Chapter 2: Behind the Scenes

Kimberly woke up with the sun the next morning, her heart pounding like a drum. It wasn’t the typical anxiety that greeted her—no, this felt different. Today, she was meeting Aaron Pierre.

She couldn’t remember the last time her hands had been this shaky. For the first time in a long while, she stood in front of her closet, unsure of what to wear. She stared at the few options she had, feeling out of her element. A part of her wanted to dress the way she did on her daily Zoom calls—comfortable, unassuming—but this was different. This wasn’t a casual interview. This was meeting Aaron.

She finally settled on a sleek black dress that hugged her curves just enough to feel confident without being over the top. Simple but professional. Perfect.

Her phone buzzed just as she was fixing her hair into a low bun. Don’t forget the killer smile, Kim. You’ve got this! Kehlani's text made her laugh, but the nerves didn’t go away.

The Zoom meeting was set for 1 PM, but Kimberly had been up for hours. Time seemed to crawl as she prepared herself mentally. She had no idea what to expect, but she promised herself she would remain calm and composed. This wasn’t just a job interview anymore—it was an opportunity to be close to Aaron Pierre, her celebrity crush. The man she had spent years admiring from afar.

At exactly 12:55 PM, Kimberly sat down at her desk, laptop opened, and camera angled just right. She checked her reflection quickly. Professional. Ready.

Then it happened. The notification popped up.

The meeting started.

Her breath caught in her throat. She clicked the button and waited, nerves bubbling in her stomach.

And then he appeared.

Aaron Pierre.

Dressed in a dark shirt, his sleeves rolled up just enough to reveal his muscular forearms. He flashed her a warm smile. His dark eyes twinkled through the screen as if they could see straight into her. “Kimberly, it’s good to meet you.” His voice was warm, rich, and just the right amount of charming.

Kimberly swallowed hard. This is it. She had to remind herself not to let her nerves get the best of her. “Thank you for the opportunity, Mr. Pierre,” she said, her voice sounding steadier than she felt.

“Please, call me Aaron,” he said, leaning forward slightly, his casual tone putting her at ease—at least a little.

She nodded, heart fluttering in her chest. “Aaron, then.”

They exchanged small talk for a moment before diving into the interview. Aaron asked her about her background, what drew her to PR, and why she thought she was a good fit for his team. Kimberly answered each question with confidence, though her mind kept drifting back to the fact that this was Aaron Pierre—someone she had spent years watching from a distance.

As the interview progressed, she noticed the way his gaze lingered on her, almost as if he were studying her. She quickly pushed the thought aside. This was a professional meeting, not a fan encounter.

“I have to say,” Aaron said after a while, his expression thoughtful, “you seem to be exactly what we’re looking for. Organized, passionate, and driven. I like that.”

Kimberly’s pulse quickened. Is this happening? She kept herself from smiling too widely. “Thank you,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady.

“I’ve had a lot of applicants, but you stand out,” Aaron continued, his smile genuine. “We’ll let you know soon, but I wanted to get to know you better first.”

There was something about his presence—something unspoken—that made Kimberly feel like she was on the edge of something big. She forced herself not to imagine what it might be like to work so closely with him. Stay professional, Kimberly. Stay professional.

Before the call ended, Aaron flashed her another smile. “It was a pleasure, Kimberly. We’ll be in touch.”

“Thank you,” she replied, trying not to sound too eager. You’ve got this, she reminded herself as the screen faded to black.

---

Later that evening, as Kimberly sat on her couch with her phone in hand, she replayed the entire interview in her mind. The way his deep voice had sent shivers down her spine. The way he’d looked at her—not as a fan, but as someone he was considering for the job.

And then, just as she was about to put her phone down, an email popped up:

We are pleased to offer you the position of Personal Assistant to Mr. Aaron Pierre.

Kimberly’s heart skipped a beat. She read the email again, just to make sure she wasn’t imagining it.

