Chapter 2 Iced and Acid

Elliot’s hurried steps and the frown on his face made it clear that today was not going to be a good day for anyone dealing with him.

Every person who passed him in the long hallway only offered a brief, polite greeting before quickly stepping aside.

No one wanted to be the target of the young CEO’s well-known temper. Even a simple "hello" felt risky on a morning like this.

Elliot, jaw clenched, tugged at his tie, loosening it just a bit.

The nightmare from last night still lingered in his mind, and it was enough to ruin his mood.

"What the hell is this!" Elliot muttered under his breath, opening his office door a little too forcefully.

He was hoping not to run into anyone, especially Audrey, the woman who had been on his mind more than he wanted.

When his eyes scanned the room, he breathed a sigh of relief. Audrey wasn’t there. At least he wouldn’t have to face her right now.

He quickly walked into his own office and shut the door behind him. Unfortunately, the peace didn’t last long.

"Good morning, Sir!" Her cheerful voice greeted him, and Elliot tensed immediately.

Audrey.

The bespectacled woman smiled at him, completely unaware of the storm brewing inside Elliot. He shot her a sour look in response.

Noticing how unfriendly he looked, Audrey took the initiative to offer something. "Would you like me to get you a drink? Maybe coffee?" she asked politely.

She was a little worried, noticing how disheveled Elliot seemed. If Elliot was off today, it was going to be a rough one for everyone he interacted with. And Audrey definitely didn’t want to be caught in that.

He didn’t answer, only gave a quiet snort as he removed his jacket and sank into his chair.

Elliot didn’t want to show any weakness, especially not in front of Audrey, who had been catching his attention a little too much lately.

"Aren’t we supposed to have a meeting soon? What are you doing here?" Elliot’s voice came out sharper than usual.

Audrey hesitated for a moment. "Oh, yes, Sir. I just wanted to drop off the meeting materials for you-"

"Just put it on the desk. Get the room ready!" Elliot snapped without looking up,  burying himself in his phone. He was trying hard to hide the frustration he felt inside.

Audrey, who was used to Elliot’s cold demeanor, simply nodded obediently. "Yes, Sir," she replied, leaving the room.

Once outside, just in front of Elliot’s office door, Audrey couldn’t help but grumble. "He’s going to be a nightmare if this keeps up!"

Liam, another one of Elliot’s assistants in the PR department, happened to pass by. "Hang in there, Audrey," he chuckled.

Audrey sighed, still fuming. "I regret agreeing to Mr. Ghaisan’s request to be his secretary here."

Liam laughed at her complaint. "Hey, that just means Mr. Ghaisan thinks you're tough enough to handle Mr. Elliot. Plus, didn’t the transfer come with a nice raise?"

"Ugh! Why did that information get out?" Audrey groaned, and Liam chuckled again.

"I feel like I’m talking to a wall, Liam. And not just any wall but one with level 30 spiciness! His mouth!" Audrey complained, making Liam laugh even harder.

Liam patted her shoulder gently, trying to comfort her as they both walked to their respective offices. "You know, Mr. Elliot's actually a good guy. He seems harsh and cold, but you can’t ignore what he’s accomplished."

Audrey nodded slowly, not able to argue. Even though she was often frustrated with Elliot’s tough attitude, she knew he was a hardworking and competent leader.

For six years, Audrey had worked at this company and witnessed firsthand how Elliot and Kent led with a firm hand, keeping the company at the top. His status as an heir didn’t make him lazy.

Indeed, behind that tough exterior, Audrey knew there was another side to Elliot. He rarely showed his human side, especially in personal matters, but his decisions were always on point and led to great results.

Still, a little part of her wanted to retort, 'Easy for you to say. You don't have to deal with his acidic glares every morning.'

"Hmm, maybe I should be more patient," Audrey muttered, smiling slightly at Liam’ advice.

"Exactly. And you know Mr. Elliot’s a perfectionist. When he’s angry, it’s because he wants everything to be perfect," Liam added, and Audrey could only nod in agreement.

Although difficult, Audrey knew that working under Elliot was pushing her to grow as a professional.

The atmosphere in the meeting room that morning was tense. Elliot sat at the head of the table, his face hard as he reviewed each report presented by the department managers.

His face was stiff, jaw clenched, and his eyes sharp as he tried to stay focused. But Elliot’s mind wasn’t fully there.

Every now and then, his gaze would drift to Audrey, sitting not far from him. She looked very serious, taking notes and following the meeting with full concentration.

For some reason, today, Elliot felt there was something different about Audrey. Her serious expression made her even more attractive to him.

He found himself observing every little movement she made, especially when her brow furrowed, signaling she was deep in thought.

Although Audrey wasn’t the "sexy" type like some of the other secretaries in the company, Elliot found himself drawn to her.

Her sharp mind, her seriousness in her work, and her ability to analyze situations was the qualities captivated him, even though he tried his hardest to deny it.

Elliot realized he had been zoning out for too long. He cursed himself silently, then quickly tried to refocus on the meeting.

At that moment, Mr. Harrison, the senior manager, was presenting his department’s weekly report. The report was supposed to provide a strategic view of the latest market developments.

But the longer Mr. Harrison spoke, the more Elliot’s brow furrowed. Something didn’t feel right about the data. His hand shot up, stopping the presentation mid-sentence.

"Mr. Harrison, I think there’s something wrong here," Elliot’s voice was calm but firm. He quickly scanned the papers in his hand before looking at the senior manager. "This data you’ve presented isn’t this last week’s data? Where’s the latest update from market research?"

All eyes turned to Mr. Harrison, who looked nervous and uneasy. "S-sorry, Mr. Elliot. We’re still waiting for the research team’s results, so we used last week’s data-"

"And you thought that was a good idea?" Elliot cut him off coldly, nearly slamming the papers down on the table. Mr. Harrison instantly fell silent, his nervousness growing.

"How can we make the right decisions if the data we’re using is outdated? This isn’t just about being late, it’s about our credibility with clients and the market! If you can’t make sure your reports are accurate, maybe it’s time to find another position!"