The elevator doors closed with a soft metallic sound.
Elena Carter stood silently inside, holding the files tightly against her chest.
Her heart was still beating faster than usual.
She had only joined Voss Global a few hours ago, yet she had already spoken directly to the most feared CEO in the corporate world.
Adrian Voss.
Just remembering his calm but sharp eyes made her feel slightly uneasy.
Everyone in the company talked about him like he was some kind of legend.
Or a monster.
No one dared to challenge him.
Yet somehow… she had done exactly that.
The elevator reached the 32nd floor.
When the doors opened, the busy sounds of the strategy department filled the air.
Employees were typing quickly on computers, discussing reports, and walking between desks.
The moment Elena stepped out, several coworkers looked at her with curiosity.
One woman quickly walked toward her.
She looked friendly but slightly nervous.
"You went to the CEO's office?" she asked quietly.
Elena nodded.
"Yes."
The woman's eyes widened.
"And you're still alive?"
Elena blinked in confusion.
"What?"
The woman lowered her voice.
"People usually get fired after making mistakes in front of him."
Elena thought for a moment.
Then she remembered dropping the documents.
"Oh."
The woman leaned closer.
"So what happened?"
Elena hesitated.
"I… told him there was a mistake in the report."
The woman nearly dropped the coffee cup in her hand.
"You WHAT?"
Several nearby employees suddenly looked in their direction.
The woman quickly whispered again.
"You told Adrian Voss that his report was wrong?"
Elena shrugged slightly.
"It was wrong."
The woman stared at her like she was seeing a strange creature.
"You must be very brave."
Or very crazy.
Before Elena could respond, another employee suddenly rushed toward them.
His expression looked serious.
"Elena Carter?"
"Yes?"
"The CEO's office just called."
The entire department suddenly went quiet.
Everyone stopped working.
The woman beside Elena whispered dramatically.
"You're dead."
Elena frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"No one gets called to the CEO's office twice in one day."
The employee pointed toward the elevator.
"You should go."
Elena took a slow breath.
Something felt strange.
Why would Adrian Voss call her again?
She stepped back into the elevator.
As the doors closed, the entire department exploded into whispers.
"What did she do?"
"Did she insult him?"
"Maybe she leaked company secrets."
Meanwhile, Elena stood silently in the elevator as it moved upward.
Her mind was busy analyzing the situation.
Adrian Voss didn't seem like the type of person who wasted time.
If he called her again…
There had to be a reason.
On the 78th floor, the atmosphere was completely different.
Quiet.
Cold.
Powerful.
The receptionist outside the CEO's office looked at Elena carefully.
"The CEO is waiting."
Elena nodded and knocked on the large black door.
"Come in."
She entered the office again.
Adrian Voss was standing near the window, his back facing her.
The rain outside had become lighter, but dark clouds still covered the sky.
"You called me, sir?" Elena asked politely.
Adrian slowly turned around.
His sharp gaze focused directly on her.
"Yes."
He walked back to his desk.
Then he pressed a button on a tablet.
A large digital screen behind him suddenly turned on.
Graphs, stock prices, and company data appeared.
Adrian pointed at the screen.
"Explain."
Elena stepped closer.
She quickly understood.
It was the same report she had mentioned earlier.
She studied the numbers for a moment.
Then she spoke.
"The prediction assumes the competitor's investors will panic."
Adrian crossed his arms.
"And?"
"They won't."
"Why?"
Elena looked directly at the screen.
"Because someone is secretly stabilizing their stock."
Adrian's expression remained calm.
But inside, he was analyzing her carefully.
Most analysts needed hours to reach that conclusion.
She saw it in seconds.
Interesting.
Elena continued.
"If someone powerful is supporting them, the acquisition strategy will fail."
Adrian tapped his fingers slowly on the desk.
"Then what would you do?"
Elena hesitated.
Giving advice to the CEO on her first day felt risky.
But he was waiting.
"If it were me…"
She paused.
"I would find the hidden investor."
Adrian raised an eyebrow.
"And destroy them first."
Silence filled the room again.
The assistant standing near the wall looked shocked.
But Adrian smiled slightly.
That answer sounded very familiar.
Very familiar.
"Good," he said calmly.
Elena blinked.
"Sir?"
Adrian walked back to his chair.
"I want you on the investigation team."
The assistant immediately spoke.
"Sir, she just joined today."
Adrian didn't even look at him.
"Exactly."
Then he looked at Elena again.
"Fresh eyes are useful."
Elena felt a strange mix of excitement and pressure.
"Understood."
Adrian leaned back slightly.
But suddenly, his phone buzzed again.
The same unknown number.
A new message appeared.
"You're already too late."
Adrian opened it.
Another message followed immediately.
"The game has started."
For a brief moment, Adrian's expression became darker.
Someone was clearly playing with him.
And that was dangerous.
Very dangerous.
He slowly looked up at Elena.
For some reason…
The message about protecting the girl echoed again in his mind.
Adrian didn't believe in coincidences.
Which meant one thing.
Elena Carter had somehow become part of a much bigger game.
And neither of them fully understood it yet.
Adrian placed his phone down.
Then he said something unexpected.
"Miss Carter."
"Yes?"
"From now on…"
His voice was calm but serious.
"You will work directly under me."
The assistant almost choked.
No junior analyst had ever received such treatment before.
Elena felt the pressure of his gaze again.
Working directly under the most dangerous CEO in the city?
This was either a huge opportunity.
Or a very dangerous mistake.
Outside, the storm clouds continued
gathering over the city.
And somewhere in the darkness…
Someone was watching.
Smiling.
Because the game had finally begun.
Why he got the message that he should protect the girl