Mr. Ceo Wants Me

a V

me, as if my entire worth as a person is being weigh

rhaps just bored, he leans back int

s voice drops, even and cold. "But in my world, belief isn't enough. Results matter. Failure is

ads across the room. I glance at the other women from the corner of my eye. One fro

h theoretical questions or polished resumes, but with actual work

nce hang in the air like a

is company the costs incurr

ent, no o

h

's serious. Elliot Blackthorne isn't offering us a clean shot at employment, he's turning this into a g

left, suddenly speaks up. Her voice wobb

Blackthorne Atelier isn't a charity. Resources, materials, and time all cost money.

r voice growing more panicked. "I'm here f

off, his tone like ice. "No

t us, as if hoping for support. None comes. She makes a s

bolts out of the room, her heels clattering against t

esn't even flinch. If anything, he looks... mi

eeping over us again. "If you don't

moves t

Elliot's tactics are harsh, ruthless, even, but there's no denying that he's in complete control of the room. He's

scared. I don't walk in

s on the desk. "Good. The rest of you hav

f a small bre

ng in the tense silence. He seems to relish the moment,

k you'll be working on. By the time the clock strikes midnight, I expec

e at the others. One of them, a brunette with sharp cheekbones and narrowed eyes, looks ready to tackle the

job intervi

ival of t

d he points to the small, empty wo

word as though it carries grave importance, "you'll need to p

ood, no lock, no markings. It feels almost absurdl

y, as though testing the word on he

but there's nothing kind about it. "Take off

through me like ice water. Surely, I heard him wrong. But his expression do

blurts out, her voice hig

hand over pens, not intimate articles of clothing. "The b

er now, her dark eyes flashing with fury. "This isn't some power game where you

imply shrugs, his expression unreadable. "I don't need you t

fists clenching at her

nce more in his chair. "But if you're serious about the opportunity in front of

he looks like she wants to say something more, to lash out, but instead, she spins on her heel and

ves thre

lace, while the third woman, an elegant redhead with striking features, lo

teady my thoughts. Elliot's