For everyone else, it was just another ordinary morning.
But for me, the next morning arrived with more questions than answers.
It was finally the day I would face the truth.
I had barely slept the previous night, my mind constantly running through every possible situation and scenario I might encounter on my first day at Westbridge.
I had worried so much that I didn’t even need an alarm to wake me up.
I was already wide awake before dawn, staring at the ceiling and wondering what exactly awaited me in the mysterious ESSPU.
For my first day at the office, I decided to keep my outfit professional yet comfortable.
I wore a soft ivory blouse with a modest V-shaped neckline and delicate pleats running down the front, paired with a high-waisted, tailored navy pencil skirt that fell just below my knees.
I tucked the blouse neatly into the skirt and added a slim brown leather belt around my waist.
For shoes, I chose simple nude block heels—professional enough for the office but comfortable enough that I wouldn’t spend my first day worrying about falling flat on my face.
I carried a structured black handbag containing my internship documents, a notebook, pens, and the employee handbook I had received during the induction programme.
I kept my hair simple, pinning half of it back while letting the rest fall naturally over my shoulders.
My makeup was minimal—a little mascara, subtle eyeliner, a touch of blush, and muted rose lipstick.
A small pair of pearl earrings and a delicate watch completed the look.
I stood in front of the mirror for a final inspection and took a deep breath.
Today, I finally find out what kind of place I’ve been assigned to.
As soon as I entered the Westbridge Corporation building, I noticed people still arriving for work, while others hurried through the lobby with files and coffee cups in their hands.
I had made sure to arrive early.
There was no way I was going to be late on my first day, especially after everything Paige had told me.
Compared to yesterday, when the building had been packed with new employees, the atmosphere today felt noticeably quieter.
Last night, I had convinced Paige to go back to Alden’s place and get some rest instead of worrying about me.
This morning, I simply sent her a quick text letting her know I had arrived safely.
According to the employee handbook, the Executive Strategy and Special Projects Unit was located on the seventh floor.
I took a deep breath before stepping into the elevator and pressing 7.
As the doors slid shut, I caught my reflection in the mirrored wall and waited till the elevator doors opened to the floor.
When I stepped out of the elevator, I was greeted by complete silence.
The entire lobby was deserted.
Not a single person was in sight.
For a moment, I wondered if I had somehow come to the wrong floor.
I quickly looked at the elevator display and then checked the number in the handbook.
7th floor.
I was definitely in the right place.
Still, the eerie silence made me hesitate.
Compared to the bustling floors below, this place felt almost abandoned.
I slowly walked forward, my heels clicking against the polished floor, the sound echoing through the otherwise silent corridor.
A few steps later, I finally spotted a large glass door at the end of the lobby.
I approached it and read the lettering printed across the glass.
EXECUTIVE STRATEGY AND SPECIAL PROJECTS UNIT I released a heavy sigh of relief.
At least I’m not on the wrong floor.
I reached for the door handle, took one last breath, and pushed it open.
The moment I pushed the glass door open, I was met with an office that looked nothing like the rest of Westbridge.
It was spacious—far too spacious for a department that supposedly had only four people.
The entire office had a modern, minimalist design, with floor-to-ceiling glass windows allowing soft morning light to spill across the polished wooden floor.
Dark wooden panels lined parts of the walls, contrasting with the pale walls and sleek black furniture.
There were four large workstations arranged separately rather than crowded together, each equipped with multiple monitors, neatly organized files, and almost nothing unnecessary.
Everything seemed to have its designated place.
At the centre of the office stood a large rectangular conference table surrounded by six leather chairs.
Behind it was a massive glass wall covered with charts, schedules, and strategic plans written in neat handwriting.
A few framed certificates and awards hung along one side of the room, while another section contained tall shelves filled with thick files and neatly labelled folders.
At the far end stood four private glass-walled offices, each with a nameplate beside the door.
Beyond them was another smaller meeting room with frosted glass walls.
There was no receptionist.
No chatter.
No ringing phones.
Just silence.
I stood near the entrance, clutching the strap of my handbag.
So this is where the four mysterious men work.
For some reason, the quietness made me feel as though I had just stepped into a completely different world.
But there was no one inside.
I glanced at the clock on the wall.
9:05 a.m.
I was right on time, yet the entire department was completely deserted.
Do I have to work with ghosts?
I was still wondering where everyone could possibly be when I heard the main door open behind me.
I turned around.
And froze.
Four men walked into the office, one after another.
All four of them were strikingly handsome, dressed in perfectly tailored suits, carrying themselves with the effortless confidence of people who knew exactly where they belonged.
But I barely noticed the other two.
Because I recognized two faces immediately.
My face went pale.
Wait…
The first man was the one from the staircase.
