CAUGHT BY THE PRESIDENT'S HEART

A HOT HELL

CHAPTER III

THIRD PERSON POV

WARMTH and excitement. Cole hardly suppresses his feelings as he is taking steps towards his future to be a flowery one—looking around and observing the details of the sophisticated interior of the company office. He couldn’t help but adore of how elegant everything was placed and designed. The light color combination gives the space a calm and airy atmosphere.

“White.” He whispers, smiling from ear to ear and remembering that significant moment from the past. “That’s right, it is his favorite color.” Looking dreamy and in the clouds, he quickly snaps back and hisss to himself. “Damn it, what am I even thinking.” He curses, shaking those thoughts away.

Feeling a little on the pessimistic side. With the tickling feeling behind his back, he thought that he might be having a stroke of bad luck for suddenly thinking about him.

“Forget it.” He assured himself and took a deep breath.

Arriving in front of the HR office, he knocks thrice and is immediately allowed to come in.

“Cole!” The warm welcome that Cole receives.

“Mr. Oliver Han, sir.” He respectfully greeted and with a bow, that the latter exchanged with a fatherly hug.

“Do not be too formal when you are with me. Besides, you are Sophia’s son whom I also consider my own.” Mr. Oliver’s assurance, patting Cole’s shoulder and looking proud like how any father is.

“Thank you.” Cole immediately replies, warmly embraced by his superior who is his mother’s best friend.

The father figure that he had back in the day and more than what his biological father had been to him. One of the people behind his decision to go back and apply for the job. The person who builds him up to the higher-ups and helps him even boost his chance for the position.

“Would you look at that? Time flies. You are looking, greet son.” Mr. Oliver’s compliments that Cole replied with a dash of a shy smile, followed by a nod. “How is your first impression?”

“Amazing.” Cole’s words summarize everything, smiling from ear to ear and more than excited for his first day at the job.

“Sit down.” Mr. Oliver’s now serious tone Cole quickly caught up with the atmosphere around them and changed into a professional tone. “That’s glad to hear. But before I’ll introduce you to the company CEO. I will brief you on a few more things, knowing that you already read and familiarized yourself with the company’s rules and regulations.”

With an eager nod and two, Cole assures Mr. Oliver, and without a doubt, Mr. Oliver trusts him.

“Then, there are three things you should remember and do not cross no matter what.” Mr. Oliver then drives to business differently.

His warning tone made Cole wonder what and brushed that ringing trouble inside his mind. Leaning a bit forward with all the look of mixed anxiety and fear for what’s to come. Mr. Oliver raised his three fingers and said.

“One. The CEO’s words are absolute in this company. No matter what he says and wants you to do as his secretary, you are obliged to follow.” A tricky and peculiar as a rule.

Those thoughts are inside Cole’s mind, thinking of the worst and dirty things. Yet, knowing the company’s reputation and how powerful it is. He erases those negative thoughts, knowing that being the CEO of this prestigious company will never do things that could harm its reputation.

“I got it.” He replies with a firm nod.

“Second.” Mr. Oliver follows. “Never talk back or interrupt the CEO.” Simple and reasonable. “And third, never curse in front of the CEO. No matter what happens, swallow your anger in front of him.” Now worried about those kinds of ominous words.

Cole couldn’t help but cross his brow and wonder about these rules that were warnings to him.

But who is he to complain or ask? “I get it.” He agrees at the end with all that hesitation.

“Shall we.” Mr. Oliver then leads him personally to the company’s CEO and arrives first at the company’s office area. “Can I have everyone’s attention!”

Just a few steps from the stairs where the CEO's office is at. Everyone’s attention is now on them. Clearing his throat, Mr. Oliver introduces Cole.

“Everyone, this is our new employee. Introduce yourself.” Mr. Oliver directed.

With a bow and a casual smile, Cole introduces himself. Everyone welcomes him warmly and introduces themselves quickly, while Mr. Oliver points out the employees’ positions and the department that they are under.

“In which department will he be Mr. Hans, sir.” One asks.

“He is the CEO’s new secretary.” Mr. Oliver’s proud tone left everyone astounded. That quickly changes into a sorry and fearful expression that bewilders Cole.

“What just happened?” Cole asks himself, now more than puzzled as the cheery atmosphere becomes gloomy and everyone’s expression is screaming condolence at him.

“Good luck, man!” One screams from the way back, raising his hand with a thumbs up that the others hesitantly follow.

“What was that?” he questions, but before he can ask, Mr. Oliver taps his shoulder and leads him to meet the company’s CEO.

“Everyone, what do you think? Will he survive?” the immediate gossip and teasing tone that everyone quickly judges right after Cole and Mr. Oliver is nowhere in sight.

“I’ll bet for three days.” Lucy handed the bet as she had always been.

She sets the extent of Cole’s life in the company.

“Well, he looks quite tough. So, I will be betting for a week.” Josh counters and bets his own.

“I do not think so.” A gentle and beautiful voice echoes.

That is followed by those soft steps and the presence of an angel that never fails to attract everyone’s attention.

“Miss. Everdale.” Surprise and immediately bows to greet and show their respect to the company’s marketing department head and the crown princess.

Nicole gives them a smile and a nod. She then looks at the stairs where Cole was taken. Witnessing everything and with a light heart, bet.

“He will survive.” Her confident tone made everyone chiefly since this was a first for her to show such interest to anyone or anything.

“How can you say that Miss. Everdale?” Lucy asks and bravely.

“Well, I just knew it.” Nicole’s secretive response and a smile that knew a thing and two. “But I also know that their first meeting after all these years is chaotic.” She almost giggles, imagining the scene, which is not that far from the truth.

