Sienna tensed up under his leering stare. Her fingers tightened slightly at her sides as she forced herself to walk to her seat beside Angie.

’Why is he here? Don’t look at him. Just sit down,’ Sienna said to herself, trying to stay calm as she sat down quietly, keeping her eyes on the table to avoid Benjamin’s gaze.

Several department heads were also in the room, and the atmosphere resembled a funeral.

Across the table, Riley and Mia noticed Sienna’s tense expression. Their faces subtly shifted with worry. Both knew that Benjamin Foster had less than proper feelings towards Sienna.

And then, Angie’s quiet cough broke the silence, easing the tension immediately.

"Alright...I see that everyone related to this meeting is here," she said professionally. "We can begin now." Her tone was steady, but Sienna knew that Angie was feeling awkward. Her eyes briefly flicked toward Sienna.

Sienna noticed and sighed inwardly.

’So it’s going to be like this again,’ Sienna silently complained.

Angie was upset that Benjamin Foster held no affection for her, but instead only had eyes for Sienna.

After a brief silence, Benjamin finally spoke, his voice was calm and controlled. The kind that made people sit up and listen without interruption.

"This year’s Sterling Capital Management Training will not proceed as originally planned. There is one major change."

"The CEO of Sterling Capital will attend personally."

A soft murmur spread across the room.

Even Sienna looked up slightly in surprise. ’The CEO will attend?’

In all her years of working at Sterling, she had never heard of the CEO actually attending the training from her older colleagues.

"This means there is no room for mistakes," Benjamin continued, "Sienna, you are the Front Office Manager..."

She straightened and looked him in the eyes, "Yes, sir."

"You will be directly responsible for guest coordination for this event and will also prepare the presidential room for Mr. Sterling during his stay at our hotel."

Sienna was caught off guard. That responsibility felt very important. Usually, Angie would handle this kind of task, but Benjamin had assigned it to her instead.

"Understood," she replied carefully. But, before she could say anything more—

Angie’s voice cut in. "I believe that role would be reassessed in a matter of days," she said sharply.

The room fell silent once more.

Sienna’s hands clenched under the table, but she said nothing, trying to keep her expression as calm as usual. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Angie continued, "Given the importance of this event, we should assign someone with more capacity and experience." Her words were polite, but the meaning was clear: she didn’t want Sienna to get the task.

Sienna remained silent. Riley frowned slightly while Mia’s eyes darted between them.

Benjamin, however, did not react immediately. Instead, he looked at Sienna, then back at Angie.

"Sienna has handled multiple high-profile reservations successfully," he said calmly.

Angie’s expression tightened almost imperceptibly.

"So, I’m confident she has what it takes." He added in his soft tone, only making Angie’s expression even grimmer.

Silence fell again. But this time, it was heavier.

Sienna lowered her gaze again, her thoughts racing. ’Damn it, Benjamin Foster! You’re not helping me at all! You’re just making me a bigger target for Angie!’

At this moment, she could feel like every pair of eyes in the room was on her.

The meeting continued, but Sienna barely heard the details. She only knew that her new assignment to take care of the CEO of Sterling Capital was already settled.

Still, Sienna felt uncomfortable. She could feel the contrasting emotions from both sides.

On one side was Benjamin’s unwavering, attentive affection, while the other side was Angie’s sharp, cold anger.

She could only sigh and try to ignore the negative thoughts as she focused on the important task for the event.

Finally, the meeting was over.

Just as Sienna was beginning to get up, Benjamin Foster’s gaze landed directly on her.

Sienna’s heart tightened as she looked at him.

"I’d like to speak with Sienna privately. The rest of you are dismissed. Leave the meeting room at once."

Angie’s expression turned completely cold. Riley stiffened. Mia’s eyes widened slightly.

And Sienna. She could only sit there, her mind going blank. Because she knew, this meeting was no longer just about work.

...

The meeting room gradually emptied as each person quietly slipped out, their footsteps and voices fading behind the closed door.

