Cold Billionaire CEO

I finally made it home, dragging my tired body inside. The warm scent of baked bread filled the air, and I could hear my mom humming in the kitchen. My little brother, Liam, sat on the couch, eyes glued to the TV.

"Jess! You're back!" he cheered, barely looking away from the screen.

I sighed, dropping my bag onto the nearest chair. "Yeah… back from what might be the biggest mistake of my life."

Mom peeked her head out from the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. "How did the interview go, sweetheart?"

I opened my mouth, but before I could speak, my phone buzzed. I glanced at the screen.

MECH Corporation – Interview Results.

My heart stopped.

No. No way.

With shaking hands, I tapped the notification and scanned the email.

Congratulations, Ms. Jessica Lane. You have been selected as the Second Assistant to the CEO of MECH Corporation.

The phone almost slipped from my grasp.

"No. No, no, no!"

Mom and Liam turned to me. "Jessica, what's wrong?"

I ignored them, fumbling to call Anna. The second she picked up, I didn't even let her say hello.

"Anna, I think I just ruined my life."

"Oh, finally. What did you do this time?" she teased.

"I got hired."

Silence.

"Wait… what?"

I gulped. "They hired me. But not for the graphic design job. Anna, I applied for something else without knowing. I'm going to be the second assistant to Jason—THE CEO!"

A long pause. Then—

"OH MY GOD!" Anna screeched so loud, I had to pull the phone away from my ear.

"Anna, this is bad!"

"Bad?! Girl, you just landed a job working under a billionaire! Do you know how lucky you are?!"

I groaned, flopping onto the couch. "Anna, you don't get it. This isn't just any CEO. It's him. Jason MECH. The cold, intimidating, insanely hot billionaire!"

Anna gasped dramatically. "So you're telling me… you'll be working this close to Korea's most powerful CEO? The man everyone drools over? The walking, talking, suit-wearing fantasy?"

"Yes!" I covered my face with a pillow. "I can't do this! He'll probably fire me on my first day!"

Anna laughed. "Oh, Jess, you are so doomed."

I groaned. "How am I supposed to work when I can barely breathe around attractive men?!"

"Easy. Just don't pass out in front of him."

I glared at my phone. "Not helping, Anna."

She giggled. "Okay, okay, listen. Just go to work, be professional, and try not to drool over your boss. Simple."

I sighed, staring at the email again. Monday. That's when my new nightmare started.

And for the first time in my life, I truly felt like I had no idea what I was walking into.

I sighed and ended the call with Anna, tossing my phone onto the couch. My heart was still racing.

"Second assistant to the CEO…" I muttered under my breath, rubbing my temples. How did I manage to screw up this badly?

Mom sat beside me, placing a comforting hand on my back. "Sweetheart, what's wrong? You're acting like you just got sentenced to prison."

I groaned, leaning against her. "Because it feels like I did."

Liam, who had been too busy with his TV show, finally turned to me. "Wait. You got a job?"

I sighed. "Yeah, but not the one I applied for. I was supposed to interview for a graphic design position, but I ended up at the wrong floor… and now I'm Jason MECH's second assistant."

Liam's eyes widened. "No. Way. The Jason MECH? The billionaire? The guy who owns, like, half the country?"

I nodded miserably.

He burst into laughter. "You're so doomed."

Mom swatted him. "Liam! That's not helping!"

I sighed, hugging her tighter. "Mom, what if I mess up? This guy is known for being ruthless. And cold. And—and intimidating."

She brushed my hair back, smiling. "Then you'll do what you always do, Jessica. You'll figure it out."

I frowned. "That's the problem. I have no idea how to figure this out."

Mom kissed my forehead. "Sweetheart, everything happens for a reason. Maybe this job is exactly what you need."

I highly doubted that.

Liam smirked. "I bet he's hot, though."

I grabbed a pillow and smacked him with it.

Standing in front of the towering MECH headquarters, I took a deep breath.

"You can do this. You have to do this."

I adjusted my blazer and stepped inside, the cool air-conditioning hitting me instantly. The lobby was grand—marble floors, high ceilings, expensive-looking chandeliers.

I swallowed hard. I don't belong here.

But before I could turn around and make a run for it, a familiar voice called out.

"Jessica?"

I spun around to see Mike—the assistant from my interview—standing near the front desk, clipboard in hand.

He raised an eyebrow. "You're on time. That's a good start."

I forced a smile. "I try my best."

He nodded, glancing at his watch. "Follow me. Mr. Jason doesn't like to wait."

My stomach dropped.

This was it. My first day working under him.

And I had a feeling it was going to be a disaster.

I followed Mike down the long hallway, my heels clicking against the pristine marble floor. My heart pounded harder with every step. The deeper we went into the building, the quieter it became. It was almost too quiet.

Mike stopped in front of a sleek black door and turned to me. "This is Mr. Jason's office. Take a deep breath before you go in."

I frowned. "Why? Is he going to eat me alive?"

Mike smirked. "No, but he might freeze you to death."

Great. Just great.

He knocked once before pushing the door open, and suddenly, I felt like I had stepped into another world.

The office was massive. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the city skyline, and the sleek black and gray decor screamed power. But none of that caught my attention.

It was him.

Jason sat behind his grand desk, flipping through documents as if the world outside didn't exist. He wore a crisp black suit that hugged his broad shoulders perfectly. His sleeves were rolled up slightly, revealing his expensive watch and toned forearms.

Holy hell.

He looked up, his piercing gray eyes meeting mine. My breath hitched. Up close, he was even more devastatingly handsome than I remembered. Sharp jawline. Perfectly styled hair. And a gaze so cold it could turn the entire building into an ice palace.

He didn't say a word. Just stared.

Was this some kind of intimidation tactic?

Mike cleared his throat. "Mr. Jason, this is your new second assistant, Jessica."

Jason leaned back in his chair, still silent. The tension in the room thickened.

I straightened my shoulders and forced a smile. "Good morning, Mr. Jason. It's a pleasure to—"

"You're late."

His voice was deep, smooth, and completely emotionless.

I blinked. "W-what? No, I'm actually—" I glanced at my watch. It was exactly 8:00 AM. "I'm on time."

He raised an eyebrow. "On time means early. Early means prepared. You arrived exactly at eight. Which means you're late."

Oh, for the love of—

I clenched my fists but forced another smile. "I'll… keep that in mind, sir."

He nodded. "Good. You can start by bringing me coffee. Black. No sugar."

I bit my tongue to keep from snapping at him. My first task, and I was already reduced to a coffee girl? Fine.

"Of course, Mr. Jason. Anything else?"

His gaze didn't waver. "Yes. Don't mess up."

With that, he returned to his documents, completely dismissing me.

Mike gave me a look that screamed just go with it before nudging me toward the door.

As I stepped out, I let out a deep breath.

This is going to be a long, long job.