Chapter 1: Working for me will be way better than whatever you were doing before

Mia's POV

Okay, Mia. Deep breath. Dad's new driver should be here any minute. Just try not to embarrass yourself tonight at the mixer. These people already think you're some Texas hick who doesn't know designer fashion from discount brands. Which, let's be honest, you kind of don't. But that's beside the point.

I pull out my phone for the third time in five minutes. 6:47 PM. My right hand tugs at the hem of this dress. Borrowed from a coworker who swore it was "designer" but honestly, I can't tell the difference. The heels I'm wearing click against the pavement as I pace back and forth across the parking lot. I bite my lower lip.

6:47. Great. Just great. Late to the one event where I actually have a chance to prove I belong in this world.

The Palo Alto tech campus parking lot stretches out around me, mostly empty except for a few luxury cars scattered here and there. The glass building nearby catches the evening sun. Dad's been so excited about tonight. Ever since he made it big with that crypto investment, he's been trying so hard to fit in with these Bay Area people. And they look at us like we're some kind of circus act. The oil rigger from Texas who got lucky. His daughter who says "y'all" when she's nervous.

That's when I see him.

Tall, maybe six-two, standing next to a sleek black electric car. Charcoal cashmere sweater, dark jeans that fit him way too well. Broad shoulders, the kind that make you think he works out, but not in that gym-bro way. More like elegant strength.

And his face. God, his face. Sharp jawline, messy light brown hair, and these blue-grey eyes that even from this distance look exhausted.

Stupidly handsome. Illegally handsome.

But what catches my attention isn't his looks. It's the woman practically cornering him against the car.

I narrow my eyes. Something feels off. My hand tightens around my phone.

The woman is maybe forty, wearing a sharp power suit, holding a stack of papers that she's practically shoving in his face. Her voice carries across the parking lot, urgent and frustrated.

The man looks exhausted, trying to back away but he's already pressed against the car door. Dad's new driver, probably.

"Mr. Sterling, your mother called three times today. She says if you don't attend the dinner tonight, she'll personally come to your office tomorrow and..."

"Caroline, I've told you..."

"I know, I know, but she's very insistent. She's already sent me profiles of five different women who'll be there. Look, this one went to some fancy college, this one's father owns half the county, and this one..."

This is so inappropriate. Is she his boss? Some kind of crazy ex? Wait, he looks uncomfortable. Really uncomfortable.

I don't even think. My feet are moving before my brain catches up, heels clicking rapidly against the pavement as I march over. I don't even register the "Mr. Sterling" thing she said. All I see is someone who needs help.

"Hey! Leave him alone!"

Both of them turn to stare at me. The woman's mouth falls open. Those blue-grey eyes meet mine, and there's a flash of something. Amusement?

I plant myself between them, blocking her view of him.

"Ma'am, I don't know what you're selling, but he's clearly not interested. Please leave, or I'll call security."

The woman looks at him, utterly shocked. "Sir, I..."

I stand my ground, hands on my hips, giving her my fiercest glare. My heart is pounding but I'm not backing down.

"Are you okay? Is she bothering you?"

I turn to face him properly for the first time. Oh God. He's even more handsome up close. Those eyes like a stormy ocean. And he smells good. Really good. Like expensive cologne and cashmere.

Wait. Focus, Mia.

"You must be my dad's new driver, right? Jack Parker's driver?"

He blinks, those blue-grey eyes flickering with something I can't quite read. A slow smile tugs at the corner of his mouth.

"Your father's driver?"

"Yeah! I'm so sorry you had to deal with that. These salespeople can be so pushy around here. Listen, I know my dad probably isn't paying you enough. He's generous but, you know, still learning how things work in the Bay Area. He's from Texas, so..."

He glances at the woman with the smallest look. She opens her mouth, clearly wanting to say something, but then snaps it shut when she sees his expression.

My brain is racing. Here's this guy, clearly stressed out, being harassed by some aggressive woman, and he probably needs a better job anyway. Dad always says to help good people when you can.

"Look, here's the deal. How about you work for me instead? I'll pay you $200,000 a year. That's way above market rate for a driver, right?"

I bite my lower lip, my hands clenching and unclenching at my sides. I'm trying to look confident even though my internal voice is screaming oh my God Mia what are you doing.

His eyebrow lifts slightly, that hint of a smile still playing at his lips. "$200,000? That's quite generous."

