HIS PERSONAL ASSISTANT

chapter six

Brian’s POV – Continued

I dropped my phone on the desk and leaned back in my chair, staring at the ceiling.

A P.A.

I hated the idea of having someone constantly in my space, breathing the same air, touching my schedules, knowing my habits. But I hated chaos more. And lately, things had been… slipping. Meetings overlapping, files misplaced, idiots making assumptions.

I don’t tolerate mistakes.

My mind drifted back to that girl again—Havana-brown hair, the way she’d run, the way my chest had tightened as if someone had grabbed my heart with their bare hands. Three years, and still no face. Just shadows and fragments.

Pathetic, Brian.

I straightened up, opened my laptop, and buried myself in work. It was the only thing that ever shut my mind up.

About an hour later, there was a knock on the door.

“Come in,” I said.

Luca walked in, tall, dark, and as serious as ever, a folder in his hand and a tablet under his arm.

“Boss,” he greeted with a small nod.

“What do you have for me?”

“I filtered applicants based on your preferences,” he said, placing the folder on my desk. “No scandals, good records, high recommendations, clean backgrounds.” He paused. “And people who won’t faint when you glare at them.”

I gave him a flat look. He smirked slightly.

“I’ve shortlisted ten,” he continued. “But, out of those ten, three stand out. I strongly recommend you pick from those three.”

I took the folder, flipping through the profiles. Faces. Names. Degrees. Experience.

None of them interested me.

“Set up interviews,” I said. “Tomorrow. Early.”

“Yes, boss. 8 a.m.?”

“7:30,” I corrected. “If they can’t come early, they’re not worth hiring.”

“Understood.”

He turned to leave, then hesitated.

“What?” I asked.

“There’s… one more file,” he said slowly. “Not in the main list. I put it aside because…” He trailed off, studying my face.

“Because what?”

He reached into his tablet case and pulled out another slim file, placing it gently on the desk, almost like it was something fragile.

“Because this one doesn’t exactly meet the ‘polished executive’ type, but…” He shrugged. “Her test scores, references from school, and part-time work ethic are impressive. She’s been working odd jobs, caring for a sick relative, and still managing to stay out of trouble. No record. No mess.”

I narrowed my eyes slightly and opened it.

Name: Alicia West.

Age: 22.

Education: Business-related degree. Top grades.

Experience: Mostly small jobs. Bars. Shops. Waitressing. Reception. Short contracts.

Status: Currently unemployed.

Her picture stared back at me—simple, no heavy makeup, soft features, but there was something in her eyes. Even on paper, they looked… different. Like they’d seen too much and were still trying to stay strong.

“She doesn’t have the ‘look’ most P.A.s in this circle have,” Luca said carefully. “But something about her file stood out. She’s desperate for work, but not 🐧. And she doesn’t seem like the type to flirt with you to get ahead.”

“That would already make her better than most,” I muttered, thinking of Rosetta.

“So, should I add her to the list?” he asked.

I studied the picture again, my gaze lingering a little too long on her eyes.

“Fine,” I said at last. “Include her. But she’d better not be incompetent.”

Luca nodded. “I’ll schedule her interview for tomorrow too.”

“Good. You can leave now.”

When he left, I closed the folder slowly, my fingers tapping the desk.

Alicia West.

Why did that name feel like it was about to change something?

I shook my head and pushed the thought away. She was just another applicant. Nothing more.

I returned to my screen, but for the first time in a long time, I found it hard to concentrate.

Somewhere else in the city, I had a feeling someone was about to make a decision that would drag them into my world.

And once you enter my world… you don’t leave the same.