CHAPTER 2: WORKING UNDER HIM
735 Words
The silence in Ethan Cruz's office stretched longer than Lia expected.
Her words still lingered in the air-It's all I have.
She suddenly wondered if she had said too much.
Ethan turned back toward his desk, his expression unreadable again. He didn't respond right away. Instead, he picked up her resume and scanned it slowly, as if weighing something far beyond just her qualifications.
Lia stood still, trying not to fidget.
Every second felt like a test she couldn't see the questions for.
Finally, he placed the paper down.
"You're not qualified," he said calmly.
The words hit her immediately.
Lia's heart sank.
She had expected rejection. She had prepared for it. But hearing it directly still hurt more than she wanted to admit.
"I understand," she said quietly, lowering her eyes. "Thank you for your time."
She turned slightly, ready to leave.
But then-
"Sit down."
The command stopped her mid-step.
Lia blinked. "Sorry?"
Ethan didn't look at her.
"Sit. I didn't say you were dismissed."
Confused, she slowly returned to the chair.
Her heart was beating faster again, but for a different reason now.
Ethan leaned back in his seat.
"You lack experience," he said. "But you didn't lie. Most people who come here try to impress me with words."
He paused.
"You didn't."
Lia didn't know what to say to that.
Was that... good?
Or just observation?
Ethan finally looked at her again.
"I don't hire easily," he continued. "But I want to see something."
Lia straightened slightly.
Hope flickered inside her chest.
"One month," he said. "You'll work under me directly. If you fail, you leave without negotiation."
Her eyes widened.
"Under you... personally?"
"Yes."
The word was final.
No emotion. No softness.
Just decision.
Lia swallowed hard.
This wasn't a normal job offer.
It felt like stepping into a storm she couldn't predict.
But she nodded anyway.
"I'll do it."
Ethan studied her for a moment longer.
Then he gave a slight nod.
"Start tomorrow."
The next morning arrived too quickly.
Cruz Enterprises felt even bigger in daylight-glass shining, employees rushing, phones ringing like a constant heartbeat.
Lia stood at the entrance again, but this time she wasn't an outsider.
She was inside.
Still nervous.
But officially employed.
A woman at reception handed her an ID badge without much emotion.
"New assistant under Mr. Cruz," she said flatly.
Whispers began almost immediately.
"That's her?"
"She's working directly under him?"
"Good luck... she won't last a week."
Lia heard everything.
But she kept walking.
She refused to let their words define her.
When she reached the executive floor, everything went silent again.
Different silence this time.
Heavier.
More serious.
She found Ethan already in his office.
He didn't greet her.
Didn't acknowledge her arrival.
He simply handed her a stack of documents.
"Organize these. Summarize key points. I need them in two hours."
Lia blinked. "All of this?"
"Yes."
No hesitation.
No explanation.
Just expectation.
She nodded quickly.
"Yes, sir."
And she got to work.
The hours passed quickly-but not easily.
Lia worked at a nearby desk inside his office, flipping through reports, typing notes, highlighting important data.
It was overwhelming.
But she refused to stop.
Every time she felt tired, she reminded herself why she was there.
This was her chance.
From across the room, Ethan worked silently at his own desk.
He didn't check on her.
Didn't ask if she was struggling.
But occasionally, his eyes would shift toward her for a second longer than necessary.
Then return to his work.
At exactly two hours, Lia stood up.
"I'm done," she said carefully.
Ethan didn't look up.
"Place it on the desk."
She did.
He began reviewing it immediately.
The silence stretched again.
Lia waited nervously, hands clasped in front of her.
Minutes passed.
Then-
"It's acceptable."
Two words.
But for Ethan Cruz, it was almost rare praise.
Lia blinked.
"That's... good, right?" she asked before she could stop herself.
Ethan finally looked up at her.
A pause.
Then-
"It means you can continue working here."
That was all.
But something small shifted in the room.
Not obvious.
Not spoken.
Just a slight change in atmosphere.
Lia felt it too.
She didn't know why.
But for the first time since entering Cruz Enterprises-
She felt like she might actually belong.
And across the room, Ethan Cruz looked back down at his papers...
But didn't stop thinking about her presence.
- Writer