Sienna remained seated. The room became silent. The kind of silence that made every small movement feel louder than it should be.

She didn’t move, her hands resting lightly on her lap. At the same time, her thoughts were still caught somewhere between the meeting and what had just been said at the end of it.

"Sienna..."

Benjamin’s voice instantly made her tense up.

Sienna turned toward him and saw him still sitting in his chair, his posture relaxed and his expression calm, as if the weight he carried during the meeting had been lifted the moment everyone else left. Suddenly, his aura felt less official and distant, and more approachable.

But Sienna was still wary when it came to him.

"Yes, sir?" she asked, her voice careful.

Benjamin stared at her for a moment, his gaze lingering as if he could pry the truth straight out of her expression. He needed to be certain that she had no connection to the CEO of Sterling Capital. Only then could he safely give her the chance to handle a VIP guest.

But suddenly, an unwelcome thought struck him: ’What if Zachary Sterling becomes interested in her?’

His jaw tightened.

’No. That’s impossible.’ He almost scoffed at himself. ’A man like that wouldn’t look twice at her... would he? Besides, I heard he already has a son. And if there’s a son, there is surely a wife.’

Still, the doubt lingered in his mind.

Benjamin forced the thought aside and fixed his attention back on Sienna.

"Do you know the CEO of Sterling Capital?" he asked.

His question caught her off guard. Sienna slowly shook her head.

"No, sir. I’ve only read about Mr. Zachary Sterling on the internet," she answered honestly. "But, I’ve never met him in person."

She had seen articles, headlines, and business reports about the Sterling Group. Names, achievements, influence—those were things she knew. But the CEO of Sterling Capital himself? He was more like a shadow in those stories, someone rarely seen, someone who didn’t step into the public eye often.

Benjamin nodded, as if that answer alleviated his worry.

Sienna saw a flicker of relief in his eyes, which confused her more. Before she could ask, Benjamin pushed his chair back and stood up.

He began walking toward her.

Instantly, Sienna stood as well, her back straight, her hands falling naturally at her sides.

He stopped just a step away from her. The distance between them made her uncomfortable.

Benjamin smiled. It was the same warm, controlled smile he always wore. The kind that made people trust him, admire him, and feel at ease around him.

But Sienna didn’t feel at ease. Not at all.

"Alright," he said gently. "This is a big assignment for you." His gaze held hers, steady and unhurried. "Don’t disappoint me."

"Yes, sir. I will do my best," Sienna replied. Her voice was calm and measured, purposely sounding like a professional employee. But something inside her tightened.

Then, without warning, Benjamin lifted his hand and placed it on her shoulder.

Sienna froze. His touch was light. Almost casual. But it didn’t feel that way to her. It felt deliberate.

Her fingers slowly curled against her palm as she forced herself to stay still, to not react, to not slap him in the face.

’Stay calm, Sienna. This man is your big boss.’ She tries to calm herself.

Benjamin leaned in slightly. Not enough to draw attention. But enough for Sienna to instinctively shift her head away, just a fraction, as if her body reacted before her mind could stop it.

He noticed.

Instead of stepping back, he smiled and said, "I trust you, Sienna... You will shine in this project. This is another chance I give you."

"Thank you, sir..." she answered, her gaze lowering for a moment.

From this distance, Benjamin Foster appeared more defined. The sharp features, neat appearance, and quiet confidence that came so naturally to him.

As the General Manager of a five-star hotel, he was still young, only in his mid-thirties. Successful, respected, and handsome, he was the kind of man many women would automatically admire for his looks alone.

But Sienna felt none of that. Because she knew something that mattered more. He was married.

That fact alone was enough for her to draw a clear line in her mind, no matter how much and how many times he tried to blur it.

Benjamin’s smile deepened slightly, as if he enjoyed the quiet tension between them.

"Sienna," he said softly, "do you have time to have dinner with me tonight?"