CEO And Secretary

Chapter four: Bianca

The atmosphere inside Rodriguez Holdings was as cold and organized as usual.

Employees moved quietly through the massive building while secretaries rushed from office to office carrying files and tablets. The sound of heels clicking against marble floors echoed through the hallways.

At the top floor of the building, Jordan Rodriguez sat behind his desk without expression.

Cold.

Silent.

Untouchable.

The large office around him looked lifeless despite its expensive furniture. Black shelves lined the walls while the city lights reflected faintly against the giant windows behind him.

Jordan stared at the documents in front of him with sharp focus.

Nothing distracted him while he worked.

Nothing except noise.

And unfortunately for him, Maureen Green was noisy.

The office door opened without hesitation.

"You have a meeting in thirty minutes," Maureen said while entering with several files in her hands.

Jordan did not look up.

"I know."

Maureen placed the files neatly on his desk.

"The finance department also sent the reports you requested."

"Leave them there."

Maureen folded her arms.

"You skipped lunch again."

Jordan finally lifted his eyes toward her.

Cold gray eyes.

Sharp.

Unreadable.

"Are you my secretary or my mother?"

Maureen ignored the glare.

"Someone has to make sure you don’t collapse from overworking."

Jordan returned to his documents.

"I’m not paying you to worry about me."

"Good. Because I’m doing it for free."

A brief silence filled the office.

Jordan disliked unnecessary conversations.

Yet somehow, Maureen always found ways to continue speaking.

Unlike everyone else in the company, she never seemed intimidated by him.

That alone annoyed him.

A knock interrupted the silence.

Before Jordan could answer, the office door opened.

A tall woman stepped inside confidently.

Her long blonde hair rested neatly over her shoulders while her expensive white outfit immediately revealed her wealthy background.

Bianca Hartley.

Jordan’s childhood friend.

And one of the few people bold enough to enter his office without permission.

"Jordan," Bianca said with a smile.

Jordan’s face remained expressionless.

"Bianca."

Bianca’s eyes slowly shifted toward Maureen.

The smile on her lips weakened slightly.

She studied Maureen carefully.

The fitted skirt.

The curly dark hair.

The naturally attractive face.

And most importantly… the confidence.

Bianca already disliked her.

"So this is your new secretary," Bianca said casually.

Maureen nodded politely.

"Maureen Green."

Bianca barely acknowledged her.

Instead, she walked toward Jordan’s desk.

"You didn’t answer my messages."

"I was working."

"You’re always working."

Jordan did not respond.

Bianca sighed dramatically before glancing toward Maureen again.

"Can you show me where the restroom is?"

Maureen looked toward Jordan briefly before answering.

"I’ll take you there."

Jordan returned to his paperwork immediately.

As if neither woman existed anymore.

—

The hallway outside remained quiet.

Bianca walked beside Maureen slowly while observing her carefully.

"How long have you worked for Jordan?" Bianca asked.

"Not very long."

"And how are you handling him?"

Maureen pressed the elevator button.

"Handling him?"

"Jordan has always been difficult."

"He’s my boss," Maureen replied simply.

Bianca smiled faintly.

"You speak comfortably around him."

"Should I be afraid of him?"

"Most people are."

The elevator doors opened.

Neither woman spoke again until they reached the restroom.

Maureen stepped aside.

"Here."

Bianca entered first.

Maureen followed behind quietly.

The restroom was empty except for them.

Bianca stood in front of the mirror adjusting her earrings.

Then suddenly she spoke.

"You’re pretty."

Maureen looked confused by the random statement.

"Thank you."

"Jordan usually hates attractive women around him."

Maureen frowned slightly.

"Okay."

Bianca turned toward her slowly.

"So I’m curious why he hired you."

Maureen immediately understood the insult.

"You can ask him yourself."

Bianca’s expression cooled.

"I don’t like rude people."

"And I don’t like insults disguised as conversations."

The tension in the restroom grew heavier.

Bianca crossed her arms.

"Do you know who I am?"

"Should I?"

Bianca gave a short laugh.

"Interesting."

She stepped closer.

