Chapter 7

The next morning, I woke to the sound of my phone vibrating against the nightstand. Groaning, I rolled over and blindly reached for it, squinting at the screen.

Kenneth.

I let it ring a few times before answering. "What?"

"Good morning to you too," Kenneth replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "How's life as Cloud's new pet?"

I sat up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. "Screw you."

Kenneth laughed. "Alright, alright. Just checking in. You gonna tell Athena soon, or are you waiting for her to find out on her own?"

I exhaled sharply. "I don’t need you nagging me about this. I’ll handle it."

"You keep saying that, but—"

I hung up before he could finish. I wasn’t in the mood.

With a sigh, I swung my legs over the bed and ran a hand through my hair. The events of last night drifted through my mind—Cloud, the sandwich, the oddly comfortable silence. I frowned. That was... unexpected. The man was impossible to read. One moment, he was distant and calculating, and the next, he was making me food like it was nothing.

I shook my head and got up. I had bigger things to worry about.

After a quick shower and throwing on some clothes, I stepped out of my room. The mansion was quiet, though the faint sound of movement suggested I wasn’t alone. I made my way to the kitchen, half-expecting Cloud to be there again.

He wasn’t.

Instead, one of the house staff—an older woman with neatly tied-back gray hair—was placing a cup of coffee on the counter. She glanced up and offered a small smile. "Good morning, Mr. Rhodes. Would you like some breakfast?"

Mr. Rhodes. Right. The reminder of my position here settled uneasily in my chest.

"Just coffee," I replied, taking a seat at the counter.

She nodded and busied herself with the machine.

The sound of footsteps made me glance toward the entrance. Cloud walked in, dressed in his usual sharp attire, his presence instantly commanding the space. His gaze flicked to me briefly before he moved past, heading toward the fridge.

"You’re up early," he noted.

"So are you."

He pulled out a bottle of water and twisted the cap off. "Busy day ahead. Hope you’re ready."

I took a slow sip of my coffee. "Depends. Are you planning to actually tell me what’s going on, or am I supposed to just follow orders like a loyal dog?"

Cloud smirked. "You catch on quickly."

I rolled my eyes. "So? What’s the plan?"

He leaned against the counter, studying me for a moment before speaking. "We have a meeting downtown. Some investors are getting nervous about the recent market shifts. I need you to take notes and keep an eye on their reactions."

I frowned. "That’s it? You hired me for this?"

Cloud chuckled. "Trust me, Clinton. You’ll see soon enough why I brought you in."

Something about the way he said it sent a chill down my spine. I wasn’t sure if it was intrigue or a warning.

Cloud pushed off the counter. "Finish your coffee. We leave in thirty."

And just like that, he was gone.

I stared at my cup, the steam curling into the air. Something told me that working for Cloud Smith was going to be far more complicated than I had anticipated.

The drive to the meeting was silent, except for the occasional hum of the engine. I sat in the passenger seat, staring out the window as the city passed by. Cloud, focused on the road, had one hand casually resting on the wheel, his other drumming idly against his thigh.

I wanted to ask him more—about the meeting, about his investors, about why he was so damn secretive—but I held my tongue. Pushing him never worked. I’d learned that much already.

"You nervous?" Cloud suddenly asked, breaking the silence.

I scoffed. "Why would I be nervous? I’m not the one who has to convince a room full of people that I know what I’m doing."

His lips twitched. "Fair point."

We pulled up to a sleek glass building, the kind that screamed power and money. The moment Cloud stepped out of the car, all eyes turned toward him. It was like he had some gravitational pull that demanded attention. I followed him inside, keeping a step behind, as we made our way to the conference room.

The investors were already seated, murmuring amongst themselves. As soon as we entered, the room fell silent. Cloud took his seat at the head of the table, exuding an effortless authority that made even the most confident men sit up straighter.

I found a spot beside him, notepad ready.

"Gentlemen," Cloud began, his voice smooth and composed. "Let’s get to it."

For the next hour, I watched as he effortlessly maneuvered through concerns, countering every doubt with logic and precision. He was ruthless in his negotiations, cutting through hesitation with sharp words that left no room for argument. And yet, there was something almost hypnotic about the way he spoke—calculated, deliberate, commanding.

I scribbled down notes, trying to keep up.

At one point, an older investor leaned forward, adjusting his glasses. "Mr. Smith, some of us are concerned about the recent... changes in your personnel."

Cloud didn’t even blink. "You’re referring to my decision to bring in Clinton Rhodes."

All eyes turned to me.

I tensed but kept my expression neutral.

"He’s inexperienced," the investor continued. "Unproven. You’re taking a risk."

Cloud leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "Let me make something clear—Clinton is here because I trust him. And in this business, my trust isn’t given lightly."

A beat of silence. Then the investor leaned back, seemingly satisfied.

I exhaled slowly, my mind still processing what had just happened. Cloud Smith trusted me?

The meeting continued, but my focus wavered. Something had shifted again.

By the time we left the building, I was still replaying Cloud’s words in my head.

"You did good," Cloud said as we stepped into the car.

I glanced at him. "I didn’t do anything."

"You listened. You learned. That’s more than most people can manage."

I frowned, unsure whether to take that as a compliment or not. "Why did you say that back there? That you trust me?"

Cloud smirked but didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he started the car and pulled into the street.

Finally, he spoke. "Because it’s true."

I didn’t know what to say to that.

For the first time in a long time, I wasn’t sure what to feel.

And something told me that working for Cloud Smith was only going to get more complicated from here.