Sweet For You, Ruthless For Others
Chapter 39: The Monday Morning.

Chapter 39: The Monday Morning.

The sleek black car hummed softly as it sliced through the quiet streets, the city lights casting fleeting reflections on its tinted windows. Inside, Niklaus Hathaway sat with his usual air of calculated detachment, his fingers gliding over his tablet as he skimmed through documents he had neglected all day.

The screen’s cool glow illuminated the sharp angles of his face—his chiseled jaw tight, his lips pressed into a firm line.

A muscle ticked in his cheek as his eyes flicked over another uninspiring report. Everything had been tedious today. The meetings. The calls. Even the dinner with an executive whose presence he barely tolerated. But his mind wasn’t entirely on work, was it?

It was on her.

Hermia Blackwood.

She had been a complication from the moment he laid eyes on her. An interesting one. A reckless one. And now, an unavoidable one.

A subtle shift in the driver’s seat caught his attention. Steffon, ever the diligent assistant and chauffeur, glanced at him through the rearview mirror, hesitating before clearing his throat.

"Boss, what should I do now?" he asked cautiously.

"Take me home," Niklaus replied flatly, his gaze never lifting from the screen.

Steffon hesitated, clearly debating something. He let out a barely audible grumble, his grip tightening on the wheel. "But we just left it behind..."

Niklaus’s head tilted ever so slightly, his sharp blue gaze cutting through the dim car like a blade. "I’m ready to go now, Steffon. I know what you’re thinking—save it for your non-existent love life." His voice was laced with cold amusement, the smirk playing at the corner of his lips almost imperceptible.

Steffon gulped, quickly straightening in his seat. "Yes, Boss," he muttered, shifting gears and accelerating smoothly.

Niklaus let the silence stretch as the city blurred past them, the distant hum of life outside doing little to distract him. His mind drifted back to Hermia.

Weetway Housing.

He hadn’t expected that choice. It was decent, but not the kind of place someone like her would normally settle for. Did she even realize he owned the building? Likely not. He had made sure his name wasn’t directly tied to the property, allowing it to stand independently from the weight of Hathaway Enterprises. A strategic move.

But knowing she was staying there... it did something to him.

Niklaus’s fingers drummed idly against the tablet. There was a problem, though—Weetway wasn’t cheap. Would she stay? Or would she leave the moment the numbers didn’t work in her favor?

He wasn’t about to let that happen.

Without hesitation, he had pulled out his phone the moment Steffon started driving earlier. His instructions had been simple and absolute.

"Apply a fifty percent discount to Hermia Blackwood’s rent. Make it look like a routine promotion. She is never to know."

The cashier had stammered, but Niklaus hadn’t entertained questions.

"Just make it happen."

Now, as the car cruised through the near-empty roads, he allowed himself a rare smirk, pleased with his own orchestration. Hermia would think she got lucky. A promotion, a fluke—something ordinary. She wouldn’t know that fate, in this case, had a puppeteer.

And Monday...

Niklaus exhaled slowly, rolling his shoulders as he finally shut his tablet and leaned back in his seat.

She’ll be working with me.

The thought stirred something in him—anticipation, intrigue... amusement? Perhaps a darker kind of pleasure.

She had no idea what she had walked into.

She thought this was a new Chapter in her life. A fresh start.

No, little rabbit.

You’ve just stepped into my world.

A low chuckle rumbled from his chest, drawing a wary glance from Steffon.

"Everything okay, Boss?" the driver asked carefully.

Niklaus’s eyes gleamed with something unreadable as he met Steffon’s gaze in the mirror.

"Better than okay," he murmured, his smirk deepening. "Now stop talking and drive."

Steffon wisely said nothing more, focusing on the road.

Niklaus, however, allowed himself the rare pleasure of anticipation.

Monday couldn’t come soon enough.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Hermia’s POV

The first rays of dawn filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a soft glow across the pristine apartment.

I stirred, waking before my alarm.

For a moment, I simply lay there, staring at the ceiling, my heartbeat steady but laced with anticipation.

It’s Monday. First day. A new Chapter.

With a resolute exhale, I pushed myself out of bed. There was no room for mistakes today.

