The elevator ascended, its smooth hum doing little to quell the frantic flutter in Ariel Young's stomach. Fifteenth floor of Adams Corp, a gleaming monument to power and prestige. This was it. First day as the new assistant to Ivan Lewis Adams, the enigmatic CEO, a man whispered about in hushed, reverent tones across New York's corporate landscape. A deep breath did nothing to calm her nerves, only reminding her of the immense opportunity, and the daunting challenge, that lay ahead.

She'd been chosen from a sea of highly qualified candidates, a fact that still felt surreal. But the thrill of the job was shadowed by the prospect of working closely with him – the man, the myth, the legend. Rumors painted him as untouchable, intensely demanding, and colder than a winter's night in Manhattan. Ariel, however, was determined. Her dream of becoming an executive board member started here, at the bottom, even if it meant braving the 'dragon' himself. After a morning of fierce pep talks, she was ready. Or so she hoped.