Whispers of a forgetten love

The shrill sound of Evelyn Carter's alarm clock tore through the silence of her dimly lit bedroom. She groaned, reaching out blindly to silence it, her fingers fumbling against the smooth plastic. The bright red digits glared at her—5:30 AM. Too early for comfort, but necessary. Today was her first day at her new job, and she couldn't afford to be late.

A deep sigh escaped her lips as she forced herself up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. The air in her small apartment was cool, the morning light barely peeking through her curtains. She dragged herself to the bathroom, splashing cold water on her face, trying to rid herself of the lingering drowsiness. Staring into the mirror, she met her own hazel eyes, filled with a mix of anxiety and determination.

She had spent half the night meticulously choosing her outfit—a crisp white blouse paired with a navy-blue pencil skirt. Professional, yet comfortable. The rumors about Sinclair Enterprises were enough to keep her on edge, but it was her new boss, Damian Sinclair, that unsettled her the most. Strict. Cold. Impossible to please. The kind of man who could fire someone for breathing wrong.

Bracing herself, Evelyn grabbed her bag and left her apartment, stepping into the brisk morning air. The streets were quiet, save for a few early risers heading to work. As she neared the towering glass building of Sinclair Enterprises, a sense of foreboding settled in her chest. The place reeked of power and wealth. The kind of place where one misstep could mean the end of everything.

Inside, the lobby was immaculate—marble floors, golden chandeliers, and employees dressed in sharp suits moving with purpose. The air smelled of expensive perfume and freshly brewed coffee. Evelyn approached the front desk, where a receptionist with sharp features and an even sharper gaze barely looked up.

"Name?" the woman asked, fingers poised over the keyboard.

"Evelyn Carter. I'm the new assistant."

The receptionist gave her a once-over before nodding toward the elevators. "Top floor. Good luck."

Something about the way she said it sent a shiver down Evelyn's spine. But she swallowed her nerves and stepped into the elevator, watching the numbers ascend. When the doors opened, she was met with a long, pristine hallway, eerily silent. Taking a steadying breath, she knocked on the heavy wooden door at the end of the hall.

"Enter."

The voice was deep, commanding.

Evelyn stepped inside and froze. Seated behind a massive mahogany desk was Damian Sinclair. He was even more intimidating in person—broad-shouldered, dressed in an impeccable black suit, his sharp blue eyes cold and unreadable. He didn't just exude power; he embodied it.

"You're late," he said, even though she wasn't.

Evelyn's brows furrowed. "I—"

"Silence." He stood, his presence overwhelming. "I don't tolerate excuses, Miss Carter. If you plan to work here, you will be efficient, punctual, and unquestioning of my orders. Do I make myself clear?"

Her throat tightened, but she forced herself to nod. "Yes, sir."

A smirk played at the corner of his lips, but it wasn't one of amusement. It was calculated, like he enjoyed seeing her squirm. "Good. Now get to work."

As she walked out of his office, her heart pounded. She had never met a man so insufferable. So arrogant. But something about the way he watched her sent an uneasy shiver down her spine.

The rest of the day passed in a blur of tasks, deadlines, and hurried movements. The other employees were friendly enough, though most kept their heads down, avoiding their boss's wrath. One particular colleague, however, seemed eager to be around Evelyn.

Ryan Brooks—a charming, easygoing man with an infectious smile. Unlike the others, he wasn't intimidated by Damian Sinclair, nor did he treat Evelyn like just another worker.

"You surviving?" Ryan asked, leaning against her desk as she took a break from typing up reports.

"Barely," she admitted with a sigh. "He's—"

"A tyrant? A heartless machine?" Ryan grinned. "Trust me, you're not the first to think so."

She laughed, some of her stress melting away. "How do you deal with him?"

Ryan shrugged. "You get used to it. Or you quit."

Their conversation was cut short when a shadow loomed over them. Evelyn's breath hitched as she turned to find Damian standing there, his icy gaze locked onto Ryan.

"Mr. Brooks, is there a reason you're distracting my assistant?" Damian's tone was calm, but there was an unmistakable edge to it.

Ryan straightened, his usual playfulness dimming slightly. "Just welcoming the new employee."

"She doesn't need distractions," Damian stated flatly before turning to Evelyn. "You have work to do."

Evelyn swallowed hard and nodded. "Yes, sir."

As Damian walked away, Ryan leaned in and whispered, "Yikes. Be careful, Evelyn. He's got his eye on you."

Something about Ryan's words unsettled her. Because for the first time, she realized—Damian Sinclair wasn't just being strict.

He was watching her. Keeping her close. And she wasn't sure

As the day stretched on, Evelyn barely had time to breathe between the endless tasks Damian threw her way. By lunchtime, her stomach grumbled in protest, but she was too exhausted to step out. Just as she was debating whether skipping lunch was worth it, Ryan appeared at her desk, holding a takeout bag.

"Figured you'd be starving," he said with an easy grin, setting the bag down in front of her.

Evelyn blinked in surprise. "You bought this for me?"

Ryan shrugged, leaning against her desk. "You looked like you were about to pass out. Consider it a welcome-to-hell gift."

A small laugh escaped her as she opened the bag, the scent of warm food instantly making her stomach tighten. "I owe you one."

He waved her off. "Just promise me you won't let Sinclair turn you into a corporate zombie."

Before she could respond, a familiar chill ran down her spine. She glanced up, only to see Damian standing in the distance, watching them with an unreadable expression. The moment their eyes met, he turned and disappeared into his office.

The rest of the day passed in a blur. By the time Evelyn finally packed up for the night, exhaustion clung to her like a second skin. Just as she stepped out of the office building, Ryan fell into step beside her.

"Need a ride?" he asked, twirling his car keys around his finger.

Evelyn hesitated. "You don't have to—"

"I insist. It's late, and I wouldn't be able to sleep if I knew you were taking the bus alone."

Touched by his kindness, she nodded. "Alright. Thanks, Ryan."

As they walked toward his car, Evelyn couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. When she turned back toward the towering glass building, she caught a glimpse of someone standing by the top-floor window—Damian. His piercing blue eyes followed her, his expression dark and unreadable.

A shiver ran through her.

For some reason, she felt as though she wasn't just Damian's employee.

She was something more—something he wasn't willing to let go of.

When Evelyn finally got home, she kicked off her heels with a groan and collapsed onto the couch. For a moment, she just stared at the ceiling, wondering if she had the energy to even shower. Her cat, Mochi, jumped onto her stomach, demanding attention.

"At least someone at work likes me," she muttered, scratching behind his ears before sighing. Tomorrow, she'd have to deal with Damian all over again.

Her stomach growled reminding, her that she hadn't eaten anything much since lunch. Too tired to cook anything proper,she dragged herself to the kitchen and made a quick bowl of noodles,as she leaned against the walls,she sighed ,tomorrow she would have to deal with Damian over and over again .