Janet arrived punctually at Black Rock Co., the towering skyscrapers of the multinational conglomerate stretching endlessly before her, just in time before 9 AM.
Dressed in a stiff, formal suit with oversized black-rimmed glasses perched on her nose, she stepped into the company's headquarters.
Black Rock Co. was a legend in the business world, a global empire with over a hundred subsidiaries. It dominated industries from finance to food, conquering every major sector with unmatched power and influence.
But despite being the leader of such a powerful conglomerate, Janet had never seen the elusive CEO—the man whose very name was a mystery. Not a single magazine had ever captured his image.
All she knew was that his methods were ruthless and efficient, a man of extraordinary skill. His three defining traits were his reputation: Cool, ruthless, precise. The legendary figure behind it all was none other than—Charles Elwin.
It was said that Charles had always stayed behind the scenes, orchestrating the company's operations from the shadows. He never appeared in public, and when it came to company matters, his two trusted assistants, Giles and Novia, delivered orders directly in his name as the de facto CEO.
Rumors swirled about him—he was indifferent to women, with only his female assistant, Novia, allowed near him, and he had never been involved in any public scandal. It was said that he was cold-hearted, capable of bankrupting a company in a minute or resurrecting one that was on the verge of collapse.
But these were all just rumors... or were they?
As Janet entered the company, she immediately sensed an atmosphere of tension and unease in the air. The lobby, usually bustling with activity, was now covered in thick red carpet, and outside, black-suited bodyguards stood at attention, creating a quiet, almost ceremonial environment—as if an important figure were about to make an inspection. This grandeur was unlike anything Janet had experienced since arriving.
Sure enough, less than half an hour later, she received word from upper management. The reclusive CEO, the mysterious figure who had always stayed in the shadows, would officially be taking the helm today.
The news sent a wave of nervous energy through the male employees, while the women excitedly adjusted their appearances, eager to make a good impression. Soon, everyone had gathered in the lobby.
"Oh my God, how old do you think our CEO is? What if he's a handsome guy?" one woman whispered.
"I don't know. With someone so powerful, he could be an old man, right? I'm so nervous!" another replied.
"Ugh, my heart's racing. I'm going to faint! Charles... he's practically a legend…"
As Janet listened to the murmurs around her, she lowered her head, her long fingers naturally hanging at her sides. The oversized glasses obscured her delicate face, and as she watched the other women—dressed to the nines—jostling to get to the front, she stepped aside, quietly positioning herself next to Amos, waiting for the king-like CEO to make his entrance.
Five minutes later, a black Bugatti Veyron limited edition screeched to a stop in front of the company building. The door swung open, and the first thing visible was a pair of glossy, black leather shoes. A tall, graceful figure stepped out of the car, and the crowd collectively held its breath, anticipating the moment they had all been waiting for.
As the man's tall silhouette appeared in front of them, the quiet air was pierced by a collective gasp. The instant Charles stepped into the lobby, two neat rows of staff members parted to stand at attention. As they saw him, they all bowed in unison, their voices echoing in unison, "Welcome, Mr. CEO!"
His sharp features carried a hint of coldness, and he wore an Armani silver suit that perfectly framed his tall, lean frame. When his eyes briefly scanned the unfamiliar faces before him, the handsome man raised a finger.
His two personal assistants immediately stepped forward and whispered something into his ear. Charles nodded slightly, then turned, his gaze unwavering, heading toward the CEO's private elevator.
Janet kept her head lowered, not once looking up to see what the legendary CEO actually looked like. With her plain makeup and understated appearance, she was the type to blend into the crowd without drawing any attention. But as she overheard the amazed whispers around her, she could tell that Charles possessed a face of breathtaking beauty and flawless features.
A chill passed over her, quickly replaced by a scorching gaze that seemed to probe, to scrutinize, or perhaps even admire her.
The mix of emotions in that gaze sent an involuntary shiver through Janet, and she instinctively raised her head. As her eyes met his piercing, dark gaze, her breath nearly caught in her throat.
That gaze... why did it feel so familiar?
Charles, striding confidently forward, had caught sight of the plain woman with black-rimmed glasses standing at the far edge of the group. As she looked up, his gaze sharpened with sudden interest. He stopped in his tracks and slowly moved toward her.
The female employees, their almond-shaped eyes wide with anticipation, watched as the handsome man walked to the left. They nervously and excitedly adjusted their appearance, as though awaiting a king to choose his queen. They all hoped that the man towering above them would stand before them.
But Charles didn't walk toward them. Instead, he headed for the farthest corner, and as the women's gazes followed, they were stunned to see him stop right in front of the plain woman.
Charles extended his arm, the crease of his suit sleeve sharp and neat. As he drew closer to Janet, she could distinctly smell the faint scent of Dior men's cologne lingering around him. When his long fingers gently lifted her chin, a collective gasp echoed from the crowd.
"No one told you? I don't like imperfections in my line of sight," his deep, resonant voice rumbled in her ear. Janet stood frozen, staring up at him. In the blink of an eye, his fingers brushed the black-rimmed glasses off her face before she could stop him.
As they fell away, the face that was revealed to the crowd was delicate, pale, and flawless, the skin smooth like porcelain—though it carried an almost sickly, ethereal beauty.
No one had expected that the quiet assistant, Janet, who was always overlooked, hid such a stunningly beautiful face beneath her glasses. As the women shot jealous glares and the men looked at her with admiration, Janet suddenly felt like the center of unwanted attention.
What she hated most was how easily she seemed to attract all eyes. Having grown up in such a complicated family, she couldn't allow herself to let such a beautiful face be seen by others.
She was the backdrop, meant only to highlight the beauty of the princess!
"You..." Janet was stunned. As she watched this man so easily strip away the disguise she'd carefully built, a surge of shame and anger bubbled inside her, and her face flushed slightly.
Yet, she helplessly looked up at the tall, arrogant figure before her, a man who could easily be mistaken for a model.
So, this was Charles?