The smirking guy.
And beside him was the man from the elevator.
The lecture guy.
I stared at them in disbelief.
They worked in the same department.
My department.
And judging by the way the other two treated them, they weren’t just ordinary employees.
They were my seniors.
Possibly my bosses.
My stomach dropped.
It felt as though the ground beneath my feet had suddenly shifted.
You have got to be kidding me.
“Oh, it’s good to see our new intern is punctual,” the smirking guy said as he walked toward me, a charming smile already plastered across his face.
He was, annoyingly, very handsome.
For a brief second, that smile almost made me forget our earlier encounter on the staircase.
Almost.
But then I noticed the glint in his eyes.
He recognized me.
Of course he did.
Yet he was acting as though we had never met before, effortlessly playing the role of the charming, friendly colleague.
“You must be Meave Calloway.” The man standing beside him spoke, and his voice was so pleasant that I almost forgot how to breathe.
I looked at him.
And my heart skipped a beat.
He was equally handsome, but in a completely different way.
His dark brown hair was slightly longer on top and naturally tousled, with a few strands casually falling across his forehead.
Unlike the overly polished men I had encountered so far, he seemed completely unconcerned with keeping every strand in place.
His eyes were a warm hazel-brown, with subtle golden flecks that caught the light.
They weren’t intimidating like the steel-grey eyes I had encountered earlier.
Instead, there was something warm about them—something that made it feel as though he was genuinely listening even before I had said a word.
He wore a simple cream-coloured shirt tucked into brown trousers, the relaxed outfit somehow making him look even more attractive.
For a moment, I simply stared.
Oh.
He smiled gently.
And somehow, that small smile nearly took my breath away.
“Welcome to the ESSPU, Meave.” I could feel my face burning.
“Ah—thank you,” I said hurriedly, immediately looking away as I took a slow breath to compose myself.
Get a grip, Meave.
Before I could say anything else, the smirking man stepped closer, his familiar teasing smile returning.
“Well then, let’s get you properly introduced to your teammates.” He paused deliberately, then added with a mischievous wink, “Oh, sorry.
Your bosses.” My eyes widened slightly.
“Bosses?” He chuckled.
“You’ll get used to it.” I wasn’t sure whether that was supposed to reassure me or make me even more nervous.
Judging by the amused look in his eyes, I suspected he was enjoying my reaction.
“Starting with our leader, Alexander,” the smirking man announced, gesturing toward the man who had lectured me yesterday.
“He’s our Chief Executive Planner and Director.” Alexander looked directly at me.
His steel-grey eyes were as sharp and unforgiving as I remembered, and a small shiver ran down my spine.
“He may look like the king of hell,” the smirking man continued casually, “but he’s actually an okay person to deal with.” He paused, glancing at me with a grin.
“Of course, that only applies when you do your job right.” Alexander didn’t even spare him a reaction.
He simply walked past us and headed straight toward his workstation, as though none of us existed.
Yep.
Definitely the king of hell.
“Well, next is Adrian, our Investment Strategy Planner.” He gestured toward the polite man beside him.
Adrian gave me another warm, effortless smile.
Something fluttered strangely in my stomach.
I quickly looked away before my face could betray me again.
Why is everyone in this department so ridiculously handsome?
“And then this is Damian, our Special Projects & Crisis Operations Director.” I finally turned my attention toward him.
He was just as handsome as the others, but there was something particularly striking about his eyes.
They were sharp and intensely focused, as though he was constantly assessing everything around him.
Damian took a step toward me.
“Nice to meet you, Meave.
I’m looking forward to working with you.” His voice was calm and confident.
He gave me a subtle smile, polite enough to acknowledge my presence but not warm enough to reach his eyes.
I remembered Paige and Alden’s conversation from the previous night.
Three-time Employee of the Year.
Looking at him now, I couldn’t deny that I could see why.
“And last but certainly not least, there’s me—Julian.
I’m the Director of Strategic Partnerships and Negotiations,” he announced, placing a hand casually against his chest.
He flashed me that same charming smile, the mischievous glint in his eyes becoming impossible to miss.
“And I’m the person you can rely on for absolutely anything,” he added, lowering his voice slightly.
“Professional or personal.” I raised an eyebrow.
So this was Julian.
The infamous player Paige had warned me about.
Judging by the way he was looking at me, I had a feeling she hadn’t exaggerated even a little.
“Don’t listen to him,” Damian said dryly from behind us.
Julian placed a hand over his heart, pretending to be offended.
“What?
I’m simply offering exceptional guidance to our newest team member.” Adrian chuckled softly.
I couldn’t help smiling.
Maybe this department wasn’t as terrifying as Paige had made it sound.
Then again, I had only been here for five minutes.