Sliding into my routine with careful precision, I moved through the apartment, each action deliberate. A quick shower to wash away the weight of the weekend. A well-thought-out outfit—a sky-blue oversized coat paired with a short skirt and a matching top in the same shade. Sleek yet feminine. Bold yet understated. I wanted to make a statement—not too loud, but enough to be remembered.

Standing in front of the mirror, I fastened my heels and straightened, taking in my reflection. A small smile tugged at my lips.

"First impressions matter," I whispered, adjusting the lapels of my coat.

I packed my bag meticulously—my neatly printed CV, phone, sleek mirror, lip gloss for touch-ups, a pen, and a fresh notepad. The essentials. No car keys to grab, just my determination and the readiness for whatever lay ahead.

Pausing at the door, I glanced back at the apartment.

It already felt like home in some ways—a space that was mine, untouched by expectations that weren’t my own.

With a final nod to myself, I stepped into the hallway.

The weekend had been a whirlwind, but I felt oddly grounded now.

The week will be better, I told myself. Cool, calm, and full of success.

The soft click of my heels echoed as I descended the stairs, choosing them over the elevator as always. Each step was deliberate, each moment a reminder that this was my life now.

I tried not to bite my nails as I mentally rehearsed what I’d say in the office, how I’d carry myself.

Niklaus Hathaway’s face flickered in my mind. I pushed the thought aside.

Focus, Hermia. Today’s about you. No distractions, even though you’re about to start working for him.

The office awaited, and I was ready.

—

As I reached the lobby of my building, I made it a point to greet everyone I passed.

The cashier at the front desk received a warm smile, as did the receptionist who waved back cheerily.

Even Joe, the security guard who had helped with my bags the other night, got a friendly nod.

"Good morning, Miss Hermia," Joe said with a grin.

"Good morning, Joe," I replied brightly. A little kindness goes a long way.

Just as my Uber pulled up to the curb, I stepped outside, inhaling the crisp morning air.

Sliding into the car, I took a deep breath as the driver confirmed my destination.

"Hathaway Enterprises?" he asked.

"Yes."

The reality hit me like a wave.

I was really doing this.

My fingers drummed lightly on my bag, nerves and excitement warring within me.

This is it. The first step into my new life.

The ride was short, but it felt like an eternity.

When we arrived, I stepped out, my heels clicking against the polished pavement as I looked up at the building before me.

Hathaway Enterprises stood tall and imposing, a gleaming testament to power and success.

My heart was in my throat as I approached the glass doors.

The sheer scale of the structure was intimidating, its grandeur making me feel small. But I straightened my shoulders, lifted my chin.

This is happening. I’m really here.

Adjusting the strap of my bag, I mustered my biggest, brightest smile.

Confidence is key.

With one last deep breath, I pushed open the doors and stepped inside.

—

The lobby was a masterpiece of modern design—high ceilings, marble floors, and an atmosphere that buzzed with efficiency. It smelled faintly of coffee and expensive cologne.

I forced myself to walk with purpose.

You’re not here to gape like a tourist. You’re here because you earned this.

Well... sort of.

My pulse quickened with every step toward the reception desk.

Here goes nothing.

"Good morning," I said with a polite smile, my voice steady despite the nerves bubbling beneath the surface.

The receptionist glanced up from her computer, her expression professional yet welcoming.

"Good morning. How may I help you?"

"I’m Hermia Blackwood. I was told to report here today."

Her brow lifted slightly. "Ah, of course. Mr. Hathaway mentioned you’d be arriving. One moment, please."

At the mention of Niklaus, my stomach flipped, but I remained composed, gripping my bag a little tighter as I waited.

The receptionist made a quick call before looking back at me with a smile.

"You’re all set. Head to the elevators, take the one on the far right, and press 29. Someone will meet you there."

"Thank you."

With one last deep breath, I turned toward the elevators, each step carrying me closer to something monumental.

This is your moment, Hermia. Don’t blow it.

—

I stared at the sleek, mirrored elevator doors, my reflection meeting me with a calmness I did not feel.

I had always avoided elevators if I could help it—too confined, too unnatural. But today was about bravery, about pushing boundaries.

Squaring my shoulders, I stepped forward and pressed the glowing button.

The soft chime of the elevator’s arrival made my heart pound. The doors slid open silently, revealing the spacious, modern interior.

I hesitated at the threshold, my hand gripping the strap of my bag so tightly my knuckles whitened.

Just step in. It’s fine.

You can do this.