Davis's POV
I closed the door to my corner office and set the coffee cup on the desk, still thinking about the girl who had literally fallen at my feet this morning.
Isla Hayes.
New data analyst. Started today.
I had seen her name on the onboarding list yesterday, but seeing her in person was different. She was sharp-eyed, quick on her feet well, except for that slip. The way she had looked up at me with those wide eyes and called me "Sir" in that soft, almost breathless voice… it had caught me off guard. Most new hires were either nervous or overly eager to impress. She seemed both, but with an extra layer of something I couldn't quite place.
I sat down and pulled up her employee file on the screen. College grades were excellent. References spoke highly of her intelligence and work ethic. No red flags. Good. I needed reliable people around me, especially with the Tokyo deal coming up fast.
The morning had been typical back-to-back calls, reviewing quarterly numbers, and preparing for the trip. But that fall in the hallway kept replaying in my mind.
Papers flying, her landing hard on the floor, then scrambling up while trying to act like it was nothing. Most people would have been mortified and stayed quiet. She had laughed it off nervously and kept calling me Sir even after correcting herself. It was… oddly charming. And a little amusing.
I shook my head and focused on the documents in front of me.
The business trip next week was critical. We were close to closing a major partnership that could expand Patel Dynamics into the Asian market. I needed someone organized, fast-thinking, and able to handle long hours without complaining. The usual assistants were already stretched thin with other projects.
That's why I had called the short team meeting. I didn't expect many volunteers on such short notice.
When the time came, I walked into the conference room and laid out the request clearly. Extra pay, direct work with me, travel. It was a good opportunity for the right person. A couple of hands went up slowly people who looked more hesitant than excited.
Then her hand shot up. Fast. Really fast.
Isla Hayes.
The room went still. Even I paused for a second. She had only been here a few hours, and she was already volunteering to travel with the CEO? Bold move. Some of the others exchanged glances.
I kept my expression neutral, but inside I was intrigued. "You are…?"
"Isla Hayes, Sir. New data analyst. Started today."
Again with the "Sir." It sounded respectful on the surface, but there was something in her tone that made my thoughts flicker to places they shouldn't during work hours. I pushed the feeling aside.
"Alright. We'll discuss details after the meeting."
The meeting wrapped up quickly. As the others filed out, Isla stayed behind, sitting straight in her chair with her hands folded on the table. She looked determined, but I could see a hint of nervousness in the way she bit her lip.
I walked over slowly, keeping my voice calm and professional. "We'll talk more tomorrow about the trip. Be ready to work long hours."
"I'm ready, Sir," she said again.
There it was that same soft edge to the word. I looked at her a moment longer than necessary. She really was striking up close. Clear eyes, intelligent face, and that spark of boldness that had made her raise her hand so quickly.
I gave a small nod. "Good. See you tomorrow, Isla."
As I walked back to my office, I caught myself smiling just a little. It had been a long time since anyone had surprised me on the first day. Most new hires tried to blend in. Isla had managed to fall dramatically, call me Sir multiple times, and then volunteer for one of the most demanding roles without hesitation.
I sat down at my desk and leaned back in the chair. The trip would be intense late nights, tight schedules, high stakes. Having a personal assistant who was clearly smart and unafraid to speak up could be an advantage.
But there was something else. The way she had looked at me after the fall, the quick volunteer… it felt like more than just ambition. Or maybe I was reading too much into it.
Either way, tomorrow I would find out more about Isla Hayes. For now, I had reports to review and calls to make.
Still, as I opened the next file, my mind drifted back to that moment in the hallway. Her on the floor, papers everywhere, and that nervous laugh.
Interesting first day indeed.