He Has Effect On Me

POV: Sienna

The enclosed space of the elevator felt suddenly much smaller as the metallic doors slid shut, sealing us inside. The smirk that had ghosted across his lips vanished, replaced by a smooth, conversational mask. He reached out, his long fingers pressing the glowing button for the twelfth floor. The hum of the machinery purred beneath my feet, vibrating up through my strappy silver heels. The air conditioning hummed softly, yet the temperature in the confined car seemed to spike the moment we were alone.

"Did you have to travel far?" Evander asked. His voice bounced off the polished steel walls, wrapping around me in the tight space.

"Four hours," I replied, forcing my tone to stay steady and professional despite the nervous fluttering erupting in my stomach. I clutched my portfolio a fraction tighter against my chest, treating it like a shield. "I drove here by myself."

Evander turned his head. His brow arched. "Alone?"

The single word dropped from his lips with a strange, heavy weight. The deep, probing tone of his voice made me physically pause. My worst mistake was daring to look up and meet his gaze directly. His piercing, ocean-blue eyes locked onto mine. The suffocating, magnetic intensity in his stare instantly snatched the breath straight from my lungs. The confined air grew dense. A hot flush crept up my neck, spreading across my cheeks, painting my golden-brown skin in a fiery hue.

Unable to withstand the sheer dominance rolling off him in waves, I quickly snapped my head away. I feigned deep interest in studying the glowing row of buttons on the panel.

"Yes," I managed to say, willing my heart to slow its frantic hammering against my ribs. "I grew up in Surulere. I am accustomed to doing most things alone these days."

Silence stretched between us. I could feel his gaze burning into the side of my face, analyzing my profile, dissecting my nervous energy. The tension thickened until the elevator finally chimed.

The doors glided open, and the atmosphere shifted the second we stepped out onto the twelfth floor. Evander took the lead. His long strides guided me down a massive, beautifully decorated hallway. The pristine marble gleamed under the soft recessed lighting. Tasteful modern art lined the walls, radiating quiet, old-money wealth. It made the thrifted fabric of my tank top feel glaringly obvious.

"All the firm's partners work exclusively on this specific floor," he explained casually, waving a hand toward the sprawling layout. "It makes things seamless for us."

As we walked, we passed a large, imposing conference room. Just across from it sat a modern lunchroom enclosed by sleek, floor-to-ceiling glass doors. The transparent walls showcased high-end espresso machines and minimalist seating.

"Javier and I are the lawyers here," Evander stated matter-of-factly. He came to an abrupt stop in front of two heavy, polished wooden doors. The brass plaques bore their respective names, both prominently followed by a specific suffix.

Evander Thorne, SJD.

Javier Mercer, SJD.

"SJD? That is impressive," I murmured aloud. I leaned in slightly, genuinely taken aback. I fully recognized the esteemed, difficult-to-obtain Doctor of Juridical Science degree. It was a rarity, a pinnacle of academic legal achievement that required years of grueling dedication.

Hearing my comment, Evander turned to me. A wide grin broke across his face. The sudden, boyish look shattered whatever strict, professional corporate character he had been flawlessly playing since he stepped off the elevator. It made him look younger, more approachable, and dangerously charming.

"Not many people know what those letters actually stand for," he said, his voice dropping a fraction. "I guess I should not be surprised that you do."

Blushing yet again under his targeted praise, I ducked my head. I silently followed him further down the hall, wondering what he meant by that. My heels clicked softly on the floors as we approached another set of impressive double doors.

"You can pick which side, but this section is reserved for the employee and company management team," he explained. He reached out and pushed open the left office door. The heavy oak swung back silently. "Whichever side you prefer out of the two will be yours."

My feet cemented to the floor. I froze in the doorway, my mind screeching to a sudden halt. My pulse pounded in my ears. I hadn't even been formally interviewed yet. I hadn't sat across a desk, hadn't defended my resume, hadn't answered a single technical question. Let alone been offered a position.

"I wasn't aware this role was for a partner position," I stammered, deeply confused. My grip on my portfolio turned white-knuckled.

