Bless The Broken Road

Chapter I - The New P.A.

"The fire's going to burn this place down. Let's go."

"What about the girl?"

"Leave the girl, it's what the boss wants."

'No...' She wanted to shout. They couldn't leave her there, she's going to die! 'No, please...,' yet no sound came out of her mouth. She wanted to stand up, but her legs couldn't move. Actually, her whole body couldn't move. She just stayed there lying helplessly. Pleading in silent that the owners of the voices would come back for her.

But no. They left her. She watched in horror as the fire greedily swallowed everything on its path. The small flame that started just few moments ago, now like hell burning the old warehouse to the ground.  She felt it, the moment the fire reached her, leaking her skin. She was going to die... 

Ely woke up from her dream. It was that fire again. Just like the many nights before, she was soaking wet with sweat. Why wouldn't she be? In her dream, she was on fire. A literal fire, too hot, too horrifying.

She got up and glanced at the digital clock on her bedside table. It was two in the morning. It's two again. Every time she would wake up to that very same dream, it's two in the morning. She was starting to think that it was the time when the fire happened. But did she really get caught in a huge fire like that? How was she able to survive that hell if the voices left her to die?

Her hand automatically reached for her neck where there was an ugly scar. It was obvious that it was once a major degree burn. However, it's just a hunch.  It could be a part of her memory. But until she could already remember everything, it's nothing but a dream... A repetitive dream...

*

"Wait!" Ely ran towards the closing elevator. She's running late and if she could not get on that lift, she sure's going to have nasty words from her supervisor for breakfast.

She was running as fast as she could and the person behind the buttons saw her. But still mercilessly closed the elevator before she could get in. She got a glimpse of the man though. His icy cold eyes gave away no emotion at all and yet she shivered a bit.

'Hmph, arrogant,' she thought, extremely annoyed.

"Girl, what's your problem?”

“Did you really consider joining the CEO in the elevator?"

"You're looking for trouble".

It was just then that Ely realized that there were several employees in the elevator lobby and yet no one dared to enter the practically empty lift. 

"Maybe she thought that Mr. Hansen will let her in."

'CEO? Mr. Hansen? Owww!' Ely almost shook her head due to her stupidity. 

Of course she had heard of the man. Kristoff Hansen. He was the young CEO that runs the multibillion company she was working with now. But she hasn't seen him yet. It was just her second week in the Hansen Group.  Besides, she heard from her supervisor that Mr. Hansen was overseas last week for a business trip. Apparently, Shanel's head over heels in love with the unreachable CEO.

Ely flashed an embarrassed smile before bowing her head. 

"She's so dead."

'Chill, Elyana. It's not like you'd cross paths with him again. You're just a lowly rank and file.' She thought while impatiently waiting for the next lift. 'On the other hand, prepare yourself for Shanel."

If only her floor wasn't on the 30th, then she'd gladly take the stairs.

*

"You're late," Shanel, her supervisor reprimanded as soon as she saw her passing the coffee cups to their colleagues. 

 "I'm really sorry, Ms. Zhu," she sincerely apologized while giving her coffee.

She was new and she was doing her best to make friends with everybody. Thus, the coffee of their choice every morning. 

"Don't forget that you pulled strings to be able to work in this company. You better not be late again or I'll fire you. I don't care who your backer is." Shanel berated, but still took the coffee.

Well, it wasn't an ordinary coffee to begin with. It's costing her a lot. But Adeline, her adoptive mother, said that it's okay as long as she'll be able to do her task - to help her win back her son's love and trust. 

 "We are not underman here, I wonder why I am so unlucky to accept someone as tardy as you in my team!" Shanel continued in between sip off her expensive coffee.

"I promise, this is the last time," she answered.

"Get away from my sight!" 

"Yes, Ms. Zhu," Ely took her leave and went to her work station.

"Hey, don't mind her," Jodi, who was seated next to her, told her.

"I'll get used to it," she smiled. 

