Hire Her!

Kellan Sterling refused to admit he had read Liana Monroe’s file. He maintained his stoic denial for days, brushing off any mention of the young woman to his staff. Yet, despite his silence, he meticulously scheduled a spontaneous career talk at Bryce University. He timed the visit to overlap perfectly with Liana’s morning class schedule.

An hour later, the lecture concluded. Kellan marched out of the campus auditorium, his tailored Italian suit cutting a sharp contrast against the sea of students in casual hoodies. He adjusted his cuffs, his dress shoes clicking against the polished floor.

Merrick Silva jogged a few steps behind him, clutching his briefcase. The assistant let out a relieved sigh, assuming they were heading back to Sterling Onyx Corporation. But as they navigated the sprawling corridors, Merrick noticed a glaring issue.

"Ah, Mr. Sterling?" Merrick pointed a finger over his shoulder, his brow furrowed in confusion. "I think the way to the main gate is that way."

Kellan ignored him. He kept his gaze locked dead ahead, veering left and walking deeper into the maze of the campus.

Merrick stood frozen for a few seconds, watching his boss march in the wrong direction. "Mr. Sterling! Where are we going?" he called out, hurrying to catch up. He dodged a group of chatting freshmen to reach Kellan’s side.

"Stop asking questions," Kellan snapped, his tone defensive and sharp. "I know a shortcut. Hurry up."

Merrick blinked, struggling to keep pace with Kellan's long strides. A shortcut? They were walking away from the parking lot. The modern glass walls of the engineering building faded, replaced by the older, brick-lined halls of a different faculty.

Merrick cleared his throat. "Sir. Did we just enter the liberal arts department?"

Kellan halted. The sudden stop nearly caused Merrick to crash into his broad back. Kellan turned, a muscle feathering in his jaw as he shot his assistant a withering glare.

"Did you study here, Merrick?" Kellan asked, his voice dripping with condescension.

"No, sir, but—"

"Then let me remind you that I spent six years at this very school. I know exactly where I am going." Kellan narrowed his eyes, challenging Merrick to say another word. "We are taking a shortcut."

He spun back around and resumed his brisk pace. Merrick clamped his mouth shut and followed, resigning himself to his boss's strange detour.

A minute later, Kellan's sharp strides ground to a halt. He sidestepped, pressing his shoulder against a large concrete column near an open courtyard. He angled his head, peering around the edge of the pillar like a hunter tracking his prey.

Merrick frowned, leaning over to see what had captured his boss's attention.

Exactly twenty feet away sat Liana Monroe.

She perched on a wooden bench, a thick textbook resting on her lap. She wore no makeup today. Her caramel hair tumbled down her shoulders in silky waves, framing a face that radiated simple beauty. She absentmindedly raked her fingers through her hair, flipping a page in her book.

But it wasn't the textbook that commanded Kellan's undivided focus.

Liana was sucking on a large, bright red lollipop.

Kellan stared, captivated. He watched her plump lips part and wrap around the candy. She pulled the lollipop out, her tongue darting forward to catch a sticky drop of sugar before sliding the red orb back into her mouth.

The bustling noise of the college corridor faded into silence. The world around Kellan slowed to an agonizing crawl. He swallowed hard, his throat going dry like sandpaper. His heart hammered against his ribs, a heavy, rhythmic thud echoing in his ears.

Then came the rush of blood.

Heat flared in his groin, swift and undeniable. His cock stiffened, surging to life with a fierce demand. Within seconds, a rock-hard erection grew thick and heavy, straining painfully against the zipper of his dress slacks. The intense physical reaction hit him like a freight train, dismissing any lingering doubts. What happened at the hotel was no fluke. One look at this girl, one glimpse of her lips wrapped around a piece of cheap candy, and his penis was throbbing, demanding immediate release. He wanted to march over there, pull that lollipop from her mouth, and replace it with himself.

Before he could lean closer, Liana glanced at her wristwatch.

Her eyes widened. She pulled the candy from her mouth, shoved her textbook into her canvas tote bag, and leaped off the bench. Oblivious to the billionaire stalking her from behind a pillar, she dashed up the nearest flight of stairs and disappeared from sight.