Evander gently gestured with his hand for me to step inside the room. "It was not, really. We usually prefer to promote from within." He stepped past me, invading my personal space for a fleeting second. "However, when the Voss brothers looked over your resume, they were impressed with your academic accomplishments at such a young age. You were far too qualified for the simple secretary position."

He paused his explanation. His intense blue eyes slowly and deliberately roamed over the length of my body. The look was heavy, prolonged. It was a deeply assessing, hungry stare that stripped away the professional boundary in a heartbeat. No man had ever openly dared to look at me like that before, letting his gaze map the curve of my waist and the shape of my legs in my mother's vintage suit. A strange, liquid heat pooled in my stomach under the weight of his attention.

He blinked, the hungry edge vanishing back behind a mask of corporate control. "We do not have anyone serving as an acting partner in this role right now. It has been sitting vacant for three long months, and it is taking a toll on Derrick and Kaelen. We collectively decided we want to officially offer you the acting partner position on a temporary trial basis."

My mouth quite literally dropped open in pure shock. The words echoed in the sprawling room. Trial basis. Acting partner. After agonizing months of fruitlessly searching for even a basic, entry-level job to pay my mounting bills, I had just been handed my ultimate dream role on a silver platter. I had spent countless nights crying over rejection emails, wondering if my years of relentless studying had been a massive waste of time. Now, this man was standing in a multi-million-dollar suite, offering me the world.

Utterly stunned and speechless, I slowly stepped deeper inside the beautiful suite. My legs felt like jelly. I walked straight past the massive desk to the edge of the room. I pressed my trembling hands flat against the cold glass of the floor-to-ceiling windows. The sprawling city skyline spread out below me, an endless ocean of concrete and steel bathed in the midday sun. Tiny cars moved like ants far below.

I closed my eyes and took deep, shuddering breaths. I fought back the hot tears of overwhelming disbelief prickling at the corners of my eyes. I desperately did not want Evander to see me emotionally break down and cry. I needed to be the poised, educated woman he thought I was.

"You should really see the view at night. It is even more amazing," he murmured softly.

His deep voice sounded incredibly close. Right behind my shoulder.

I spun around, gasping. My body nearly flushed against his solid, broad chest. The crisp scent of bergamot and expensive cedarwood flooded my senses. I had to tilt my head back just to look at him, realizing just how tall and imposing he truly was up this close. The air crackled with raw, heavy electricity.

His dark gaze immediately flicked down. The blue of his eyes darkened, burning into my parted mouth. I felt the phantom touch of his stare on my lips. My chest heaved, my breath shallow and erratic. Time seemed to suspend as he studied my mouth, the hunger returning, bolder this time. Slowly, he dragged his gaze back up to lock onto my eyes.

The tension stretched, thick and unyielding, before he finally took a measured, deliberate step backward. He cleared his throat, adjusting the cuffs of his pristine suit jacket.

"Each individual office on this floor comes equipped with its own private bathroom and walk-in closet," he added, his voice regaining its smooth professional cadence.

Still reeling from the dizzying proximity and the life-altering job offer, I forced myself to move. I wandered around the massive space, needing a distraction from the lingering heat in my veins. The office was a masterpiece of corporate luxury. I trailed my fingertips across the perfectly positioned mahogany desk. It felt solid, expensive. Across the room sat a deeply comfortable leather couch, tucked neatly into a corner that offered a prime view of the skyline.

I spotted two matching doors near the couch. I walked over and pulled the first one open. I expected a cramped broom closet for a spare blazer or an umbrella. Instead, I found myself staring into a massive walk-in closet. It was easily the exact size of my entire cramped bedroom back in my tiny apartment. The shelving was pristine, waiting for rows of designer suits and heels.

Shaking my head in quiet disbelief, I opened the door on the left. The bathroom was gleaming. Polished marble countertops stretched across the wall. It featured a luxurious walk-in shower encased in spotless glass. Stacks of plush, hotel-style white robes hung neatly on the back of the door, alongside a linen closet stocked with thick towels.

I stared at the sheer opulence of it all. The financial security, the breathtaking view, the absurd amenities.

"Who needs an apartment when you can just live in the office?" I murmured.