Second

The following day, Alex arrived at the office bright and early, eager to start her new job. She felt a sense of excitement and anticipation as she stepped off the elevator and walked through the modern, open-plan workspace.

As she made her way to her desk, she couldn't help but feel like an imposter among the stylish and confident employees. She wondered if she was really cut out for this job, but pushed the thoughts aside and focused on the tasks ahead.

"Hey, Alex, over here!" a voice called out. Alex turned to see a friendly face waving at her from across the room.

It was Sophia, a fellow employee who had been assigned to show her the ropes. Sophia was warm and welcoming, and Alex felt grateful for the kindness.

They spent the morning going over the details of Alex's new position, and Alex quickly realized that there was a lot to learn. She scribbled notes furiously in her notebook, determined to absorb as much information as possible.

Just as they were wrapping up their meeting, Alex's phone buzzed. She glanced down to see a text message from an unknown number.

"Meet me in the lobby in 5 minutes. -M"

Alex's heart skipped a beat as she read the message. It was from Michael Bourn.

Sophia noticed the change in her expression and asked, "Is everything okay?"

Alex quickly replied, "Yes, it's just... Mr. Bourn wants to see me."

Sophia nodded knowingly. "Good luck. You got this."

As Alex made her way down to the lobby, she couldn't help but feel nervous. She wondered what Michael wanted to talk to her about, and why it had to be in person.

When she arrived, Michael was waiting for her. He greeted her with a smile and gestured for her to follow him.

"Alex, I have a proposition for you," he said, as they walked through the busy streets.

"What kind of proposition?" Alex asked, her curiosity piqued.

"I need a wife," Michael said bluntly. "And I want you to be that wife."