“DAMN, S****!” Cole curses and crushes the second and third rules that Mr. Oliver just told him about.

Words that more than rub Xander in all the wrong way. For how could someone and a newly hired person say those foul words in front of him? What’s worse, that foul-mouthed one is his secretary.

“I deeply apologize for his behavior Mr. Altamira, sir.” Mr. Oliver’s heavy and deep apology surprises Xander and strikes that guilt in Cole. “I will take the blame for his actions as I didn’t fulfill my job correctly.

“Are you aware of what you are saying and doing now Mr. Hans?” Xander asks in a challenging tone. “What happened right now just means your immediate termination.” He didn’t want to say those words, but his pride as a tyrant CEO made him.

This scares Cole and deepens the guilt in him.

On the other hand, Xande is more than disappointed and at the same is wondering why his mentor is owning a fault that he didn’t do. Considering that Mr. Hans knew the rules of the company, by which crossing him means immediate termination. What’s more, Mr. Hans is not the type to neglect his job and make unnecessary mistakes like this.

So, owning this kind of fault is irritating Xander in many ways, but at the same time, he doesn’t want to punish his mentor for this kind of reason that is due to his hot-tempered nature.

“That---”

“I apologize and should be the one sir!” Cole steps in, bowing lower than Mr. Oliver and asking for it, cutting Xander’s words irritated him even more. “I didn’t mean to say those things, as I am aware that there is no amount of excuse that will suffice what I did. But please do not fire Mr. Hans. He did his work, it’s all my fault.” Cole owns the mistake and is prepared to do everything to make it right.

“Please.” He begs. “I didn’t mean to say those things. It is my fault, and I will take full responsibility for it.”

“Very well said.” Xander’s cold reply, sitting back down and crossing his arms. “Mr. Hans you do not need to apologize as you are not accountable for anything.” He confirms that lightened Cole’s burden and made him smile.

He immediately thanks Xander but quickly expresses that wary upon seeing Mr. Oliver’s scared expression towards him.

“Since this is your first day. I will give you a slack. And considering Mr. Hans's deep trust in you then, I welcome you as my secretary.” Xander cold tone, but hiding that scheming plan behind his back while looking calm and expressing nothing to his face.

This scares Mr. Hans, but the poor man can’t do anything and can only tap Cole’s back. Giving Cole the chills and in deep breaths and two, he could not help but gulp. Xander then asks for his butler and temporary secretary’s presence.

“Peter. He is my new secretary and starting today he will take all the jobs that you’ve been handling for a while. Brief him on what he needs to do today and fast.” He gives his order, still in his stoic expression, somehow picturing a horror image in Cole’s eyes.

Not even a few minutes pass, and Cole’s jaw drops as the horror meets him when Xander’s butler leads him to his table just outside the CEO’s office. With a clear glass door that separates them and blinds for privacy. Cole’s surprise upon being welcomed with piles and piles of documents that he needs to work on and finish within the day.

“All of this?” his bewildered expression and in disbelief.

“Remember to finish everything within the day. Do not forget some of the errands that Mr. Altamira is asking. His daily routine and your responsibility as his secretary.” The butler reminds him, but more like teasing and insulting in a torturous way.

Though he expected to run errands and buy the CEO’s food, he didn’t expect as burdened with piles of work on his first day. A passive-aggressive revenge that Xander is giving him. Irritating him and boiling his anger. Yet, he shouldn't yield, nor even address the issue that his boss is his worst enemy. Knowing that Mr. Oliver might get into trouble that he didn’t want.

“You got everything, right?” Xander’s butler asks in the coldest way added by his expression that Cole is having a hard time if he will be scared or curse it.

“Of course.” His forced smile calms his nerves, which Xander isn’t helping by glancing his way and with a smirk. “Damn you.” He whispers while acting cool and all smiles.

Plopping on his chair, he sighed deeply and started his job. Working the piles of documents one at a time. Xander’s butler’s notes make it easy for him to navigate and understand. But still, it is overwhelming him as the hours go by.

“These files.” Xander plops another pile of documents in front of him. “I need the signatures asap.” He commands that's making Cole crazy but still keeps his cool. “By the way, buy me my lunch in this shop and make it fast,” he added the burden and gave Cole his list of orders and where to buy it.

“But we can have this delivered sir.” Cole’s innocence of Xander’s deliberate torture.

“I do not want it delivered.” Xander’s straight-up rejection and tyranny.

that burst a fuse inside Cole’s head. But he still got his cool and smiled. Nodding in agreement before crumpling the paper in his hand the moment that Xander turned his back.

“I think I will be a criminal before achieving my goal.” He curses his fate.

Immediately following Xander’s whim, he runs around the entire company building to get the signatures that Xander needs for the day. With his crazy errand for Xander’s petty request. Worst, the elevator broke down, forcing him to take the long flight of stairs to the top floor, leaving him beaten.

“Sir. Your lunch.” His sarcastic tone as he finally arrives with Xander’s food.

“No need for that, I’m going to eat out.” Xander tortured while on his phone and didn’t even once look at Cole.

He then left the office like nothing happened. leaving Cole burning in anger.

“Damn it!”

“YOU WILL REGRET THIS I AM TELLING YOU, XANDER.” Nicole’s knowing words and that hint of a teasing smile.

“Regret?” Xander smirks, yet puzzled.

Still, he doesn’t care about what Nicole is telling him about. “He’s just a secretary, and he should know who is the boss.” His ever-confident and tyrannical attitude.

That leaves Nicole shaking her head in disapproval.

“Let’s see if you will say that same thing soon enough.”

A hinted word that he shoves away, as he is keen on torturing Cole for a long time.