Sitting back in his chair, Alex dragged a hand down his face, his expression tightening as though he could wipe away the exhaustion clinging to him.

For the past week, he’d been drowning in the search for a new Chief Financial Officer—a task that had proven far more infuriating than anticipated. After his previous CFO retired, Alex had expected the transition to be seamless. Instead, every candidate brought fresh disappointment. If their credentials seemed promising, a red flag in their background or a slip-up during the interview would rear its head, as if taunting him for hoping otherwise.

And that wasn’t even the worst of it. Madeline had been on his case again, pestering him to take her out on another date. The heiress was beautiful, rich, and insufferable. She grated on his nerves more than he cared to admit, but the fleeting distraction she offered kept him from cutting her off entirely. Still, their arrangement was beginning to feel more trouble than it was worth.

Then there was his uncle. The man had a knack for pushing Alex’s buttons, sending a barrage of pointed reminders about the importance of managing the company’s finances and staff with precision. Each word dripped with veiled criticism, alluding to Alex’s supposed inadequacies. It was nothing new, but it gnawed at him nonetheless.

With a sharp exhale, Alex tugged at his tie, straightening the fabric as if that small adjustment could restore order to the chaos in his mind. His gaze flicked to his watch: 3:15 p.m. His next interview was due to start. He barely had time to brace himself before a knock echoed through the room.

“Come in,” he said, his tone clipped, devoid of warmth. He sat up straighter, his hands clasped on the desk in front of him, his expression as impassive as stone. Despite his best efforts, his expectations were already at rock bottom.