chapter One:The Interview
Decency woke up very early that morning to prepare for her interview at Smith’s Enterprise Firm, owned by the wealthy and highly proficient business tycoon, Smith Parker. A man known for his ruthlessness—he was never kept waiting.
She hurriedly dressed, slipping into her best tailored grey suit and striking red heels. Anyone who saw her might think she was interviewing for the position of a model or a CEO, not for a secretary’s post.
Outside, she boarded a cab right in front of her house, and soon it stopped in front of the towering glass building of Smith’s Enterprise. Taking a deep breath, she stepped out and walked inside.
“God, this is heaven in disguise,” she whispered to herself as she looked around in awe.
At the reception desk, a stern-looking woman barely raised her head before asking in a clipped tone, “How can I help you?”
“I’m here for an interview,” Decency replied, her voice soft but steady.
The receptionist’s eyes scanned her from head to toe, pausing on the red heels, before she frowned. For a moment, Decency glanced down at her outfit, suddenly unsure if she had dressed appropriately.
Without another word, the woman dialed a number on the office telecom. After a brief exchange, she hung up and said flatly, “You may go right up.”
Decency’s heart skipped a beat. This was it.
Decency’s heart pounded as she walked down the marble hallway. Her heels clicked against the shiny floor, each step echoing in her ears. She couldn’t help but notice the grandeur of the building—the glittering chandeliers, the sleek glass walls, and the soft hum of professionalism that lingered in the air. Everyone seemed busy, moving with purpose. It was a place where there was no room for mistakes, no space for weakness.
She entered the elevator, her palms damp with nervous sweat. She wiped them discreetly against her skirt. The elevator walls gleamed like mirrors, and for a second she caught her own reflection staring back at her. Her wide eyes were filled with determination, but beneath that was a deep current of fear.
You can do this, Decency. You didn’t come this far to back down now, she reminded herself, pressing her lips together.
The soft ding of the elevator broke her thoughts. The doors opened to the top floor, and she stepped out into an almost eerie silence. Unlike the buzzing activity of the lower floors, this corridor was calm, controlled—too controlled. Even the air felt heavier here, scented faintly of leather and polished oak.
At the end of the hallway loomed a massive double door, sleek and intimidating. Decency paused, her heart hammering against her ribs. She took in a slow breath, adjusted her blazer, and raised her hand to knock.
Before her knuckles touched the door, it swung open.
Standing there was a tall man with broad shoulders clad in a perfectly tailored black suit. His presence was commanding—his sharp jawline, neatly styled dark hair, and piercing eyes that seemed to look right through her. It was him. Smith Parker.
The magazines had done him no justice in their descriptions. Seeing him in person was overwhelming. He was more than the headlines, more than the glossy covers—his presence was magnetic, larger than life, and intimidating in a way no photograph could ever capture.
Decency froze, her breath caught in her throat. For a brief moment, his eyes swept over her—taking in her suit, her neatly styled hair, and finally resting on the red heels. A flicker of something unreadable passed across his face, but it disappeared just as quickly.
“You’re late,” he said, his voice deep, smooth, and cold.
Decency’s eyes widened slightly. She glanced down at her watch. It was exactly nine o’clock—the time her interview was scheduled.
“I—sir, the interview was for nine,” she managed to reply, her voice steady despite the storm of nerves within her.
“Exactly,” he said sharply, his gaze narrowing. “Nine o’clock is when you should already be in my office waiting. Not just arriving.”
Heat rushed to her cheeks, but she quickly lowered her eyes to hide her embarrassment. Apologizing wouldn’t change anything.
Smith stepped aside, holding the door open just enough. “Come in.”
She swallowed hard and walked past him into the office. The sheer size of it made her breath hitch—it was enormous, with floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a panoramic view of the city skyline. The furniture was sleek and modern, all polished wood and dark leather. On the far wall, bookshelves stretched upward, filled with files, documents, and a few personal touches—a rare painting, a small globe, a single crystal decanter of whiskey.
Everything screamed power. And the man behind the desk was the embodiment of it.
“Sit,” Smith ordered, gesturing to the chair across from him.
Decency sat down carefully, trying to compose herself. Her hands rested in her lap, but she clasped them tightly to keep them from shaking.
Smith leaned back in his chair, studying her with a gaze so piercing it made her squirm. He folded his arms across his chest, his expression unreadable.
“So… Miss Decency, is it?” His tone was cool, almost dismissive.
“Yes, sir.”
He tilted his head slightly, his lips curving into something that wasn’t quite a smile. “Interesting name. Let’s see if it suits you.”
The words made her pulse quicken. It wasn’t just what he said—it was the way he said it. Testing her. Prodding her.
He flipped open the file on his desk. “You have no experience as an executive secretary.”
