Marvis's POV
The door behind creaked open as I stepped into the lobby. Tall girl. Nervous little bit shaky hands. But her eyes sharp. Alert. Like someone used to watch her back.
Interesting.
She stood as I approached clearly trying to mask how tense she was. I could practically smell the uncertainty rolling off her and yet she did not flinch when I looked straight in her eyes. For a second, the room went still. I wasn't intimidation. It was curiosity.
"Melody Quinn?" I asked keeping my voice measured.
She nodded, quick but steady "Yes sir"
I did not waste time "Follow me"
She obeyed. Smart girl.
She followed me in silence. That was a good start. No nosy questions, no causal chatter. Just quiet footstep behind mine. That meant she knew it wasn't an ordinary office. I liked that. I led her into my office and sat down motioning the chair behind me. She sat quickly but straightened now. Trying to look composed. Controlled. But I could see through it.
She was desperate.
The uncertain look people wear when they have run out of options. She wore it plainly but underneath? There was something else there too.
Fire.
"I'm Marvis Harper" I said knowing full well the name would mean nothing to her. She didn't react just waited. Damn.
"I'll be straight here. This job is not what it looks like. It is not glam. It is not sure. And also not for the faint hearted."
She tilted her head slightly "Then what is it?"
Don't know she is either brave or stupid. Other women would be shaken right now. But she. She is different.
"It is loyalty. It is silence. It's something that would make your legs weak and still waking up like nothing happened".
Then gave her pause.
I opened a drawer and pulled out a sealed brown folder. It held just enough information to scare off the weak but enough to expose what I really did. Not yet.
"I don't hire based on charm on GPA", I said, setting the folder down in front of her "I hire based on instincts. And right now, mine you're either exactly what I need...or a disaster waiting to happen."
She didn't reached for the folder yet. Just looked at me like she was reading something behind my eyes.