Sweet For You, Ruthless For Others
Chapter 40: Good morning, Mia

Chapter 40: Good morning, Mia

Just step in. It’s fine. You can do this.

Her breath hitched, and despite her internal pep talk, her legs refused to move.

The thought of the confined space made her palms sweat. She took a step back, shaking her head.

"Not today," she whispered under her breath, turning on her heel.

The staircase it was.

The climb to the 29th floor was grueling. With each step, her determination wavered.

By the 15th floor, her breath came in gasps, and by the 20th, she was silently cursing her decision. But her pride wouldn’t let her stop.

When she finally reached the 29th floor, her legs felt like jelly, and her heart was pounding in her chest.

She leaned against the wall for a moment, wiping the sweat from her brow and trying to compose herself.

Then, with sudden panic, she realized—I have to hurry!

Her heels clicked against the polished floor as she half-walked, half-ran toward the elevator bank.

She could see a figure standing there, arms crossed, an unmistakable look of irritation etched onto his face.

Steffon.

When she reached him, she was out of breath and red-faced, but she managed an apologetic smile. "I’m so sorry! I took the stairs instead of the elevator. I didn’t mean to keep you waiting."

Steffon’s scowl deepened, his brow furrowed as he regarded her with evident disapproval. "Twenty-nine floors. Really?" he muttered, shaking his head. "Do you realize how much time you’ve wasted?"

Hermia bit her lip, a little embarrassed. "I, um... I don’t like elevators," she admitted softly.

He exhaled sharply, clearly biting back a retort. "Well, you’re here now. Let’s go. Mr. Hathaway doesn’t tolerate tardiness."

"Right. Thank you," Hermia said, following him as he turned on his heel and walked briskly down the hallway.

As she trailed behind him, she mentally braced herself for whatever awaited her. This is just the beginning, she thought.

You made it here, now don’t mess it up.

The hallway leading to Niklaus Hathaway’s office was strikingly minimalist, with only a few polished wooden doors, their brass handles gleaming under soft overhead lights.

It was clear that these offices were expansive, built for people who operated on the highest levels of authority and power.

Hermia couldn’t help but marvel at the refined design as Steffon walked briskly ahead of her.

Her heart thumped harder with each step, her heels clicking lightly against the marble floors. The quiet elegance of the surroundings only heightened her nerves.

When they reached the door at the very end of the corridor, Steffon paused, rapped on it softly, and then pushed it open without waiting for a response.

"Mr. Hathaway," Steffon announced formally, stepping aside to allow her to enter. "Miss Blackwood."

Hermia stepped into the room, clutching the strap of her bag tighter as her eyes adjusted to the brightness of the space. "Thank you," she managed, her voice polite but shaky.

The door clicked shut behind her, leaving her alone with Niklaus Hathaway.

"Good morning, Nik—Mr. Hathaway," she stammered, quickly correcting herself. She bit her lip, feeling the heat rise to her cheeks.

Addressing him so informally felt wildly inappropriate in this context, and she didn’t want to appear disrespectful on her first day.

Niklaus’s sharp eyes flicked up from his desk, narrowing slightly at her hesitation. "Good morning, Mia" he replied smoothly, his deep voice sending a ripple of unease—and something else entirely—through her.

And then she saw him.

Niklaus Hathaway looked devastatingly good, even better than she remembered.

His ink-black hair, slightly tousled as if he’d run his fingers through it, framed his chiseled face perfectly.

His jawline was sharp enough to cut glass, and his clean-shaven face only emphasized the flawless symmetry of his features.

Today, he wore a perfectly tailored sky-blue suit, the color bringing out the cool steel of his eyes.

The crisp white shirt underneath was open at the collar, giving him an air of effortless authority.

His broad shoulders stretched the fabric of his blazer, while his sleeves hinted at the powerful, sinewy arms beneath.

Though his posture was relaxed as he leaned back in his leather chair, his presence dominated the room.

His long fingers tapped rhythmically against the surface of the dark oak desk, his focus shifting momentarily from his work to her.

"You can sit," he said, motioning to one of the chairs in front of his desk.

"No, Thank you," Hermia murmured, stepping forward but not sitting, she was trying to appear composed.

But she wasn’t.

Working here is going to be torture, she thought, stealing another glance at him as he returned his attention to his tablet.

He’s too attractive to be human. This man is dangerous.

"You’re almost late," Niklaus said, his low, gravelly voice cutting through the tension in the room.

Hermia’s mouth parted slightly.

Why does he have to sound so good while being so irritating? she thought, her gaze momentarily dropping to her hands.

She frowned, unsure of how to respond.

What could she say to her boss? ’Yeah, I’m almost late but I’m not, thank you?’ Or maybe, ’Is that a problem?’ Or worse, ’Do you think I live next door?’ None of those options seemed particularly wise, so she blinked and kept her silence.

"Were you slacking on your first day?" Niklaus added, his tone casual but with a teasing edge that made her upper lip twitch.

What the hell? she thought, her irritation bubbling up. Why is he picking on me on day one?

She decided silence was still her best defense, so she forced an uncomfortable smile instead.

Niklaus’s eyes narrowed at her reaction. "You intend to work with me like that?" he asked, his words sharper this time.

Hermia bristled at the insinuation.

She looked good, and her mind screamed it at him silently. Who was he to imply otherwise?

"Like how?" she finally retorted, unable to keep the edge out of her voice. "This is a cool office outfit."

Niklaus let out a soft scoff, leaning back in his chair. "I meant mute," he clarified, his voice low and steady. Then, with a nonchalant air, he added, "You do look stunning, though."

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