Chapter 2 – Under Halberg’s Light
1538 Words
“Halberg is crazier than you’d expect. Good thing I don’t work here,” Elena said with a smile.
“Wait… you don’t work here? But—”
“I’m the assistant to the CEO, Mr. Moretti, so I attend his board meetings since he’s currently not here with us,” she interrupted.
“Moretti? You mean Moretti Group?” Adrian’s eyes widened. “Wow. That’s impressive. Halberg is one thing—and Moretti? That’s another level, honestly.”
She smiled as they both walked out of the meeting room to the lounge to get coffee.
They could hear some staff murmuring.
“Yes, he’s the one over there.
“Not bad, actually. He’s good-looking, but it still doesn’t change the fact he’s cheap…”
“I wonder what Elena is doing with him.”
‘As expected of you spoiled brats—at least I’ve got all your attention,’ he thought, ignoring the background chatter as they headed for the counter.
“So, tell me—hope you don’t mind?” She sipped her coffee before continuing, “We were both in Zelgen, and I know it’s not cheap to afford. How come they call you poor with such a prestigious educational background?”
“I actually didn’t have to pay a dime. Funny enough, even the littlest things were covered for me in school—”
“No way!” she interrupted.
“I’m being serious. Sometimes I don’t believe it myself. A school like Zelgen seizes every opportunity to milk you dry. I mean, that’s why it’s a school for the elite. Life hasn’t been easy, but for reasons I can’t explain, I seem to get everything I put my mind to.”
“Your grades must’ve been impressive.”
“I mean… my life depended on it,” he chuckled.
Her cheeks flushed lightly. Wow, he’s intelligent—and handsome. She tried to hide her blush, quickly clearing her throat. “That’s quite impressive for a young man like you.”
Adrian gave a negative nod, his expression changing.
She laughed. “What? Because I called you young? Hmm? Okay, I’m sorry.”
Their eyes locked long enough for the air to grow warm between them.
Just then, Clara and her assistant walked past them without even looking, pretending not to notice. But deep down, seeing both of them together made her furious.
“So…” Elena began again while sipping her coffee, “I saw the way you looked at Clara, and her reaction toward you.”
“I saw the way you glared at her too… I could tell you guys aren’t so cool. Is she always like that?”
“Yes,” Elena said with a smirk. “Clara Hayes—Daddy’s spoiled princess. She thinks she runs this place.”
He scoffed softly. We’ll see about that.
Just then, Leo walked in. “Hope I’m not interrupting something?”
“Absolutely not—I was about to leave anyway,” she said politely, her warm smile returning. “Good thing I’ll be sticking around for a while. Your favorite bully won’t be on your neck all the time. I’ll text you sometime, Adrian. See ya.” She stood to leave.
“But you don’t have my number.”
“Don’t be so sure,” she said with a mischievous grin, walking away as she waved her hand.
Adrian’s smile faded to shock immediately.
“Damn, she’s beautiful,” Leo said as he leaned on the counter, still watching her.
“Didn’t you want us to get back to work?” Adrian replied.
“Why so serious?”
“What was that?” He raised a brow.
“No… umm, nothing, boss,” Leo gave a fake laugh.
——
Back in Adrian’s office, he reviewed old files and work from previous staff to correct errors and pick key details to work with.
Suddenly, the office telephone rang.
“I need you in my office.”
“I’ll be there shortly—”
She hung up before he could finish. Adrian frowned before swallowing his pride and walking over to her office.
Adrian walked in with a subtle knock shortly after the call.
“Good afternoon, Clara—”
“Ma’am. It’s Ma’am for you. And again, you perverted little cheap man,” Clara interrupted.
His eyes widened in shock, his lips parted.
“I can’t recall letting you into my office earlier today when you barged in on me while I was changing,” she said rudely, sizing him up with her eyes. “I decided to call you privately and talk some sense into your thick, cheap skull — I don’t want anyone else to hear about this. What do you expect them to think of me? That a cheap man saw my skin? Next time something like this happens, I’ll make sure your stay here becomes miserable. Consider this mercy. Do I make myself clear?”
‘Wow!’ He thought. Adrian’s jaw tightened, and he clenched his fists in anger, trying hard not to show it. “Yes.”
She raised a brow, expecting more.
“Yes, Ma’am,” Adrian said, knowing she wanted to feed her ego. He didn’t bother apologizing after the insults she had just hurled at him.
“Better.” She glanced back at her laptop, acting like he wasn’t standing there at all.
⸻
Adrian had considered Clara his rival, but after all that had just happened, enemies would be an understatement.
After a long silence, she finally spoke. “Since you want to show us how good you are, I’ll need you to take care of those files by tomorrow. You should understand it takes more than little achievements to impress me—or anyone here at Halberg. So consider this a test of strength.”
She pointed toward a massive stack of files that looked like it could bury a man. “That’s what you’re expected to complete. I hope we’re paying for efficiency, not talk.”
Adrian’s jaw tightened. Jesus. That’s work for a whole team. She’s the opposite of everything I ever thought she’d be, he thought.
“Umm, I could manage that,” he said through clenched teeth. “Tomorrow’s unrealistic, but I’ll have it done by the weekend.”
“Good,” she said with a wicked grin. “That’ll be all for now. Have a good day, Mr. Adrian.”
He grabbed the files and left without another word.
He barged into his office in anger, breathing heavily.
“Yo… what’s with the look, bro?”
He looked at Leo with a brow raised — Leo leaned back with his hands raised in surrender.
He dropped the huge stack of paper, sat next to his desk, and rested his face on his palm with a depressing look. “Who knew success could be so depressing.”
“What’s wrong, ‘boss’?”
“I don’t think I’ve received such insults in my life. Ever since I came here, it’s been quite depressing, to be honest.”
“That’s the price we have to pay.”
“We? You don’t even know what I’ve been through.”
“Oh, I have my own fair share of insults daily,” he responded with a bright smile. “Don’t take things too seriously or you’ll end up regretting it—take some seriously and treat the rest like a joke, you’d see them dropping the insults slowly.”
Adrian sighed, his head still resting on his palm. He rubbed his head slowly, trying to calm his nerves before checking the time and realizing it was getting late and he had somewhere to be.
He stood as he reached for the huge files across his desk.
“Let’s get going.”
“You’ve not answered the question. What’s wrong?”
Adrian sighed, staring straight ahead. “I think we’ve got our fair share of enemies here.”
“Who?”
“Clara. Clara Hayes,” he said flatly. “She’s been giving me bad vibes from the start. Now she’s dumped a mountain of work on me and expects it by the weekend.”
He intentionally skipped the part about him walking in on her, like it never occurred.
Leo’s eyes widened as he noticed the pile of files Adrian carried. “What the f**k!! You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“I’m as exhausted as you are,” Adrian said, forcing a small grin. “But you’ll be doing about seventy percent of this, my boy. Looking forward to seeing what you can do.”
Leo nearly choked. He must be insane.
“When’s the deadline?” he asked nervously as the elevator doors opened.
“Weekend,” Adrian replied simply.
Leo froze, adjusting his shades. “Oh, great. No pressure,” he muttered, walking beside his boss.
The car was already waiting for them. As they stepped out of the building, the evening breeze brushed past their faces.
Adrian glanced back at the massive Halberg tower, the setting sun reflecting off its glass walls.
His eyes burned with quiet determination.
‘No matter what it takes,’ he thought, ‘I’ll rise faster than any of them expect.’
- Writer
