Chapter 1: Notification
1727 Words
Switzerland – BHMS Campus
Eshana Amari walked out of the building, her JBL headphones blasting Woman Commando by Aura Starr featuring Annita & Coco Jones. She swayed to the music, enjoying the crisp Swiss air, when she noticed a crowd of students whispering excitedly outside the classrooms.
Curious, she pulled out her headphones and asked, “Excuse me… what’s going on? Why is everyone so happy?”
One guy smiled, holding a letter. “We’re getting our internship acceptance letters today!”
“Oh,” Eshana murmured, unsure how to react.
Another girl smirked at her. “Don’t tell me you didn’t get yours?”
Speechless, Eshana shook her head. “I… I don’t know.”
Then another girl scoffed. “Even if she didn’t, who wouldn’t accept her?”
A third girl chimed in, a hint of jealousy in her tone. “Anyone could accept her… it’s just you bozos are jealous of her beauty. All the guys on campus talk about how pretty she is and how she dresses, but they don’t even notice you.”
Eshana felt a pang but smiled weakly. “Thanks, Chloe… I just don’t want to fight.”
Chloe grinned, taking her hand. “Don’t worry, you’ll get accepted too. Let’s go—come on, Eshana!”
“Thanks,” Eshana replied.
As they walked, Eshana asked, “Where did you get accepted?”
“I’m going back to France,” Chloe said casually.
“Oh… that’s nice,” Eshana said.
Chloe nodded. “Yeah, I’ll be working there. Plus, I haven’t seen my family in a long time.”
“That’s great,” Eshana smiled.
Chloe linked her arm with Eshana’s. “Let’s buy some food and head back to our dorms.”
Seoul, South Korea – Han Corporation Industries
Meanwhile, Jihoon Han, a young, strikingly handsome man, sat at his sleek office desk with his friend and partner, Minjuun. Jihoon’s assistant approached nervously.
“I’m sorry, sir, but we have a problem,” she said.
Jihoon frowned. “What’s wrong?”
The assistant explained, “Miss Jawkins gave birth yesterday. She’ll be on leave for six to nine months due to her recovery.”
Jihoon exhaled slowly. “So… what do we do now?”
Minjuun leaned back confidently. “Don’t worry. We’ll handle it. You can return to work and assign someone else temporarily.”
Jihoon managed a small smile. “I’m happy for Miss Jawkins… at least she told me. But now, I need to find someone soon.”
Minjuun teased, smirking. “Everyone knew she was pregnant except you, Mr. ‘I Don’t Care.’”
Jihoon rubbed his temples. “So, what can we do?”
“I’ll handle this,” Minjuun said, standing. “Don’t worry.”
As Minjuun left, Jihoon’s phone rang. It was Han, his father and Chairman of Han Corporation. Minjuun answered the call on his behalf.
“Good afternoon, sir,” Minjuun said.
“Call me Han,” his father replied firmly. “Come to my house now. We need to discuss something important.”
“Of course, sir,” Minjuun said. He turned to Jihoon. “Your father wants to see you immediately.”
Jihoon nodded, feeling a mix of anticipation and anxiety. Minjuun called the driver, and they left for the Han residence.
Two hours later, Jihoon and Minjuun arrived at the Han family residence.
Jihoon stepped inside and immediately saw his father, Han, seated with his mother, Soojin.
“Finally, you’re here,” Han said, his tone sharp but relieved.
“Dad, meet Minjuun,” Jihoon introduced.
“Good evening, sir,” Minjuun said respectfully.
Han raised an eyebrow. “Minjuun… are you my worker or employer?”
Jihoon corrected him smoothly. “A business partner, and CEO of the Le Shaw family.”
Soojin tilted her head. “You mean your mother, Lina?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Minjuun replied politely.
“Well, say hi for me,” Soojin instructed.
“I will,” Minjuun answered calmly.
Han nodded, then leaned forward. “Enough of this. Let’s get to business. Miss Jawkins gave birth.”
Jihoon nodded. “Yes, I knew.”
“None of your business,” Han interrupted sharply.
Han leaned back and continued. “I spoke to an old friend of mine. She told me she found you a secretary.”
Jihoon frowned. “And?”
Han’s eyes gleamed with authority. “I don’t know who she is or where she’s from. But all I’ve heard is that she’s dedicated and strong. My only concern is that she brings profit to the company. That’s it. My warning to you: you will accept her. Do not care whether she is ugly or beautiful.”
Soojin’s eyebrows shot up. “Yuu… don’t you forget your son is married.”
Han waved dismissively. “Whatever. I don’t care.”
Back at BHMS, Chloe and Eshana were in their dorm room, arranging their beds and preparing snacks so they could relax and watch a movie on Eshana’s laptop.
