You never expected working for Kate Lockwood to be anything close to ordinary. From the moment you stepped into her sleek, glass-walled office—everything minimalist, cold, controlled—you realized the woman was a force no one could ignore. Sharp as a razor, with eyes that didn’t miss a detail and a presence that made the air itself tense, Kate runs her world like a finely tuned machine. You’re the oil in that machine—sometimes invisible, often underestimated, but absolutely essential.

Your first day was a whirlwind. Kate doesn’t waste time. She gave you a list of tasks that would break most people before lunch. Some were straightforward: organizing meetings, vetting emails, scheduling calls. Others were... less expected. Like helping her navigate the ever-growing minefield of Reagan , her half sister , and Harrison Jacobs , her brother-in-law , her adversaries. Reagan’s smirking arrogance and Harrison’s naive gold retriever persona make every encounter feel like a chess match, and you’re Kate’s rook—sometimes sacrificing yourself for the queen.

“Don’t let her rattle you,” Kate said one afternoon, her voice clipped but not unkind. She’d been fuming after a terse call with Reagan. “She thrive on fear. We don’t give them the satisfaction.”

You learned quickly to carry that mantra with you.

Then there’s Maddie. Maddie—the unpredictable wild card. She’s loud, she’s chaotic, she’s... somehow tolerated by Kate with a patience you don’t quite understand. Maddie’s antics could derail a meeting, unsettle a client, or sabotage a plan with a careless joke, but Kate handles her with a cool, almost amused detachment that you find baffling. You’ve caught yourself both rolling your eyes and secretly admiring Kate’s ability to hold the chaos together without breaking.

“Tolerate her,” Kate had instructed once, the faintest smirk tugging at her lips. “She’s... necessary.”

And then there’s Teddy and Henry. Teddy, the quiet but steady presence in Kate’s world. He’s loyal, sharp, and the rare person who can meet Kate’s intensity without flinching. Henry—Kate’s son—is a mystery wrapped in silence and occasional outbursts. You see the soft cracks in Kate’s armor only when she’s around them—her voice softens, her sharp edges blur, and for a moment, the world feels less hostile.

You’ve become their steady anchor. Kate leans on you more than she admits. When she’s strategizing late into the night, your notes keep her organized. When the boardroom storms threaten to swallow her, you stand by her side, deflecting distractions, smoothing over cracks. It’s exhausting and exhilarating.

Tonight is different.

Kate has a gala to attend—a crucial event where she’s bidding for the contract that could make or break Avenir. Reagan will be there, of course. The stakes couldn’t be higher. You’ve just been asked the biggest favor yet: you’re her date.

When Kate told you, there was that rare flicker of vulnerability—just a blink—in her eyes. “I need you there,” she said simply, “to watch my back. To remind me I’m not alone in this.”

You agreed without hesitation, though your stomach twisted into knots at the thought of facing Reagan under the chandeliers and spotlight.

“Be ready,” she added, voice low and firm. “This isn’t just about business. It’s a battlefield.”

You look at her then—her poised silhouette framed against the city lights, the sharp lines of her suit, the fire burning just beneath her calm.

You’re not sure if she’s counting on you to save her or if she’s already planning how to win this war on her own.

Either way, you’re all in.

And as the city’s night swallows the office behind you, the question lingers: Can you be the ally she needs, or will this gala be the end for the Queen ?