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The next day, as I walked into the office, everything seemed to be moving at a mile a minute.

The air was thick with tension, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that something big was about to happen.

Matthew had been a little more distant lately, and though I knew he was dealing with something important, it didn’t stop me from feeling like I was floating in this strange, uncertain space.

As I made my way to the elevator, I heard the familiar sound of footsteps behind me, and when I turned, I saw Julian walking toward me with a grin plastered on his face.

But there was something different in his eyes today—something that hadn’t been there before. He had a slight bounce in his step, a sparkle in his eye, and he looked as if he’d just won the lottery.

"Good morning, Gabrielle!" Julian said, his voice unusually bright.

“Good morning, Julian,” I replied, raising an eyebrow. “You seem... different today.”

His grin widened, and he shrugged nonchalantly. “I just got back from a meeting with Matthew and... I met someone.”

My curiosity piqued, I glanced at him. "Met someone? Who?"

Julian’s smile became a little too smug for my liking. “A girl. A woman, actually. And I think I might be in trouble.”

"Trouble?" I repeated, my brows furrowing. “Why?”

He gave me a wink. “Love at first sight. It was that instant.”

I couldn't help but laugh at his overly dramatic tone. "Really? Love at first sight?"

Julian’s face softened for a moment. “Yeah, I know it sounds crazy, but when you know, you know.”

“Who is she?” I asked, now genuinely interested.

“I don’t know her name yet,” Julian admitted with a sheepish look. “But she was perfect. The moment I saw her, I knew. She had this energy, this spark. I can’t stop thinking about her.”

“Well, it sounds like you need to track her down,” I teased, though a part of me wondered who she could be. Julian wasn’t someone who usually fell so easily.

As we continued our walk toward the office, Julian seemed to be lost in thought, a dreamy expression on his face that I had never seen from him before

Normally, he was the smooth-talking, flirtatious guy who never let anyone get too close, but today he seemed... vulnerable.

The day went by in a blur of meetings and the usual office chaos. But later that afternoon, when I was passing by the reception desk, I froze.

Standing there was the woman Julian had mentioned earlier—tall, with dark hair that cascaded in soft waves down her back. She had an air of elegance, but also a hint of mystery about her, and as she turned to look at the receptionist, I saw her eyes—striking, vivid, and full of intelligence.

I blinked, taken aback by the realization. It was her.

And just as I turned to leave, I heard the receptionist’s voice, a little flustered, calling my name. “Ms. Devereux, a new applicant has arrived to see Mr. Gorvell. She insists on meeting with him.”

I turned around, my curiosity piqued. “Who is it?”

The receptionist hesitated for a moment, looking at the woman standing by the desk. “She didn’t give her name, but... it seems important. She requested a job here.”

I took a step forward, and the woman turned to face me. There was something about the way she stood—confident, yet with an air of caution—as if she knew exactly what she wanted but was measuring the situation carefully.

I blinked in surprise. She looked familiar. “You?”

She smiled, her eyes lighting up with a warmth that seemed to contrast with her cool exterior. “Hello. I’m here to speak with Mr. Gorvell. I was hoping you might help me get an interview?”

It took me a moment to process what was happening. “You... you’re the woman Julian met?”

She nodded, her gaze flickering toward the elevator. “I believe I am,” she said, her voice steady and soft. “I’m not sure where to start, but I think this place could be a good fit for me.”

I blinked again, still somewhat stunned. Julian had fallen for her... and now she was here, asking for a job. It was like fate had thrown them together, but something about it felt strange. Was it really love at first sight, or was there something else going on?

I cleared my throat and nodded, motioning toward the elevator. “I’ll let Mr. Gorvell know you’re here. Follow me.”

As we walked toward the elevator, I noticed that the woman’s gaze never strayed from me, almost as if she was analyzing me.

When we reached Matthew’s office, I knocked lightly before entering. Matthew, who had been reviewing some papers, looked up when he saw us.

“This is...” I began, unsure of the woman’s name.

“I’m Evelyn,” she interrupted, her voice cool but confident. “I’m here for the interview.”

Matthew’s expression changed instantly, his eyes narrowing slightly. “I wasn’t expecting anyone today, but—”

“I know, Mr. Gorvell. But I’ve heard a lot about your company, and I believe I have the qualifications you’re looking for,” Evelyn interrupted smoothly, her voice never wavering.

She was confident, but there was something almost calculating in the way she spoke, as if she had done her research.

Matthew studied her for a moment, his piercing gaze never leaving her face. It was clear he was intrigued, but also cautious.

Julian had told me he had a very keen sense of who was a threat and who wasn’t.

And I could see that Matthew was already measuring Evelyn up, trying to decide if she was more than just another employee applicant.

“I can’t promise anything,” Matthew said, his voice cool. “But we’ll give you an interview. Come in.”

As we walked into his office, I couldn’t help but feel that something big was about to unfold.

Evelyn had arrived out of nowhere, and the way she and Julian had connected so quickly—it felt like there was more to this than just a simple job interview.

And I couldn’t help but wonder... Was she truly here for the job, or was there something else she was after?

Evelyn took a seat in front of Matthew’s desk, her posture perfect, and though she remained calm on the outside, I could see the flicker of something deeper in her eyes.

She was calculating. And I had a feeling she wasn’t as innocent as she appeared.