Ruby's POV
The towering building loomed before me, its sleek glass panels reflecting the overcast sky. I took a deep breath, steadying myself. Today was my first day of work, and although I was excited, an uneasy feeling twisted in my stomach. I told myself it was just nerves—after all, I was lucky to have landed this job so quickly.
Especially after what happened yesterday.
I shook my head, pushing the memory of the coffee spill aside. It was just a minor accident. Nothing worth dwelling on. Right now, I have more important things to focus on.
Steeling myself, I stepped inside. The lobby was grand but minimalistic—clean lines, polished floors, and a color palette that exudes professionalism. Deep grays and blacks dominated the space, their muted elegance lending an almost eerie calm. The entire aesthetic was... wolf-like.
Strange.
The posters, the figurines, even the subtle patterns woven into the decor—it all revolved around wolves. Their eyes, frozen in motion, seemed to follow me as I walked. A cold shiver trailed down my spine, but I quickly dismissed it. It was probably just a branding thing. Companies had themes, right?
I followed the instructions I was given and made my way to the HR department. My footsteps echoed in the near silence, the only other sound being the faint hum of computers and the occasional murmur of conversation behind closed doors. The air smelled of fresh paper, polished wood, and a hint of something else—something crisp and cool, like the forest after a storm.
I pushed the glass door open and found myself face-to-face with the woman who had interviewed me yesterday.
"Good morning," I greeted, trying to sound confident.
She glanced up and gave a polite smile before motioning for me to follow her. "Oh, hello there. You're lucky—you got hired immediately. A lot of applicants have been waiting for weeks to hear back, yet you got in on the same day you applied."
Her words sent a ripple of unease through me. I forced a nervous chuckle, trying to mask the sudden tightness in my chest. "Ah, yeah... Thank you. Hehe."
I cringed inwardly at my own awkwardness, but she didn't seem to notice. Instead, she turned briskly and began walking down the corridor. I hurried to keep up.
The hallway was even quieter than the lobby. Only our footsteps filled the space, each step swallowed by the dark tones of the walls. The decor remained consistent—wolves, everywhere. Their presence lingered in the form of elegant sculptures, shadowy paintings, and intricate carvings that seemed to tell a story I couldn't quite grasp.
A cold sensation pressed against my chest.
I know these symbols.
I don't want to remember why.
I shook my head, forcing the thought away. No. That was the past. It had nothing to do with today. Nothing to do with this job.
Taking a steadying breath, I focused on the woman in front of me and followed her deeper into the heart of the company, ready—or at least trying to be—for whatever lay ahead.
She pressed the elevator button, and as the doors slid open, she stepped inside without a word. I followed, my heart pounding slightly as the doors shut behind us. A mixture of emotions churned within me—excitement, nervousness, anticipation. I wasn't sure what to feel.
When she pressed the button for the 47th floor, my stomach clenched. That was high. Really high. If that was where I'd be working, I'd have to come up here every day. The thought was daunting, but I pushed it aside. I had a job, and that was what mattered.
The ride was silent, the soft hum of the elevator the only sound. The moment the doors slid open, we stepped out into another hushed hallway, mirroring the aesthetic of the lower floors. The same eerie yet elegant wolf-themed decor lined the walls. We passed several glass-paneled offices, their blinds drawn, obscuring whatever lay inside. Finally, we stopped before the last door on the floor.
"This will be your office. This is where you'll be working," she said, pulling a card from her pocket and sliding it through the scanner. A soft beep, then the door clicked open. She pushed it inward, and as soon as I stepped inside, I was greeted by a wave of a rich, fragrant scent—something warm, something calming. It instantly put me at ease.
The room was spacious, much larger than I expected. A sleek desk stood at the center, but what caught my eye was the additional furnishing—a plush sofa set, a dining table, even a fridge and water dispenser. My brows lifted in astonishment. This was an executive secretary's office? Then how extravagant must the CEO's be?
"Here's the handbook," she said, pulling a thick volume from a nearby shelf. The words 'Silver Moon Corp.' were embossed on the cover in silver foil. "I expect you to study everything in here, so you won't have to keep asking me about procedures."
I swallowed hard, staring at the book as she continued. "This covers company policies, job responsibilities, administrative processes, technology and tools, confidentiality guidelines, and emergency protocols. It should answer most of your questions."
"Okay, thank you," I managed to say, my voice slightly hoarse.
She must have noticed my overwhelmed expression because she added,
"Don't worry, you'll learn it gradually. Just don't be dumb about it." There was an odd mix of strictness and reassurance in her tone. "I've already prepared some initial tasks for you to work on today." She gestured toward a neatly stacked pile of documents on the desk. That was a relief. At least I wouldn't be floundering around with nothing to do.
Then, she handed me the access card she had used earlier. I glanced down at it, my name, photo, employee number, and position printed on the sleek surface. My breath hitched. That was fast. How had they managed to prepare this overnight?
After going over a few more instructions and reminders, she left, leaving me alone in my new office.
I exhaled slowly. This wasn't going to be easy.
Especially when she mentioned that the CEO might ask me to do things outside my job description—like fetching his coffee, preparing his meals, and handling other personal tasks.
But it was fine. The pay was good, and I needed this job.
I pulled out a chair and sat down, staring at the stack of papers before me.
Time to get started.
While I was in the middle of working on my computer, a sudden ring startled me. My eyes darted around, searching for the source of the sound, until I spotted the intercom beneath my desk. Heart pounding, I swiftly answered before it stopped.
"Hello, this is Ruby speaking," I said, pressing the button, my expression a mix of confusion and urgency.
"Ruby?" a male voice replied, laced with uncertainty.
"Yes, Ruby, the new secretary," I answered shortly.
"Oh, right," he said, followed by a brief silence that only deepened my confusion. "Ruby, come to my office. And bring me a black coffee as well."
Then, just like that, the line went dead.
His voice was oddly familiar, though I couldn't immediately place it. But there was no need for introductions—I already knew who he was. The CEO. Who else would summon me like that, expecting coffee?
I hurried out of my office, took the elevator to the first floor, and headed to the café to fetch his black coffee. Then, I rode back up—this time, to the 48th floor. HR had mentioned earlier that he was the only one with an office there.
When I arrived, I took a deep breath before stepping forward. The floor was quiet, lined with rooms labeled as conference rooms. At the end of the corridor, I found his office. Steeling myself, I knocked with my free hand while balancing the coffee in the other.
There was no verbal response, but I heard the click of the door unlocking.
Taking that as my cue, I carefully pushed the door open and stepped inside.
A familiar scent immediately enveloped me. My body stiffened. This scent—I'd been carrying it with me since yesterday. It clung to me, refusing to fade, and now, here it was again, stronger than ever.
I turned, following the scent's source. Oh!