CHAPTER 10 - ASSISTANT
1269 Words
Her uncle sat only a few feet away from her.
The man who had taken everything.
The man who had painted her father’s image black after his death.
The man who has somehow walked away with control over the company her father had built, including the 60% stake that should never have left her father‘s bloodline.
The man whose shadow has shaped 12 years of silence and waiting.
She wanted, with a force that nearly burned through her chest, to look him in the face and ask him why.
Why did you do it?
Why did you steal from your own brother?
Why did you twist the truth?
Why did you make me disappear?
Why did you threaten the niece you should have protected?
She wanted to tell him exactly who she was.
Wanted to tell him that the little girl he thought was gone had come back.
That she was standing right in front of him now.
That she was all grown now.
But Elena said none of it.
Her face remained smooth. Her breathing is steady.
Across from them, Adrian watched her once, then shifted his gaze to Sebastian, clearly wondering why he had asked her to stay behind.
Sebastian leaned back in his chair, adjusting the cuff of his sleeve before turning slightly toward Adrian.
“That East corridor Energy Expansion project,” he said, his deep voice calm and deliberate. “Where are we on it?”
Adrian answered immediately, as he always did when it came to company matters.
“We’ve completed the preliminary infrastructure assessments,” he said. “The next phase is budgeting for the substation upgrades and finalizing the contractor shortlist for the transmission corridor. If the board signs off on the revised capital plan, we can move into implementation before the next quarter.”
Sebastian noted once. “And the budget pressure?“
“Manageable,“ Adrian replied. “Provided procurement remains within the new framework. The risk is mostly in regional delivery cost, and contractor inflation.“
Sebastian‘s fingers tapped lightly against the arm of his chair as he considered that. Then he turned his gaze to Elena.
“I would like Miss Elena to work with you on it.”
Elena’s eyes widened before she could stop herself.
“Sir…me?”
Sebastian‘s expression softened just slightly. “Yes, you.”
For the first time, Adrian‘s stillness shifted. Not much. Just enough to be noticed.
Sebastian continued, “You’ve done exceptionally well today, Miss Hayes. Abilities like yours should not remain limited to the interns' operational unit.”
Elena said nothing, though her pulse kicked harder.
“I see potential in you,“ Sebastian said. “And I’d like to see what the potential can produce.“
Inside, Elena almost laughed at the irony.
More access.
More exposure.
Closer to Adrian. Closer to executive files. Closer to internal projects.
Closer to the kind of information she would need to pull Sebastian Whitmore down piece by piece.
Outwardly, she only smiled with careful gratitude.
“Thank you, sir. I won’t let you down.“
Inside, another voice answered coldly:
No. I want to see you down.
Sebastian gave a pleased nod. “Your salary will be adjusted accordingly, of course. Increased workload deserves increased pay.”
Before Elena could respond, Adrian spoke.
“Sir, is that really necessary?”
His tone was even, respectful, but there was something under it. Something hard to name.
Sebastian looked at him.
Adrian continued, “She’s still an intern. There may be no need to burden her with responsibilities outside her assigned unit.”
Elena's gaze flicked to him.
Sebastian’s brows rose slightly, and then a dry, sarcastic note entered his voice.
“Oh?” he said. “So you may give her work outside her assigned unit, but I may not?”
A faint smile touched Adrian’s mouth, though it never reached his eyes.
“Not at all, sir. I only meant that I tested her based on her records. I wanted to confirm whether her academic background matched her practical ability.”
Sebastian nodded, as if proving his own point. “Exactly. And now that her ability has been confirmed, she deserves the opportunity.”
Then he shifted his attention fully back to Elena.
“You know what?” he said. “You’ll work as Adrian’s personal assistant on this project.”
Elena blinked.
Sebastian clarified, “You will remain an intern, of course. But for the duration of this project, you will assist him directly whenever your input is needed. Your pay will be increased. How does that sound?”
For a second, Elena was honestly speechless.
This was far beyond what she had expected.
An intern one moment. Now attached to Adrian Cole directly, with expanded access and a front-row seat to the machinery running with more global.
She lowered her head politely, gathering herself before speaking.
“Thank you very much, Sir. I'm grateful for the opportunity.”
Adrian said nothing.
He only looked at her.
No expression. No approval. No objection now.
Just that unreadable stare of his that somehow said too much while revealing absolutely nothing.
Sebastian rose from his chair, signaling that the matter was settled.
“Good,” he said. “Then it's final.”
He buttoned his jacket with an easy air, already moving on mentally to whatever demanded his attention next.
“I should get going. I have other matters to attend to.”
As he passed Adrian, he gave him a firm pat on the shoulder. “Keep up the good work.”
Then he paused beside Elena.
His gaze landed on her, warmer than before, and he gave her a brief smile.
“Well done, kid. Keep it up.”
Elena forced herself to hold that smile without flinching.
“Thank you, sir.”
Sebastian gave one last nod, then left the conference room.
The door closed behind him.
Silence settled instantly.
Elena turned her head.
Adrian was still looking at her.
Those dark, unreadable eyes fixed on her with the same unshakable calm that had irritated her all morning. He said nothing for a moment, and somehow that made the room feel smaller.
Elena adjusted the strap of her bag slightly and cleared her throat.
“I'll be heading out now, sir.”
Adrian’s voice came cool and precise.
“Monday morning, I want you in my office.”
Elena straightened a little. “Yes, sir.”
“We'll go over the project details then.”
He paused.
And when he spoke again, his stone sharpened just enough to make the meaning clear.
“When I say 8 AM, Miss Elena, I mean 8 AM.”
A beat passed.
Then his eyes held hers as he added, “No room for lateness….”
He hesitated very slightly, almost as if choosing the last word with intention.
“….or rudeness.”
Elena knew exactly what he was referring to.
The incident in his office earlier.
Her remark.
Her temper.
Heat brushed at her pride, but this time she held it down.
“Yes, sir,” she said evenly. “I’ll be on my way now. Thank you, sir.”
Then she turned and walked towards the door.
She could feel his gaze on her all the way across the room, steady and unblinking.
When she stepped out and disappeared, Adrian remained where he was for a moment longer, his eyes still fixed on the doorway she had just passed through.
As if some part of him expected her to walk back in again.
- Writer