“I may not have experience in this exact position, sir,” she replied softly, “but I learn fast, and I don’t give up easily.”
His eyes flicked up to meet hers, sharp and calculating. “Is that so?”
“Yes, sir,” she said, holding his gaze even though her heart raced.
For a moment, silence stretched between them. Then, with a faint scoff, he leaned back again. “We’ll see.”
Decency forced herself to sit straighter, refusing to be intimidated. This was her one chance, and she wouldn’t let his arrogance shatter her resolve.
Smith’s eyes lingered on her as if he were peeling back layers she didn’t know she had. The silence was heavy, deliberate, a test in itself. He was the kind of man who enjoyed making others squirm, who measured their worth in how long they could endure his scrutiny.
Decency refused to look away. Inside, her nerves were rattling, but outwardly, she steadied her breathing, keeping her gaze level.
Finally, Smith lifted a sheet of paper from her file. “You studied business administration.” His tone was flat, unimpressed. “Hundreds of applicants come here with the same degree. What makes you think you’re different?”
Decency straightened in her chair. Her instinct was to shrink, but she forced herself to lean slightly forward, her voice calm. “Because my degree is not the only thing I’m offering. I bring commitment, resilience, and focus. I’m not afraid of hard work. I may not have everything others have on paper, but I can assure you, I’ll do whatever it takes to meet your standards.”
His brow arched, the faintest flicker of amusement in his eyes. “My standards are not ordinary, Miss Decency. Most people break under them.”
Her lips curved faintly, though her heart was hammering. “Then perhaps I’m not most people.”
A pause. The room seemed to still. He leaned back, tapping his fingers once against the desk, his gaze never leaving hers. For the first time, something sharp shifted in his expression—not annoyance, not exactly interest, but something that hinted at recognition.
He flipped the page. “You’ve worked as a receptionist, a personal assistant, and a junior clerk. None of those qualify you to be my executive secretary. This position is not for the fainthearted. I need someone who can anticipate my needs before I even say them. Someone who doesn’t flinch when I raise my voice. Someone who can keep up with a schedule that would break even the most experienced staff.”
Decency swallowed, but she didn’t let her fear show. “Then give me the chance to prove I can be that person.”
His lips tightened, the arrogance in his expression returning full force. “You think determination alone will be enough? You’ll need more than that.”
Her fingers curled slightly on her lap, but her voice held steady. “Determination, adaptability, and a willingness to learn—those are enough to build everything else.”
For a brief moment, silence reigned again. Smith leaned forward this time, his elbows resting on the desk, eyes boring into hers.
“Tell me, Miss Decency… what do you really want from this job? Money? Prestige? To put on a tailored suit and parade around as if you belong in a world you know nothing about?”
The words were cutting, cruel in their precision. Decency’s throat tightened, but instead of looking away, she leaned in slightly. “I want the chance to prove myself. I want to work hard enough to build a future that doesn’t depend on luck or pity. I don’t want handouts. I want to earn my place, even if it means facing people who doubt me.”
Something flickered in his gaze, quickly masked. He sat back again, tapping the file shut with finality.
“You speak with confidence, but confidence doesn’t always equal competence,” he said dryly.
“And arrogance doesn’t always equal ability,” she replied before she could stop herself.
Her heart dropped the moment the words left her lips. Had she just challenged Smith Parker—the man known for crushing egos with a glance?
For a long, tense moment, he stared at her, his eyes sharp as knives. The silence was suffocating, her pulse ringing in her ears. She almost wished she could swallow the words back, but then…
A sound, low and unexpected, broke the stillness. A chuckle.
It was brief, but it was there.
Smith Parker had laughed.
Decency blinked, stunned. He shook his head once, as though trying to dismiss his own reaction, and his face quickly returned to its usual hard mask.
“You’re bold, I’ll give you that,” he said, voice even, though the ghost of that chuckle still lingered in his tone. “Boldness can either open doors or shut them permanently. Which it will be for you… we’ll see.”
Her chest rose and fell slowly, trying to calm the storm inside her. She didn’t know if she had just secured the job or lost it, but one thing was certain—she had caught his attention.
Smith glanced at his watch, then back at her. “That will be all for now. Leave your number with the receptionist. If I decide you’re worth my time, you’ll hear from me.”
Decency stood, her knees slightly weak, but she steadied herself quickly. She smoothed her skirt and nodded. “Thank you, sir.”
He didn’t answer. He was already glancing at his computer screen, dismissing her as though she were no more important than a passing thought.
But as she turned to leave, she felt the weight of his gaze on her once more, lingering just a moment longer than necessary.
Her heels clicked softly against the polished floor as she walked out, her heart racing. She didn’t know what to think—had she failed, or had she just survived the most grueling test of her life?