Chapter 2

“I am speaking to you from Richmond Industries. You are selected for the job appointment of secretary cum personal assistant to the CEO.” 

Aliza pushed the phone to a distance and stared at it unbelievably for a few seconds. 

“Madam, are you there in the line?” The woman at the other end asked. Closing her eyes tight, Aliza gave a loud squeal and laughed like a maniac to herself, fisting her hand in the air. After taking a breathing exercise of long, heavy inhales and exhales to calm her down, she answered the phone. 

“Yes, I’m there. I was actually running, you know...exercise in the morning? Sorry I couldn’t reply immediately.” She winked to herself and lied, biting her lip in excitement.

“Oh, yeah, I understand. That’s okay, mam. You need to reach the office today at nine and receive your appointment letter.”

“Okay, I will be there before nine.” She leveled her speech, answered professionally, and cut the call. Her uncle came inside the kitchen to fetch water. Aliza ran to her uncle, hugging him tight, and then jumped like a schoolgirl. 

“Uncle, I have been selected in Richmond Industries as a secretary cum personal assistant to the CEO!” She squeaked in exhilaration. 

“What?” Before her uncle could reply, her aunt asked, staring at her unbelievably with her jaw dropped to the floor.

“Oh, come on, Stella, give the poor girl a break. Let her stay happy at least for this day,” Nelson requested his wife. 

Stella stared at her husband as if he had grown two heads. “Do you think I’m torturing your niece every day? She is one day going to be married and with kids. I’m just giving her the training on how to manage her home,” she defended herself, though she could see clearly in Nelson’s eyes that he did not believe her. 

“Congratulations, Liza. I’m very proud of you, dear.” Nelson kissed Aliza’s forehead. He called her Liza with love only when his wife wasn’t there around. Andrew came inside the kitchen and stared at his father’s and Aliza’s joyful faces. 

“What is happening? Am I missing something very important?” Aliza ruffled the hair of her cousin and told him, “I got the job at Richmond Industries.”

“Hey, sis, I am very happy for you. A small gift for you on behalf of me,” he whispered in her ear. “Today, I’m going to send mommy out of home. She will return only in the midnight, and all three of us can have a pizza party. Do not worry, I am the sponsor for the pizzas,” he winked. 

Aliza hugged her brother. “That is not necessary, Andrew. Do not waste your pocket money. All of us are happy. That’s the most important thing, and now you can continue your school uninterrupted,” she declared in happiness and lay hands around her uncle for Andrew to go in a group hug.

“I am very happy today,” she told more to herself and sighed after releasing them. After two hours, Aliza was inside the office of Richmond Industries, giving her details to the receptionist. She was sent again to the seventeenth floor, the floor of the CEO. Aliza’s heart began to beat fast with the anticipation of meeting the sexy, powerful hunk again.

Charles was busy conducting meetings one after another. Richmond Industries was going to launch innovative hearing aids for the deaf where the machine is invisible by going inside the ear. With a minor surgery of ten minutes, the doctors can implant the device in the patient’s ear, and the patient can forget that he once had a hearing problem.

Allen Rodriguez, along with his son Charles, a few ENT specialists, and other business delegates, were busy in the conference room. 

“Do you think the price of the product will be affordable even for a middle-class person, son?” Allen asked Charles, apprehensive. 

“Charla, switch on the projector,” Charles ordered the lady sitting beside him. He stood up from his seat like a king presiding over his subjects and buttoned his grey blazer.

“Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for sparing me your valuable time,” he added professionally and started explaining the important points about the innovative product to the assembled professionals. Charla changed slides as he began to explain all the features of the hearing machine.

Ten minutes later, the people clapped. Allen came forward and patted the shoulder of his son. 

“That was an excellent presentation, Charles,” he complimented, and all of them walked out of the conference hall discussing business.

Aliza looked through her watch. She had been waiting at the visitors’ lounge for more than two hours by then. With the high air conditioning and extremely comfortable executive sofas, her eyes were slowly dropping close. She looked at the fridge ahead of her. On the top rack were mouth-watering pastries, followed by soft drinks, muffins, chicken patties, and many more.

