Chapter 28
I barely slept.
1 lay on my back, staring up at the ceiling. Karl’s words from earlier still circling in my head, You’ll be working there. With me. As my secretary,
I turned onto my side, pulling the blanket up to my chest. What kind of boss hires his contract wife to keep an eye on her? Was he trying to help
- mr. or control met
I didn’t have time to dwell. A knock came early the next morning.
I groaned as the door opened slightly. One of the new staff stood there with her hands folded neatly in front of her. “Ma’am, it’s time. Mr. Lever said you should be ready by eight”
My eyes widened. “Eight?”
She nodded. “Your outh is ready. Your coffee’s waiting on the dresser.”
I blinked again and forced myself out of bed. A few minutes later, I stood in front of the mirror with a cup of coffee in hand, half dressed, still trying to remember how to breathe. The outfit was sleek. Black fitted trousers, a soft grey blouse, simple black heels. Not too loud, not too plain. It was definitely Karl’s choice.
The drive to the office was silent.
Karl didn’t say a word the whole time. One hand on the wheel, the other tapping against the leather. I kept glancing out the window, pretending not
to care
We arrived at a tall glass building that looked like it belonged in a movie. Assistants buzzed around the lobby, high heels echoing, phones pressed to ears. Karl didn’t wait for me. He walked in ahead, posture sharp, jaw tighter than usual
Kent met me at the elevator, already holding a visitor badge. “Here,” he said, voice flat, “this is yours.”
Thanks,” I mumbled
He pressed the elevator button, then added, “I’ll give you a quick tour.”
His sone was stiff. I followed him down the hall, listening to the names of departments I barely understood. By the time we reached the top floor, 1 was already overwhelmed.
“This is your desk, Kent said.
I looked at the small space in front of Karl’s office. A sylish chair. A clean white desk. A nameplate with Ellen Lever engraved on it.
He didn’t say anything else. Just walked off.
I sat down, adjusted the chair, and placed my phone and notebook on the desk like it meant something. Through the frosted glass of Karl’s door, I could see his shadow moving. He was already on the phone, pacing slowly. I tried to look busy.
Ten minutes passed
Then the door opened. He stepped out, dropped a life on my desk without even looking at me. “Send this to legal. Highlight the clause in rest,”
I looked down at the file on my desk, then back up at him.
“Wait.” I said, brows pulling together, I actually have to do something
Karl didn’t answer riglat away
He jou stood there, arms folded, eyes l
locked uni mine like I’d said the dumbest thing he’d heard all day-
“Did you think čak a vanity position?” he asked, voice cool.
I blinked. “I just thought.. I mean, would at least get some kind of orientation?”
He didn’t bother responding. He simply turned around and walked away, his footsteps disappearing behind the door as it clicked shut. I stared after lumi, lips parted, still holding the file in both hands like it might explain something
3:04 PM
Chapter 28
1 stared at the file for a few seconds. I didn’t even know what clause he was talking about. I opened the document and started Googling like my life depended on it..
It wasn’t long before I heard heels clicking behind me.
A blonde assistant walked by, eyeing me up and down. Her lips twitched as she leaned against the wall
“Don’t get too comfortable,” she said under her breath, just loud enough for me to hear. “We’ve seen many come and go
I bit the inside of my cheek and kept my eyes on the screen
An hour passed. I was finally making sense of the document when Karl’s door opened again.
He didn’t speak at first. Just looked at me, his gaze sharp.
“Come inside”
I stood and followed.
He didn’t offer me a seal. Just pointed at the file on his desk.
“You missed the appendix.”
I blinked. “What?”
He tapped the corner. “Do you want to do this job, or just play dress up behind my desk?”
My checks burned. “You’re the one who told me to do it.”
He paused for a second, eyes narrowing
“Then do it right.”
“You can’t talk to me like that,” I said, voice shaking, but loud enough for him to hear.
Karl didn’t move from behind his desk. His eyes stayed locked on mine.
“I didn’t agree to any of this,” 1 snapped. “I lave zero clue what I’m doing. You dropped me here with no direction, no orientation, and expect me to jusi magically figure it out?”
He said nothing
“You don’t get to yell at me when you won’t even give me a chance to learn
I grabbed my notebook off the desk and turned, walking straight out without waiting for a response.
He didn’t follow
But i could feel his eyes on my back the mire time.
women
Later that afternoon. I went to the break room to get coffee. My head was pounding. I needed something, anything, to distract me. Two wom were already inside, whispering over the sugar packets.
*Theard for lured his wife to be las secretary”
“Yeah, I saw her, pretty face, not much elst
Hror near the doorway.
“Another rich nu per project. Nepotium at its fuest”
I cleared my throat and stepped inside. They didn’t notice me right away.
“Well,” I said, pouring the coffer, “inut dat true?”
They both chuckled.
“Exactly,” our of them nodded, then tapped her friend’s arm. “Wait, I think I think that’s her”
The other woman’s eyes widened. “Oh God”
2/3
501PM
Chapter 28
I turned to face them fully. “It’s okay,” I said calmly, “You’re not going to be the first or last to say it.”
coffee and walked out.
My hands were shaking, my face felt warm, I didn’t even like coffee.
But if I was going to survive this place. I’d need thicker skin.
And maybe stronger coffee
