2. Shiloh

Chapter two

Shiloh

There's a chill in the lobby that has nothing to do with the air conditioning.

I'm sitting on one of those modern couches that look way more comfortable than they are, scrolling mindlessly through my phone, waiting for Jackie Wyndham to fetch me.

It's my first day as an attorney’s personal assistant—not a job I ever wanted, but the one I ended up with.

Yeah… life isn’t exactly going according to plan.

My thumb hovers over the screen, ready to lock it and shove it into my purse when it buzzes. Chris's name flashes across the top, and I can't help the way my stomach drops. I open the message, only to see yet another incredibly cruel screed from my toxic ex.

Shiloh, we need to talk about your stuff. You can't keep crashing in my space. Why don't you just go back to your parent's place?

I exhale slowly, a bitter laugh stuck in my throat. As if moving back in with my folks is so simple, as if I haven't crunched the numbers a hundred times and come up short. Four younger siblings and a mountain of student loan debt don't exactly scream 'move back home.'

Which is why I am now said toxic ex’s roommate.

Not great.

"Shiloh?" A voice slices through my spiraling thoughts.

I look up to see Jackie Wyndham approaching me with a friendly smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes. She seems to be in her late thirties, poised and professional in a crisp blazer that probably costs more than my entire wardrobe.

She’s the one who hired me and who will be my direct supervisor, and she seems nice enough, especially compared to the lawyers here.

"Hi," I say, slipping my phone into my purse and standing up with a smile. "Thank you so much for the opportunity.”

"I’m sure you’ll be great. Ready to start your day?" Jackie extends her hand, and I shake it, feeling the firmness of her grip.

"Absolutely," I reply.

"Great. Let's walk and talk." Jackie gestures toward the hallway leading to the inner offices. "As Mr. Nolan's personal assistant, your primary responsibilities will include managing his schedule, fielding calls, and handling correspondences. He's particular about how things are done, so I'll give you a rundown of his preferences."

‘Particular’ sounds like a polite euphemism for ‘pain in the ass.’ But I nod, willing myself to stay focused on what she's saying rather than the knot of anxiety Chris's message has left in my chest.

"Additionally, you'll be organizing travel arrangements, preparing meeting materials, and ensuring confidentiality at all times," Jackie continues as we navigate through the maze of cubicles and sleek glass offices. "Mr. Nolan values discretion above all else."

"Understood," I say.

Discretion I can do—keeping secrets is practically my middle name after months of pretending everything's fine while my relationship with Chris imploded.

We stop outside an imposing door with 'Liam Nolan' etched on the frosted glass. My pulse quickens; it's one thing to hear about your new boss and another to meet him.

And that name… it can’t be Chris’s brother—this guy’s last name isn’t Walton, after all—but I’ve never forgotten about a certain Liam who kissed me silly one night two years ago.

"Any questions before we go in?" Jackie asks.

"Uh, nope. All good," I stammer, trying to sound more confident than I feel. Jackie gives me a reassuring smile.

"Great. You'll do fine, Shiloh." She pauses, and her expression turns a notch serious. "Just one last thing you should know—Mr. Nolan, he can be… well, a bit of an asshole sometimes. But don't take his comments personally. Once you get to know him, he's not all bad."

I blink, taken aback by the blunt description.

"Good to know," I reply, a nervous chuckle escaping my lips.

Asshole bosses are a dime a dozen, right? And after dealing with Chris’s moods, I’m pretty sure I can handle a corporate ego.

"Most of the time, he's just intensely focused on his work. His commitment can come off… wrong." Jackie’s eyes soften. “But I’ve worked for him long enough to see the man behind the facade.”

"Thanks for the heads-up," I say, grateful for her candor. Jackie nods and reaches for the door handle.

"Are you ready?" she asks.

"Ready as I'll ever be," I respond, drawing in a deep breath.

Time to meet the infamous Mr. Nolan.

Jackie gives the door a soft knock before pushing it open, and I step into the sprawling office behind her. The room is all sleek lines and cool tones, a testament to power and prestige.

My eyes are immediately drawn to the floor-to-ceiling windows that reveal a breathtaking view of the city sprawled below us.

"Mr. Nolan, your new personal assistant is here," Jackie announces with a professional lilt to her voice.

The man at the desk doesn’t turn around. He's silhouetted against the morning light, his posture straight, exuding an air of command even in stillness. My pulse quickens—not from fear of meeting my new boss, but from something else, a familiarity that doesn't make sense.

This is just a job, I remind myself. Just a boss. Nothing I can't handle.

But then he turns around.

Recognition slams into me with the force of a speeding train. It's Liam—Liam Nolan, the man who I never expected to see again, let alone sit across from as my employer. His eyes, the same shade that once mirrored the winter sky on that snowy night, lock onto mine.

He doesn’t say a word, staring at me like I’m the ghost of Christmas past… and I know in that moment that I’m going to have to quit.

Because Liam— that Liam —cannot be my boss.