Aliza’s stomach rumbled for want of food at the sight of the tempting eatables. Gulping heavily, she muttered some courage and took a pineapple pastry. No sooner than she took the first bite, her name was called at the reception. Hastily wiping her mouth with a paper napkin, she rushed to the foyer. 

“Sir wants to see you now.” The receptionist gave her a plastic smile and directed her to the huge oak wood door with a name board sealed in bold letters’ THE CEO’.

Aliza, you can do this. He might be impressed by your talent. That’s why they are hiring you even though you are underqualified for the job. She gave a pet talk to herself and knocked on the door before rubbing her sweaty hands to her long skirt. 

“Come in,” came a deep masculine voice from inside.

The beating of her heart began to become more intense. 

“Go...good morning, sir,” Aliza stammered, entering the room on trembling legs. Charles’s sharp grey eyes rose from the computer to look at her for a millisecond and diverted back to the computer to complete the work he had been doing. 

“Sit down,” he ordered her, still looking through the screen while handling the mouse. “So you are?”

“Sir, I’m Aliza....Aliza Stewart,” Aliza released a long breath, silently congratulating her for not stuttering this time before the handsome hunk. “Oh, yeah, Aliza. You were the girl who secured the job through a written test,” Charles said with a subtle enthusiasm.

“I am intrigued by your knowledge on bookkeeping and secretarial practice. For just a school pass out that you are, you are quite knowledgeable,” he complimented and shut off his laptop to give Aliza his complete attention. “Did you work anywhere previously before this job?” He asked her, curious. 

“No, sir, this would be my first employment,” Aliza replied with a shy smile. Charles gave an understanding nod studying Aliza’s features intensely. “Well...” He stiffened his lips, stating his bewilderment. “Nine of your answers were right out of the ten questions given to you. Well, Ms Stalwart, you are hired,” Charles confirmed, leaning back to his high-class executive chair. 

Aliza was in seventh heaven as she heard the words she had long been waiting for from the CEO’s lips. 

“Regarding your nature of work. As soon as you enter the office, you will get me my morning beverage, a cup of espresso with full cream milk and one spoon of sugar. You will have to organize my schedule every day, receive telephone calls on my behalf, and brief the necessary details to the contact.

During charity functions and other such occasions, you will accompany me as my date, irrespective of your working hours. It may be just for the night, or it can last for a couple of days, depending on the situation. We may have to travel to a different country. Is that clear?” Charles emphasized his last three words.

“Yes, sir,” came a firm answer from Aliza in pensiveness hearing the intonation in the speech of her boss. 

“You will bring my suits from the laundry and buy new ones whenever necessary, suiting the occasions. For my private dates that I may not be interested in anymore, you will forward the girls a bouquet of fresh red roses accompanied with a sorry card and a golden bracelet.” Aliza had her lips slightly opened, receiving the information. If, just for a date, he could give a golden bracelet to the girl, what would be the estimation of his wealth? She thought, puzzled.

None of your business, Aliza. Her mind immediately taunted her. 

“Because you aren’t even a graduate and underaged for this employment, you will stay under probation for one year. If your work is impressive, then only your name will be added to the employee payroll of this firm.” The CEO stressed his words’ probation and impressive’ to make Aliza clear about the status of her job. His novel revelation brought Aliza an unexpected consternation. She just nodded, unable to trust her speech.

She would only be a probationary employee in the firm for the next 12 months. All that seems green is actually not green.

“Okay.” He bent down to his desk and pulled out a document from the bottom drawer. “This is the agreement between you and Richmond Industries that you will not leave the firm before five years. Failing which you will pay us 20 million in compensation. You can take your time. Read the agreement in detail and then sign it,” Charles said to Aliza.

“That’s not necessary, sir. I will sign it.” Aliza took the pen forwarded to her and signed all the documents in a go. 

“You can join the office tomorrow. Collect your appointment letter from the personal department.” A calculative smirk etched Charles’s features.

The poor innocent is hooked on him forever.