"Girls like you usually become very ambitious after entering buildings like this."

Maureen stared at her.

"What exactly is that supposed to mean?"

"It means secretaries sometimes forget their positions."

Maureen’s patience faded immediately.

"I’m here to work, not compete with rich women who are obsessed with themselves."

Bianca’s eyes darkened.

Nobody spoke to her like that.

Nobody.

Her gaze landed on the bucket of water near the cleaner’s cart.

Without warning, Bianca grabbed it.

And threw the water directly at Maureen.

Cold water splashed across Maureen instantly.

Her cream blouse became soaked.

The thin material clung tightly against her body.

Her skirt stuck against her thighs.

Maureen gasped in shock.

The files in her hands fell onto the wet floor.

Bianca dropped the empty bucket carelessly.

"Maybe next time you’ll learn respect," she said coldly.

For several seconds, Maureen could only stare.

Humiliation burned through her chest.

The wet fabric against her skin revealed far too much.

Her upper body was visible beneath the soaked blouse.

The outline of her figure was impossible to hide.

Maureen quickly crossed her arms over herself.

"You’re insane," she whispered.

Bianca shrugged lightly.

"Careful who you speak to next time."

Then she walked out.

Leaving Maureen standing there drenched.

Alone.

—

Several employees looked up the moment Maureen stepped into the hallway.

Then immediately looked away.

But the damage was already done.

Maureen held the wet files against herself while walking quickly toward Jordan’s office.

Her face burned with embarrassment.

The soaked blouse clung tightly to her skin.

Every step made her feel worse.

She reached Jordan’s office and entered immediately.

Jordan looked up once.

Then his expression darkened.

Maureen stood near the door breathing unevenly.

Water dripped from her clothes onto the office floor.

Jordan’s eyes moved across her appearance carefully.

The wet blouse.

The visible outline beneath the fabric.

The humiliation in her face.

His voice became colder.

"What happened?"

Maureen swallowed.

"Your friend poured water on me."

Jordan stared at her silently.

His jaw tightened slightly.

But his expression remained controlled.

Cold.

Emotionless.

Maureen laughed bitterly.

"You could at least pretend to be surprised."

Jordan stood slowly from his chair.

Without speaking, he removed his black suit jacket.

Then he walked toward her.

Maureen froze.

Jordan stopped in front of her and held the jacket out.

"Wear it."

His tone remained flat.

Professional.

Maureen stared at him for a moment before slowly taking it.

The expensive material immediately covered her body.

The jacket was oversized on her smaller frame.

Jordan looked away first.

"Sit down before you drip water across the entire office."

Maureen quietly sat on the couch.

Jordan returned to his desk as if nothing unusual had happened.

The silence between them felt strange.

Not soft.

Not emotional.

Only awkward.

Maureen tightened the jacket around herself.

"You’re not going to ask why she did it?"

Jordan opened another file.

"I can already guess."

"That’s it?"

Jordan looked at her directly.

"What exactly are you expecting from me?"

Maureen opened her mouth.

Then closed it.

Because honestly… she did not know.

Jordan leaned back in his chair.

"Bianca behaves recklessly when she’s irritated."

"That doesn’t excuse what she did."

"I didn’t say it did."

The office became quiet again.

Jordan pressed the intercom.

"Bring towels to my office."

"Yes, sir."

Maureen looked down at the jacket around her shoulders.

"Thank you."

Jordan gave a short nod.

Nothing more.

No comfort.

No sympathy.

Only cold practicality.

Exactly like him.

—

An hour later, Maureen sat behind her desk wearing Jordan’s suit jacket while typing reports.

The jacket still covered most of her body since her blouse remained damp.

Several employees glanced at her curiously before quickly returning to work.

Nobody dared ask questions.

Jordan’s office door opened.

Bianca stepped out.

She paused after seeing Maureen wearing Jordan’s jacket.

Her eyes narrowed instantly.

"You’re still here," Bianca said quietly.

Maureen continued typing.

"Unfortunately for you, yes."

Bianca walked closer.

"Jordan gave you his jacket?"

"Obviously."

Bianca’s jaw tightened.

She hated the sight immediately.

