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Sophie Bennett clutched her leather portfolio to her chest, her knuckles white as she stepped into the sleek, glass-walled skyscraper of Steele Enterprises. Everything about the place screamed luxury, power, and intimidation. From the grand marble foyer to the bustling employees who looked like they had stepped straight out of a fashion magazine, it was clear she didn't belong here.

Not yet, anyway.

"Ms. Bennett?" A woman with a sharp bob and sharper tone called out, glancing at her tablet. "You're late."

"I-I'm sorry. The elevator-" Sophie started, but the woman didn't seem interested in excuses.

"Follow me."

The woman, who introduced herself as Melissa, Adrian Steele's current assistant, led Sophie through the corridor. Sophie could barely take it all in: the art-lined hallways, and the occasional curious glances from cooperately dressed employees.

Melissa came to a halt outside a massive black door. "Mr. Steele doesn't tolerate incompetence, or excuses. If you're unprepared, this meeting will be over in less than two minutes."

Sophie swallowed hard. "Understood."

"Good luck." With that, Melissa pushed the door open and left Sophie to face the lion.

This was here first time doing this, and she really hoped it went well.

Inside, Adrian Steele sat behind a black desk, his gaze fixed on a tablet. He didn't bother looking up as Sophie stepped in.

"Ms. Bennett, I assume," he said, his voice low and tenor.

"Yes, Mr. Steele. It's an honor to meet you," she replied, trying to keep the fear out of her voice.

He finally looked up, and Sophie's heart skipped a beat. Adrian Steele was devastatingly handsome, but there was nothing warm about him. His sharp cheekbones, piercing gray eyes, and tailored suit gave him the air of a man who controlled everything around him-including people.

"You're here because my assistant is leaving, and HR insists you're the most qualified candidate," he said bluntly. "Frankly, I don't have the patience for hand-holding. Prove to me you're worth my time, or don't waste it."

Sophie shivered at his tone but forced a polite smile. "Understood, Mr. Steele. May I?"

She gestured to the chair across from him, and he gave the faintest nod. Taking a deep breath, Sophie dived into her pitch-her qualifications, her goals, her vision for how she could contribute to Steele Enterprises. She spoke with confidence, determined to match his intensity.

For a moment, Adrian's expression was unreadable. Then, he leaned back in his chair, studying her like a puzzle he didn't trust.

"You're bold. I'll give you that," he said. "But boldness without results is worthless. You'll start tomorrow. Don't disappoint me."

Sophie blinked. "Wait-just like that?"

He arched an eyebrow. "Would you prefer I waste time with formalities? Melissa will give you the details. Dismissed."

Before Sophie could respond, Adrian returned to his tablet, effectively ending the conversation.

As she left the office, her heart pounded. She'd landed the job. She wish she could jump up, but not now. This was her dream, finishing school and getting employed immediately.

***********

The evening sunlight shined through the curtains of Sophie's tiny apartment, casting a dim light across the room. The place was modest-a worn-out couch, a second-hand coffee table with peeling edges, and a small kitchenette that barely fit her budget. Sophie sat at the small dining table, her laptop open and papers scattered everywhere. Her head rested in her hands, her shoulders tense.

Now that she got the job, she needed to show her worth. Alicia had said alot of bad things about Adrian, but her luck is really good, today.

"I just hope everything goes, so well and I get my family out of this second hand apartment"

Just then a loud crash came from the kitchen, startling her.

"Goddammit!" her mother's hoask voice followed. Sophie got to her feet, rushing toward the kitchen.

Her mother, Claire, was on the floor, her hair messy and her eyes dizzy. An empty beer bottle lay next to her, shattered into pieces.

"Mom," Sophie sighed, kneeling to pick up the broken glass. "You've got to be more careful. I have told you many times to stop drinking"

Claire scoffed, leaning heavily against the counter. "Don't start, Sophie. I'm fine. Just... lost my balance."

"You're drunk," Sophie muttered, her patience thinning.

"What did you say?" Claire snapped, her voice rising. "I'm your mother, not some charity case you can boss around!"

"I didn't say you were," Sophie replied, trying to keep her tone even. She swept the broken glass into a dustpan, her hands trembling. "But I can't keep doing this, Mom. I have a job to hold onto, bills to pay, and-"

"And what?" Claire interrupted, staggering as she tried to stand straight. "Don't act like you're some saint, Sophie. You don't even know what it's like to struggle."

Sophie froze, holding back the emotions threatening to spill over. "Struggle?" she whispered, her voice breaking. "You think this isn't struggling?"

A heavy silence filled the room, broken only by the faint sound of pages turning in the next room.

Sophie stood, glass in hand, and walked back to the sink, her jaw tight. "You should eat something. There's leftover soup in the fridge."

Claire didn't reply, staggering back to her chair with a dismissive wave. Sophie sighed and glanced toward the small bedroom down the hall, the door opened.

Inside, her younger brother, Lucas, was laying on the bed, a book in his hands. The room was barely big enough for the twin bed and a bookshelf, but it was his haven. He looked up when Sophie leaned against the doorway, his brown eyes bright despite the dim light.