She couldn't refute Shanel and tell her that she was lying about how she managed to enter the company. She was right. Adeline pulled some strings to get her in.  Hansen group is no small company. In fact, it's the largest in the country with over a hundred branches overseas.

But, Adeline was not a nobody too. She also heads a big company in a totally different industry from the Hansen Group.  But instead of letting her work for her, Adeline asked her to work at the giant Hansen Group to help her with his son. 

Who was her son?

"That, I'll tell you when the time is right," Adeline told her. So for now, her goal was just to stay in the company and not get fired by Shanel.

"She's the one who used a backer to be a supervisor," Lenard, another colleague, said in a low voice.

True enough, Shanel's the daughter of one of the company's Director. She got the position, and by every means, expected to get fast promotion, not because she was qualified but due to pure backing up. 

 Jodi rolled her eyes and let out a soft chuckle before they buried themselves with work.

*

"Seriously, it's very hot today. Can you not wear turtle neck next time?" Jodi who cannot bear the heat took off her suit jacket. They planned to eat lunch outside. Thus, they had to walk a little under the scorching sun of summer. 

Ely just touched the fabric that covers her neck and said nothing. No, she cannot wear anything that would expose her ugly scar. Not that she was ashamed of it. Rather, it's her only link to her past.

The past that she couldn't even remember. She's twenty-five years old and yet, her memory only started three years ago, on a hospital bed... That was the most terrifying feeling she ever felt. The moment she woke up not remembering anything about herself. 

Then there was Adeline Green telling her not to be afraid and that she could call her mom. 

"Hey," Jodi called her attention. 

She realized that the green pedestrian light was on and she hadn't moved an inch. "Come on, we only have forty-five minutes left," Jodi continued, almost dragging her.

They ate at a fast food restaurant nearby and killed the time there before going back.

Back at the office, everything wasn’t as peaceful as when they left. Everyone was surprised that the whole Finance team was called to the conference room. The managers were nervous, thinking hard what they did wrong worthy to call the whole department in Kristoff Hansen's presence. The big boss just got from overseas, what could it be that heed him too soon?

They were many of them. Since it was the HQ, and Hansen Group is a huge company, it's Finance team alone was equivalent to a whole personnel of an average company.  Being one of the rank and file employees, Ely and Jodi's seats were fairly at the back side. They were nervous as well but not to be compared to their bosses.  Everyone had no idea what the sudden call was about and had each of them pondered on their recent actions that could have offended the young boss.

Ely, who had just a little misencounter with the CEO this morning couldn't relax. And that went with a silent prayer that he would not recognize her. So she made an effort to hide her presence telling herself that perhaps, such the busy person that he was, couldn't be bothered by a very tiny detail such as being told to hold the elevator by a tardy employee. Not that he waited anyway. So he wasn't harmed or bothered by her. With that in mind, Ely gradually relaxed.

When Kristoff graced them with his presence, everyone was quiet that the tiny sound of pin drop could be heard. He was exuding a very intimidating aura, his face unfathomable. He was not giving away any emotion that could tell whether he was there for a good news or a bad one. 

From where Ely was seated, she could tell that the feeling in the room wasn't only fear, but admiration as well. From what she had heard, the CEO was only twenty-nine years old. He's not only young and powerful. He's also blessed with exceptional intellect and very good looks to complete the package. Standing six foot five, the young CEO demands respect by his mere presence.

Most of all, and the reason why the women in the Finance team were half-afraid and half-drooling, the CEO was very much single. A very eligible bachelor whose private life was kept away from the public. 

"Mr. Hansen -"

"I need another assistant," Kristoff cut in before Mr. Lee, the fifty-year old Vice President for Finance could finish his sentence.

The whole room was confused. Did he need to call the whole Finance team to announce his lack of assistant? What did it even have to do with them? Shouldn't he have called for human resources instead?