"You'll have to deal with my crazy schedule, drive me to all these pretentious social events, and pretend you don't hear all my embarrassing phone calls. Trust me, you'll earn every penny. But you seem like a decent guy who deserves better than whatever situation you're in right now."

My Texas accent is slipping out a little in my nervousness. God, I sound like an idiot. $200,000. That's basically all my savings plus what I can scrape together from my salary this year. But he looks so defeated. And Dad always says to help good people when you can.

"Sir, you can't possibly..." Caroline finally breaks.

"Caroline, clear my schedule for the next three months. I'm taking a sabbatical."

His voice changes completely. Cold. Commanding. It sends a shiver down my spine.

Her shock is written all over her face. "Sir, you can't just... the board meeting, the investor calls, the..."

"That's an order."

Why is he calling her by her first name? And why does he sound so authoritative? Maybe he's actually her boss? No, that doesn't make sense. Salespeople can be aggressive, right?

He turns back to me, and that devastating smile returns. "Deal. When do I start?"

I almost jump up and down. "Right now! I need to get to this event in thirty minutes. Can you drive?"

"I think I can manage."

He moves toward the driver's seat with this fluid grace that seems completely natural. Behind him, Caroline looks like she's witnessing the end of the world, clutching those papers like they've personally insulted her. But she nods slightly when he glances her way again.

I yank open the back door, toss my small purse onto the seat, and slide in. The leather is soft and cool. This is really happening. I just hired someone. Me. Mia Parker, who still shops at discount stores and can barely afford this city.

"Oh my God, this is great! By the way, I'm Mia. Mia Parker. What's your name?"

He starts the car with practiced ease, like he's done this a thousand times. "Alex. Just Alex."

Wow, he's really good at driving this car. Like, really smooth. Maybe he's been driving luxury cars for a while? But wait, didn't he need a job? How does he afford... never mind. Not my business.

I lean forward, draping my arms over the back of the front seat. "So, Alex, how long have you been driving? You seem really comfortable with this car."

"A few years."

I frown. "Did you lease it? Or oh God, please tell me you didn't take out a crazy loan for it. I mean, it's nice and all, but these cars depreciate like crazy. You could've gotten something way more practical for half the price."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"I'm serious! You should save your money. I know the Bay Area makes people feel like they need to look rich, but honestly? Nobody cares. Well, some people care, but they're assholes. Like the women at tonight's event. They're going to judge me for my shoes. These are from a discount store, by the way, not whatever fancy Italian brand they wear. But you know what? Screw them."

In the rearview mirror, I catch his glance. He looks amused. There's something warm in those eyes now, something that wasn't there before.

"Don't worry, Alex. Working for me will be way better than whatever you were doing before. I promise. I'm not going to be one of those crazy bosses. Well, I might be a little crazy, but in a good way. And I'll make sure you get benefits. Do you need health insurance? I can figure that out."

"I appreciate the concern, Mia. I'll be sure to budget carefully."

After a moment of silence, he asks, "What's this event tonight?"

I sigh, slumping back against the seat. "The mixer. It's this networking thing for tech industry people. My dad's company is trying to get partnership deals with some of the big firms. I'm supposed to smile and not say anything stupid, I guess."

"I'm sure you'll do fine."

I laugh, but it comes out bitter. "You haven't seen me at these things. Last time, I accidentally called someone's designer bag a 'fancy purse' and got laughed at for ten minutes straight."

As they drive through the twilight streets of Palo Alto, past buildings that house empires he's helped build or compete with, Alex makes a decision that will change both their lives.

He's going to enjoy this. For as long as it lasts.

This girl, Mia Parker, with her borrowed dress and discount shoes and genuine kindness, has just offered him something he's been searching for his entire life. The chance to be seen as just Alex. Not a Sterling. Not a billionaire. Not a CEO. Just a person.

And if she wants to "save" him by paying him $200,000 a year to be her driver?

Well. He's driven worse bargains.

"Don't worry, Mia. I have a feeling this arrangement is going to work out very well for both of us."

"Right? I knew this was a good idea!"

In the rearview mirror, their eyes meet for a brief second. Hers, bright with excitement and relief. His, dark with secrets and something that looks almost like hope.

Behind them, the parking lot fades into the distance. Caroline stands there, phone in hand, probably already drafting the memo that will make the company's entire executive suite wonder if their CEO has finally lost his mind.

He probably has.