She jumped up, letting out a squeal before burying her face in her hands. This was real.

Her phone buzzed with another message from Kehlani. Told you. You’re about to be in Aaron Pierre’s world, Kim!

Aaron Pierre sat back in his chair, exhaling slowly as his mind replayed the interview with Kimberly Monet. The meeting had gone better than he expected. He’d seen dozens of applicants, each one trying to sell themselves as the perfect fit for the job, but something about Kimberly was different.

Her professionalism had been clear from the start—no fidgeting, no over-explaining. She answered each question thoughtfully, her confidence in her abilities almost palpable. But it wasn’t just that. It was the way she spoke, the spark in her eyes that told him she wasn’t just interested in the job for the perks but for the chance to make an impact.

Still, it wasn’t just about qualifications.

It never was.

Aaron leaned back in his chair, trying to focus on the tasks at hand, but his mind kept drifting back to her. He recalled the way her voice had wavered slightly at the beginning—nerves, probably—but she quickly recovered. There was a quiet strength in the way she carried herself, a sense that she belonged in this world, even if she didn’t yet realize it.

Then there were the details. He couldn’t forget the way she looked, either. Her skin—a a beautiful medium caramel hue that seemed to glow under the soft lighting of the interview room. Her full lips, the gentle curve of her cheeks, and the way her hair framed her face in soft waves. But what caught his attention most were the curves of her body, her silhouette bold and graceful in a way that made it hard to focus on anything else.

Her appearance was striking, but it was more than that. She had an effortless magnetism. It wasn’t the kind of thing he could articulate easily, but he knew it when he saw it. And it wasn’t just physical attraction. It was something deeper, a draw that tugged at him despite his better judgment.

His manager, Marcus, had been adamant about finding someone reliable. They’d interviewed countless assistants, some with impressive resumes, others who were just looking for a foot in the door. But Kimberly... she had something more.

Aaron found himself reaching for his phone, his thumb hovering over the screen as he prepared to make the call to confirm her job offer. But before he could dial, Marcus’s name popped up on the screen.

He answered quickly. “Marcus.”

“I saw your interview with Kimberly,” Marcus said, his voice flat but thoughtful. “She’s good. I’ll admit, I wasn’t sure at first, but she seems like she has potential.”

Aaron nodded, though Marcus couldn’t see him. “She does. But there’s more to it than that. I think she’s the right fit.”

There was a long pause on the other end of the line. “I can’t argue with that. She’s got the right attitude, no doubt about it. But what about the other applicants? Shouldn’t we give them a fair shot?”

Aaron let out a sigh, shaking his head even though Marcus couldn’t see him. “We’ve seen plenty of them. She’s the one I want, Marcus. I can tell. She’s different.”

“Alright, but I’ll let you make the final call. I’ll call her tomorrow and confirm things with the rest of the team.”

Aaron hung up, his mind still racing. It wasn’t just the resume he was focused on anymore—it was Kimberly. There was something about her that went beyond professionalism. Something he couldn’t place, but he didn’t need to understand it to know it was real.

And that realization made him feel uneasy.

---

Later That Night

Kimberly’s email had arrived just as Aaron had expected. He couldn’t help but smile when he saw the subject line: Job Offer: Personal Assistant to Mr. Aaron Pierre.

It had taken him a moment to make the final decision, but in the end, it hadn’t been difficult. He knew he’d made the right choice. Kimberly was the one who would bring fresh energy to his hectic life.

He stood from his desk, stretching his arms overhead, feeling the tightness in his muscles. The physical toll of his career had made him used to being constantly on the move, constantly pushing himself. But in moments like this, it was easy to forget just how much work went into managing his personal life. He was always in the spotlight, always being watched, but it wasn’t just the public eye that mattered. The people behind the scenes—his team, his support—kept him grounded. For the first time in a long while, he felt like Kimberly might just be the missing piece.

Maybe this time, he thought, gazing out of the window at the city lights below. Things might just be different.