usual.
I wore Foundation. And then a concealer for the dark circles that wouldn’t go away. A touch of blush. Mascara. And then I applied my eyeliner. The long, dramatic wing that made my eyes look bigger and gave me that sharp, put-together look.
I studied my reflection. The eyeliner was perfect. Sharp lines that extended just past the outer corners of my eyes, giving them an almost cat-like appearance.
My hair was next. I grabbed my curling iron and worked through sections, creating loose waves that fell past my shoulders.
When I was done,I grabbed my bag and headed downstairs.
It was still very early. The sun was just starting to paint the sky pink.
Mom wouldn’t be up for another hour at least. And Jason? He’d probably stumbled in at three AM after whatever he did when he wasn’t causing scenes in public.I shuddered thinking about the crowd he was able to pull up yesterday going home had been a hassle.
I expected the penthouse to be empty.Except when I reached the bottom of the stairs, I smelled something delicious.
Food.
Not just any food. Something that made my stomach growl immediately. It was rich and savory with a hint of spice. The smell of eggs and bread and something I didn’t know but desperately wanted to eat flooded the house.
I followed the scent to the kitchen and stopped in the doorway.
Gavin stood at the stove.
He wasn’t wearing a suit yet. Just dark slacks and a white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled to his elbows. His hair was slightly damp like he’d recently showered. And he was cooking.
Actually cooking. Not reheating something the housekeeper had prepared. Like actually cooking. The fuck.
He moved with efficiency, flipping something in the pan with ease. He must have sensed me standing there because he glanced over his shoulder.
Our eyes met.
For a moment, neither of us moved.
Then he turned back to the stove. “You’re up early.”
“So are you.” My voice came out steadier than I felt.
“I’m always up early.” He reached for a plate, sliding whatever he’d been cooking onto it. “Sit.”
It wasn’t a question. It was a command.
I should’ve argued. Should’ve said I wasn’t hungry or that I’d grab something on the way. I should have maintained some distance.
Instead, I walked to the kitchen island and sat. All the hours I spent coaching myself on the disadvantages of this man crumbled at that very moment.He set the plate in front of me.
He made poached eggs in a spiced tomato sauce with chunks of pepper and onion and crusty bread on the side. It looked restaurant-quality.
“You made this?” I couldn’t keep the surprise out of my voice.
“I can cook.” He poured coffee into a mug and set it beside my plate. It was black with no sugar. Exactly how I liked it.
How did he know that?
I picked up my fork, stabbing at the egg. The yolk broke, it was golden and perfect, mixing with the rich tomato sauce. I took a bite.
Oh my God.
It was incredible. The spices were perfectly balanced. The egg was cooked exactly right. Even the bread was perfect, crispy on the outside and soft inside.
“This is really good,” I said before I could stop myself.
“I know.”
He leaned against the counter across from me, with a coffee mug in his hand, watching me eat.
The silence stretched between us. Not quite comfortable but not hostile either. Just… heavy with everything we weren’t saying.
“Are you nervous?” he asked finally.
“About what?”
“Your first day.”
I stabbed at another piece of egg. “A little bit”
“Marcus will show you around and introduce you to the team.”
“Okay.”
“The media department is on the seventh floor. You’ll be working with Sarah …she’s the head of PR. She’s good. You’ll learn a lot from her.”
I nodded, taking another bite.
He set his coffee mug down and walked out of the kitchen, leaving me alone with my breakfast and the lingering scent of his cologne.
I sat there for a moment, finishing my food in silence.
This was going to be interesting.
—————-
The Titans Arena looked different at six-thirty AM.
It was quieter and less crowded with just a few early employees filtering through the lobby, most clutching coffee cups and looking half-asleep.
Gavin had driven us in together…in silence, the car was filled with a tension so thick I could barely breathe. He’d pulled into his private parking spot, and we’d taken his private elevator up.
Now I followed him through the hallways I’d walked during my interview.
“Mr. Gavin,” a security guard nodded.
“Morning,” Gavin said without breaking his stride.
We reached the executive floor. Marcus was already there, looking impeccable in a gray suit despite the early hour.
“Good morning, Melissa glad to see you.” He smiled.“I’ll show her around,” Marcus said to Gavin.
Gavin nodded. His eyes met mine for just a second…cold and distant, like I was just another employee…before he walked into his office.
“Come on,” Marcus said. “Let’s get you set up.”
He led me down another hallway, past conference rooms and offices with glass walls. People were starting to trickle in now, the building slowly coming to life.
“This is the media department,” Marcus said, gesturing to an open floor plan with desks arranged in clusters. Large windows overlooked the arena below. “PR, social media, photography, graphic design are all in one space for easy collaboration.”
“It’s nice,” I said, taking it in.
“Your desk is…” Marcus paused. “Actually, there’s been a change. Follow me.”
We walked back toward the executive floor. My confusion grew with each step.
Marcus stopped at a door directly across from Gavin’s office.
“This is you,” he said, opening it.
I looked inside.
It was tiny. Barely bigger than a closet. A desk, a chair, and a window so small it looked like an afterthought.
I blinked. “Seriously?”
“Mr. Gavin felt it would be better for you to be close to the executive floor.”
“In a closet.”
“It’s not a closet…”
“Marcus, it’s a closet.” I walked inside. There was barely room to turn around. “Where am I supposed to put my things?”
“I’m sure we can bring in some storage…”
“Why am I not with the rest of the media team?”
Marcus cleared his throat. “You’d have to ask Mr. Gavin about that.”
Of course I would.
I set my bag down on the desk. “This is ridiculous.”
“I know it’s not ideal…”
“It’s fine.” I turned to face him. “Where is he?”
“In his office. But he’s in a meeting…”
I was already walking across the hall.
I didn’t knock. I just pushed open his door and walked in.
Gavin sat at his desk, typing something on his computer. His eyes lifted to mine, one eyebrow raising slightly.
“Did you need something?”
“An actual office would be nice.” I crossed my arms. “That’s not a workspace. That’s a storage room.”
“That’s your office.”
“Why can’t I work with the media team like a normal employee?”
“Because you’re not a normal employee.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
His jaw tightened. “It means you’ll work where I tell you to work.”
I stared at him. “You stuck me in a closet across from your office on purpose.”
“Yes.”