"Mr. Hansen, sir, I beg your pardon-" Mr. Lee didn't hide his confusion after a seemingly longest thirty seconds of their lives. 

But the mighty CEO who didn't want repeating himself, ignored him and began scanning the room as if looking for potential candidate. His expression didn't change a bit, it was cold. Leaving everyone to hold their breath as his gaze swept across the room.

"Sir, if that's the case, then," Mr. Lee quickly asked his assistant to stand up, "you can have my assistant. Mr. Yu is very capable." Knowing full well that he only had male assistants, he gladly offered him his right hand man to please him.

But when Kristoff didn't spare him a glance, he urged the managers for recommendation. They quickly made assessments of their subordinates that would qualify for the position. They're afraid that if they fail to satisfy the boss, all of them were doomed.

"You," suddenly, the boss called out to someone at the back.  Everyone looked at the direction he was looking, including Ely who later realized that she and Jodi were seated at the last row.  "You, the lady wearing eyeglasses." 

Ely swallowed hard and looked helplessly at Jodi. Could somebody else be wearing glasses except her? The CEO couldn't be referring to her, right? Did he not forget this morning's little incident? Did he deliberately call her out so he could punish her? In front of everyone?

'I'm doomed---‘

"Mr. Hansen, Sir," no one knew where Shanel picked up her courage but for Ely, she became an angel for her that instant. Her boss was going to stand up for her. She mentally bowed to buy her coffee for the rest of her life. "Ms. Green just started barely a week ago. I can be your assistant instead."

Of course, she wouldn't let go of such precious opportunity. But Ely didn’t care. She was more than thankful. Shanel just saved her the trouble. After all, if she becomes an assistant to the CEO, how's she going to help Adeline with her son? She might get her *ss fired very soon. And all of the efforts to send her in the company would be in vain.

"Everybody dismissed, Ms. Green, go to the secretary's office." with that, the CEO took his leave.

Everybody was dumbfounded. 

'What did just happen?! I'm sorry mom. I screwed up.' 

Ely was confused. She didn't understand what happened until Zack, one out of five secretaries that the CEO had, approached her and enlightened her.  "You will be working as Mr. Hansen's personal assistant."

He guided her to the topmost floor where the secretaries and the CEO himself held office. She followed unwillingly.

"And?"

Zack knew what she meant. But the secretary couldn't offer other than that general job description. For starters, the CEO never mentioned that he wanted to make Ms. Green his personal assistant. 

It was an out of the blue decision after he read the report that Zack himself gathered for him. 

"Call her whole department, I need to find out what she's up to," Kristoff Hansen said angrily. 

If there's someone who had the privilege to see the CEO's varying emotions, it was Zack as he'd been working closely with him for the past five years. Though he wasn't sure if it's a good thing for him or not. 

"Yes, Sir," though confused as to why he asked for the whole team, Zack didn't dare ask why. His boss was not happy with what he just found out and he better stay out of his way. 

But no matter how confused he was himself, he had to answer Ms. Green as if he knew what the CEO was up to. And most especially, even if it looked like she'll be replacing him. 

"Mr. Hansen has five secretaries including myself. Each of us has different tasks and represents the different businesses under Hansen Group. It is obvious why there's a need for multiple secretaries. The company is huge.  A lone secretary might be out of his wits in few hours. Besides," he's not allowed to say his thoughts though so he stopped right there. 

However, Ms. Green looked at him with questioning eyes.

"Why me?" She even looked like she was about to cry. "I'm just not cut out for the job. I don't want to get fired."

Zack understood her worry. "I will guide you. Don't worry."  He just couldn't keep thinking why she seemed to be so clueless. She would be working with Mr. Hansen himself. Wasn't it why she was there in the first place?

Ely tried to calm her nerves. The situation had gotten into this so she better be careful. 

She didn't have an encounter with the CEO for the rest of the afternoon. A sixth secretary table was arranged for her. She begun with her tasks immediately after that which included familiarizing the day to day schedules of the boss.