Kellan let out a ragged breath. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to command his rampant arousal to subside. His cock remained rigid and aching in his trousers. Realizing his obvious state, he quickly turned his body toward the cold concrete, angling his hips away from the open corridor to hide the massive bulge pitching his pants.

He glanced to his right.

Merrick was standing there, staring directly at him.

The assistant’s eyes dropped to Kellan’s crotch, then darted back up to Kellan’s face. Merrick didn't say a single word, but his deeply judgmental, knowing expression screamed: *So this is the shortcut?*

Kellan’s jaw tightened. He ignored the transparent look on his assistant's face.

"Hire her," Kellan barks out the order.

Merrick jumped, startled by the sudden command. "What? What do you mean, Mr. Sterling?"

Kellan pointed a rigid finger at Merrick’s chest. "Weren't you the one who suggested we hire her to manage the penthouse?"

Merrick stared at him in bewilderment. "I... I mean, I put her file on your desk—"

"Are you having amnesia now, Merrick?" Kellan stepped forward, using aggressive anger to mask the situation in his pants. He placed a hand on his hip, glaring down at the shorter man. "You suggested we hire her. Why else do you think we came to the university today? Make it happen before the week ends. I want her hired."

Merrick scrambled to nod. "Yes, sir! Right away!"

***

A full day passed.

Liana sat on the faded rug of her small apartment living room, her knees pulled tight to her chest. A crumpled piece of paper lay on the coffee table in front of her. The bold red letters at the top mocked her: EVICTION NOTICE.

She dragged a shaky hand through her caramel hair and pressed her cell phone to her ear. The line rang three times before dropping to voicemail.

"Hey, Sarah," Liana said, forcing a cheerful tone she didn't feel. "It's Liana. I was wondering if you had any extra shifts at the diner I could cover? Or, um, if you could maybe float me a small loan to cover my rent? I promise I'll pay you back on payday. Just let me know. Thanks."

She ended the call and tossed the phone onto the cushion. A heavy sigh escaped her lips. That was her fifth call today. None of her friends had the money to spare, and her landlord had made it clear: pay the overdue rent by the end of the week, or pack her bags.

Tears pricked the corners of her eyes. Between her brutal academic load and juggling part-time jobs that paid pennies, she was drowning.

The doorbell rang.

Liana jumped at the sound. She wiped her eyes quickly, took a deep breath to compose herself, and walked over to unlatch the door.

Mrs. Higgins, her elderly neighbor from down the hall, stood there holding a folded piece of paper. The old woman had a warm, wrinkled smile that usually made Liana feel a little better.

"Hi, Mrs. Higgins," Liana greeted, leaning against the doorframe.

"Hello, dear," the older woman said. She held out the printed flyer. "I know you've been hunting for a better job lately, juggling all those classes. I saw this and figured it might be worth a try."

Liana took the paper. It was printed on thick, expensive-looking cardstock. "What is it?"

"Just read it, dear."

Liana unfolded the flyer. She scanned the elegant text, reading the words aloud in the quiet hallway. "Wanted: Luxury Penthouse caretaker. Applicant must be female, single, aged 24-years-old, smart, and must at least have three and a half years in college."

Liana stopped reading. Her brow furrowed, a deep wave of suspicion washing over her. She reread the hyper-specific criteria. Female. Single. Twenty-four. Exactly three and a half years of college.

"Eh?" Liana looked up, narrowing her eyes at the paper. "Why does this sound so much like my exact life profile?"

Mrs. Higgins threw her head back and let out a hearty laugh. "I know, right! It’s a funny coincidence."

The old lady patted Liana’s arm, oblivious to the fact that the trap had been perfectly set by a billionaire CEO. She waved goodbye and shuffled back down the hall toward her own apartment.

Liana closed the door and leaned her back against the wood. She stared at the flyer again. The salary listed at the bottom was astronomical. It was enough to pay off her overdue rent, cover her tuition, and leave her with savings.

It was suspicious. It was weird.

But as her eyes drifted back to the red eviction notice sitting on her coffee table, desperation tightened its grip around her throat. She needed the money. She didn't have the luxury of questioning coincidences.