That night, I went out with Alissa and Susan, my college friends I hadn't seen since the chaos of getting hired.
"You look fire," Alissa said, squinting at me over her cocktail. "What's changed? You got that main character energy now."
"New job," I shrugged, trying to be chill.
"That's it? Just a new job?"
"It's a good job," I defended. "Better pay, better opportunities."
"And a hot boss?" Susan waggled her eyebrows, "giving you the support you were lacking?"
"Oh, God, not you too," I groaned. "He's literally just my boss."
"Yeah, but he's Daniel Tan," Alissa countered. "The man is a certified snack. You've definitely looked him up."
"I don't even know what he looks like," I lied.
They both snickered.
"Fine," I sighed. "He texts me. Like, checks in, gives encouragement. But it's professional."
"Boring," Susan declared.
"Supportive," I insisted.
"Still boring. Spill the tea. Is he making moves?"
"He's… interesting," I conceded.
"Ooh. Interesting how?" Susan leaned forward.
"Just… interesting. Can we talk about literally anything else?"
"No way. You're totally simping for this guy," Alissa pressed.
"I'm not into him. He's my boss. I just got out of a terrible marriage. The last thing I need is to fall for my boss."
Alissa and Susan exchanged a look that screamed judgment.
"What?" I demanded.
"Nothing," Alissa said innocently. "Just… you said 'fall for' not 'get involved with.' That's interesting word choice. You might actually be down bad."
I groaned, hiding my face in my glass. "I hate you both."
"We love you too," Susan sang. "And we think you should go for it."
"There's nothing to go for. We only met once."
"There will be a second time, third, fourth…" Alissa pointed out. "Just promise us you'll consider it when you do meet him again."
"Consider what?"
"Letting yourself be happy," she finished.
The words hit harder than they should have.
When was the last time I let myself be happy? Actually happy, not just… exciting?
"I'll think about it," I muttered, knowing I was already thinking about it way too much.
*******
Sunday afternoon, I was battling my vacuum cleaner and a mountain of laundry when my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I almost didn't answer. But something made me pick up.
"Hello?"
"Lulu." The voice was deep, familiar, and sent shivers down my spine.
"Daniel?"
"I hope I'm not interrupting," he said.
I looked at the disaster around me. And to myself in gross old sweats, my hair in a messy bun.
"Nah, just… cleaning?"
"On a Sunday? You need better hobbies."
I laughed, despite my anxiety. "Says the man who's probably at his office right now."
"Actually, I'm at home. Looking at the city. Thinking."
"About?"
"You, actually."
My breath caught. 'Hold up, what?'
"Me?"
His tone shifted, getting serious real fast. "I reviewed your analysis. The Singapore properties. You were right. There's definitely fraud happening."
"Oh," was all I could manage.
"I'm having our legal team investigate. Quietly. But Lulu…" He paused. "You need to be careful."
"Careful how?"
"Vivian's going to fight this. Those contracts reflect on her. If there's fraud, it means either she missed it or… worse."
"You think she's involved?"
"I don't know what I think yet. But I know she's protective of her reputation. And you just became a threat to it."
I felt fear coiled in my stomach. "Should I be worried?"
"No. I won't let anything happen to you."
The certainty in his voice was almost overwhelming. "But maybe… keep your distance from her for a while. Just until this settles."
"Kind of hard when she's my direct supervisor."
"I know," he sighed. "l'm working on that."
"Working on what?"
"Options. Alternative arrangements."
He paused again. "Lulu, I need to ask you something."
"Okay."
"Do you trust me?"
The question hung in the air between us.
Did I?
Did I trust the billionaire who investigated me, offered me a dream job, and put me straight into corporate drama?
But he also believed in me. Supported me. Made me feel valued for the first time in years.
"l want to," I said honestly.
"That's enough," his voice softened. "For now, that's enough."
Silence stretched between us, but it wasn't uncomfortable.
"Can I ask you something?" I asked finally.
"Anything."
"Why me? Really. I know you said I'm talented, but… there are lots of talented people. Why go through all this trouble?"
He was quiet for so long I thought he might have hung up.
"Because," he said finally, "when I read about what you accomplished at Jensen & Partners, — on how you saved them from that audit, how you kept going even when no one appreciated you — I saw someone who refused to give up. Someone with integrity. And that's rare, Lulu. Rarer than you know."
My throat tightened. That felt like way too much praise.
"That's… a nice thing to say," I managed.
"It's the truth." He paused. "I should let you get back to your cleaning."
"Yeah. Okay."
"Lulu?"
"Yes?"
"I'm glad you're here. At Tan Industries. I know it's been rough, but… I'm glad."
"Me too," I whispered.
After we hung up, I sat on my couch for a long time, staring at my phone.
Hearing his voice made everything — the danger, the opportunity, and him — infinitely more complicated.
*******
Monday morning, I arrived to find my office door standing open.
Kevin was inside, stuffing my files into boxes.
"Kevin? What the hell is going on?"
He turned, looking apologetic. "Oh, Lulu. Ms. Zhang asked me to help you relocate. Immediately."
"Relocate? Where am I going?" I asked, panicking.
"Forty seventh floor. You're being moved to the executive analysis team."
My heart stopped. "What? Why?"
"I don't know. Ms. Zhang just said it was Mr. Tan decision."
He hefted a box. "Hey, cheer up! Your new office is actually bigger. Way better view. It's kind of a promotion, right?"
I pulled out my phone with shaking hands.
Me: Did you move me to a different floor?
Daniel Tan: Yes. You'll be reporting directly to me now. Vivian agreed it made sense given your project focus.
Me: You said you were working on options. This is what you meant?
Daniel Tan: I told you I wouldn't let anything happen to you.
Me: This is going to make Vivian hate me more.
Daniel Tan: Let me worry about Vivian. You just focus on your work.
Me: Daniel…
Daniel Tan: Trust me. Remember?
I looked at Kevin, who was waiting patiently, slightly amused by my clear meltdown.
"Okay," I said, forcing myself to take a deep breath. "Let's see this new office."