HIS PERSONAL ASSISTANT

chapter seven

Alicia’s POV

Standing in front of the hospital room door, I took a deep breath before stepping in.

The familiar smell of disinfectant hit me first, then the soft beeping of the heart monitor. My brother lay on the bed, pale but peaceful, chest rising and falling slowly with the help of the machine. For a second, I just stood there, watching him, fighting the lump rising in my throat.

“Hey, dummy,” I whispered, forcing a smile as I walked closer. “I’m back.”

I pulled the chair closer and sat beside him, gently taking his hand in mine. His fingers were thinner now, his skin a little colder than I would have liked.

“You know,” I said softly, “I tried again today. Job hunting. Same story. ‘We’re full.’ ‘We’ll call you.’ ‘We’re not hiring anymore.’” I scoffed. “They didn’t even try to lie creatively.”

I paused and swallowed.

“But it’s okay,” I continued, more to convince myself than him. “I’ll keep trying. I’m not giving up on you. So you better not give up on me, either, okay?”

The machine kept beeping. No answer, obviously. Still, talking made it feel like he could hear me.

I stayed with him for a while, just sitting there, listening to the quiet sounds of the hospital. When I finally checked the time on my phone, my eyes widened.

“Crap,” I muttered. “I need to get going before visiting hours end and Camille starts spamming my phone.”

I stood, leaned down and placed a soft kiss on his forehead. “I’ll come tomorrow, same time. Don’t go anywhere, got it?” I tried to joke, but my voice shook a little.

Leaving the room always felt like tearing a piece of myself away, but I forced my feet to move. Out of the room. Down the corridor. Past the nurses’ station. Outside into the cooler evening air.

By the time I got home, I was exhausted. My legs ached, my head throbbed, and my heart felt heavier than my whole body.

I dropped my bag on the couch and collapsed beside it.

“I’ll just rest my eyes for a second,” I mumbled.

The second turned into a nap. I didn’t even realize when I fell asleep.

…………………

The loud ringing of my phone dragged me out of a deep, dreamless sleep. I groaned, reaching blindly for it, my eyes still closed.

“Hello…” I croaked, voice rough.

“Hello, is this Miss Alicia West?” a calm female voice asked.

I blinked, my brain trying to boot up. “Yes, this is Alicia.”

“This is HR from B&D Inc. You applied for the position of Personal Assistant some time ago.”

My eyes flew open and I shot up into a sitting position so fast my head spun.

The P.A. job.

Oh my God. I had completely forgotten I even applied. I did it late one night, half sure no one would ever look at my CV.

“Y-Yes,” I stammered, suddenly wide awake. “Yes, I did.”

“There will be an interview session tomorrow morning,” she continued. “You have been shortlisted. Your interview is scheduled for 7:30 a.m. at our headquarters. Can you make it?”

Tomorrow.

7:30 a.m.

B&D Inc. One of the biggest, richest companies in the city. A place I never imagined I’d even step into.

My heart started racing. I almost said “Yes!” too fast, then remembered to breathe.

“Yes, I can make it,” I replied, trying to sound calm and professional.

“Good. Please bring a copy of your CV and any relevant documents. Dress formally. When you arrive, report to the front desk and ask for the HR department. Don’t be late.”

“I won’t,” I said quickly.

“Alright then. See you tomorrow, Miss West.”

The line went dead.

For two full seconds, I just sat there, staring at the wall, phone still pressed to my ear.

Then it hit me.

“AAAAAAAAH!” I screamed into my pillow, kicking my legs like a maniac.

My heart was pounding so fast I thought it might explode.

“I got an interview. I got an interview. I GOT AN INTERVIEW!”

Immediately, I jumped off the couch and started pacing.

“Okay, okay, calm down,” I muttered to myself. “B&D Inc. Big company. Super rich. Probably strict. 7:30 a.m. Don’t be late. Dress formally. Oh my God, what am I going to wear?!”

As if summoned by my panic, my phone buzzed again.

This time, it was Camille calling.

I picked up at once. “Camille!”

“Whoa, why do you sound like you just found out you’re pregnant?” she asked.

“I got an interview!” I blurted out.

There was a pause. Then a loud scream nearly burst my eardrum. “Whaaaaat?! Where? When? How? Tell me everything!”

“It’s for a P.A. job at B&D Inc. Tomorrow. 7:30 a.m. I totally forgot I even applied. They just called me now.”

“B&D?” she repeated. “As in THE B&D? One of the biggest companies in City B? Billionaire boss, scary CEO, that one?”

“Yeah… that one.”

“Oh my God, this is huge,” she breathed. “This is like… life-changing huge. If you get this job, your brother’s bills—”

“I know,” I cut in softly. “That’s why I’m freaking out.”

“Okay, listen,” she said, immediately switching to “serious friend mode.” “First of all, you’re going to ace this, okay? Second, what are you wearing?”

“I don’t know!” I flopped back down on the couch dramatically. “I don’t even have rich-people office clothes. Just normal clothes, bar clothes, and ‘trying not to look broke’ clothes.”

“Stay right where you are,” she said. “I’m coming over. We are not letting this opportunity slip because of an outfit.”

“Camille, it’s late.”

“And your brother’s life is on the line,” she fired back. “Text me your exact time. I’ll help you set an alarm too. We’re prepping tonight.”

I exhaled slowly, my chest tightening with a strange mix of fear and hope.

“Okay,” I whispered. “Okay. Come over.”

When I dropped the call, I stared at the ceiling for a moment.

Tomorrow.

A job that could change everything.

Somewhere, in a tall building I’d only seen from a distance, a man I’d never met was waiting for a P.A.

He had no idea one desperate, mismatched-eyed girl was about to walk into his world.

And honestly, neither did I.