Jordan never lent his belongings to people.

Not even her.

"Don’t misunderstand his actions," Bianca said coldly.

Maureen finally looked up.

"I didn’t misunderstand anything."

Bianca leaned against the desk.

"Jordan doesn’t care about anyone."

Maureen shrugged.

"You seem oddly passionate about convincing me."

Before Bianca could answer, Jordan’s office door opened again.

Jordan stepped out with another file in his hand.

His eyes landed briefly on Bianca.

"You’re still here?"

Bianca straightened immediately.

"I was leaving."

Jordan nodded once.

No warmth.

No affection.

Nothing.

Bianca looked irritated by his indifference.

She grabbed her handbag.

"I’ll call you later."

"Fine."

Jordan walked past both women toward the conference room.

Bianca watched him disappear down the hallway.

Then she looked toward Maureen one last time.

"Be careful around him," she said quietly.

Maureen frowned.

"Why?"

Bianca’s expression became unreadable.

"Because Jordan Rodriguez destroys everything that gets too close to him."

Then she finally left.

—

The day passed quietly after that.

Jordan remained inside meetings for hours while Maureen organized schedules and reports.

By evening, most employees had already gone home.

Only the top floor remained lit.

Maureen knocked lightly on Jordan’s office door.

"Come in."

She entered carrying another stack of files.

Jordan sat behind his desk with the same cold expression he always wore.

His tie had been loosened slightly, but otherwise he looked completely composed.

"These are tomorrow’s documents," Maureen said.

Jordan took them without looking up.

"Leave them there."

Maureen hesitated.

Then slowly removed his jacket.

"Thanks for earlier."

Jordan finally looked toward her.

Her blouse had dried slightly, though faint water stains still remained.

He took the jacket from her silently.

"You should go home."

"You’re still working?"

"Obviously."

Maureen sighed.

"You really never rest."

Jordan returned to the documents.

"Rest is unnecessary."

"That sounds unhealthy."

"Your opinions on my health are unnecessary too."

Maureen rolled her eyes.

"You really know how to make conversations enjoyable."

Jordan ignored the comment completely.

Maureen stared at him for a few seconds.

Sometimes she genuinely wondered how someone could be so emotionally closed off.

Even his voice sounded cold enough to freeze a room.

Yet despite that…

He still gave her the jacket.

He still covered her without hesitation.

But Maureen quickly pushed the thought away.

It meant nothing.

Jordan Rodriguez simply hated disorder.

And her appearance earlier had been disorderly.

That was all.

A phone suddenly rang.

Jordan’s expression changed immediately the moment he looked at the screen.

Not softer.

Worse.

Colder.

Much colder.

Maureen noticed it instantly.

Jordan answered the call.

"What?"

Silence followed.

His face hardened further.

Maureen quietly picked up the empty coffee cup from his desk, pretending not to listen.

Jordan stood slowly from his chair.

"I already told you I’m handling the company," he said coldly into the phone.

Another silence.

His jaw tightened.

"No."

The single word sounded sharp enough to cut through steel.

Maureen glanced toward him carefully.

Jordan rarely showed emotion.

But something about this call was different.

Dangerous.

His grip around the phone tightened.

"I’m not discussing this again."

A long silence followed.

Then Jordan suddenly laughed once.

A cold laugh.

Completely empty.

"You lost the right to give orders years ago."

Maureen froze slightly.

Jordan’s eyes darkened further.

"Do whatever you want. I don’t care anymore."

Then he ended the call.

The office became silent.

Jordan remained standing beside the window.

His face looked colder than before.

Completely shut down.

Completely unreachable.

Maureen carefully placed the coffee cup down.

"Mr. Rodriguez—"

"Go home, Maureen."

His voice stopped her immediately.

Cold.

Sharp.

Final.

Maureen nodded slowly.

"Goodnight."

Jordan did not answer.

She quietly left the office.

The door closed behind her softly.

Jordan remained motionless beside the window for several seconds.

Then his phone rang again.

The same caller.

His father.

Jordan stared at the screen emotionlessly before finally answering.

And somehow…

The entire room felt even colder than before.