While Eshana was in the small dorm kitchen washing plates and preparing food, Chloe lay across the bed, scrolling through the laptop.
“Eshanaaa,” Chloe called out. “Should we watch a crime and thriller series or something else?”
Eshana wiped her hands with a towel. “How about High Potential? I already watched Season 1.”
“Ooh, okay!” Chloe said, excited. She searched for the show on the laptop—
and that’s exactly when a BHMS notification popped up.
Without thinking, Chloe clicked it.
A new email opened.
Dear Eshana Amari,
We are here to inform you that your internship has been accepted by BHMS. You will be working as a secretary at Han Corporation Company in South Korea.For more information please contact or see the administrator office.
Chloe froze.
Her eyes widened.
Her heartbeat stopped.
Her mind went blank.
Han Corporation.
South Korea.
Tayc’s friend’s family.
Her stepbrother’s circle.
“No… it can’t be…” Chloe whispered.
Eshana walked over, confused. “What can’t be?”
Chloe turned slowly, still shocked. “E–Eshana… you got accepted. Yuu—your internship… you’re going to work as a secretary for the Han Corporation Company.”
Eshana blinked. “Chloe, stop joking.”
“I’m not joking!” Chloe pushed the laptop toward her. “Look! Here it is!”
Eshana set the food down quickly and snatched the laptop.
Her eyes scanned the email once…
twice…
three times…
“It can’t be me,” she whispered. “Me? Just a Black girl being accepted into that company?”
Then suddenly—
“Aaaaaah!!” she screamed.
Chloe screamed too.
They jumped around the dorm room, hugging, laughing, shouting, crying, everything at once.
“We have to celebrate this!” Eshana said breathlessly.
“Yes, dear—we are celebrating tonight!” Chloe cheered.
They continued dancing and screaming like two women who had just won the lottery.
Meanwhile, in South Korea…
Minjuun leaned back in his chair and sighed. “Damn… your father is strict and mean.”
Jihoon chuckled. “I just hope the new secretary is like Miss Jawkins. Sharp and easy to work with.”
Minjuun smirked. “What if you fall in love with the new secretary?”
Jihoon scoffed. “That’s crazy. I have a wife who loves me so much.”
“To you, she loves you,” Minjuun muttered. “But she doesn’t.”
Jihoon frowned, but Minjuun stood and clapped his shoulder.
“Come on, dude. Let’s go.”
Back at BHMS, Chloe threw herself onto the bed dramatically.
“Now that you got accepted,” she said, “tomorrow we’re going to the administrator’s office. We need all the information about your trip. Then”—she snapped her fingers—“we’re going to the salon. Shopping. New nails. New clothes. And this time, let me spoil you.”
Eshana giggled. “Yes! Tomorrow I have to tell Mama the news.”
Chloe grinned. “You should tell your Papa too!”
They burst into laughter.
Chloe wiggled her eyebrows. “And what about the fine men in South Korea? You’re going to see them faaace–to–faaace.”
“STOP!” Eshana slapped a pillow at her.
Both of them screamed, laughed, and rolled around the bed, excited for the future.
Meanwhile, in South Korea – Jihoon’s Penthouse
Jihoon walked into his penthouse and immediately stopped.
The house was a mess.
Dishes in the sink.
Clothes thrown everywhere.
Shoes scattered.
Zero cleaning done.
He shook his head in disappointment.
Silently, he loosened his tie and removed his suit jacket, rolling up his sleeves. He started cleaning—picking up clothes, wiping the counters, vacuuming the floor. It took time, but when he was done, the house finally felt breathable again.
He headed straight to the shower.
As the hot water hit his skin, he remembered Minjuun’s words:
“What if you fall in love with the new secretary?”
“Your wife doesn’t love you—notthe way you think.”
“Everyone knows it.”
The words hurt.
Because they were true.
Yuri had never loved him.
She loved the Han name, the money, the status… but not him.
Jihoon let the hot water burn his back as if it could wash away the pain.
After the shower, he cooked simplenoodles, ate quietly, and eventually fell asleep on the couch—too tired to move to the bedroom.
Seven hours later, loud banging echoed through the penthouse.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
Jihoon jolted awake. “Yuri?”
He rushed to the door and opened it.
Yuri stood there in a short dress, makeup smudged, irritation written all over her face.
“Why are you banging the door?” Jihoon asked, still sleepy.
“Leave me ALONE!” she screamed, shoving past him.
“Where were you?” Jihoon asked softly.
Yuri whirled around. “Why the hell do you CARE?”
Her words cut through him like a blade.
“You do your things,” she snapped. “And I’ll do mine.”
Without waiting for an answer, she stormed into the bedroom and slammed the door.
Jihoon stood there—hurt, silent, lonely.
He didn’t follow her.
Instead, he went back to the couch… and slept there, as always.
- Writer
