The Girl Who Humiliated Me, Now Works for Me

Chapter 3

The alarm shrieked at five, but Clarissa had been awake since four, her heart hammering against her ribs with a cocktail of nerves and anticipation. Today would reshape everything. Today, she would interview at TechNova Corp.

She stood before her mirror, studying her reflection in the gray blazer she'd splurged on yesterday—a investment in hope.

"You look beautiful." her mother whispered from the doorway.

Clarissa turned and fell into her mother's embrace, brief but anchoring. "Pray for me, Mom. This has to work."

"I know you'll be extraordinary."

When the taxi entered Jakarta's business district, Clarissa felt herself crossing into another realm—one she'd once navigated with ease, now foreign as a distant planet calling her home.

"TechNova Corp Tower," the driver murmured, craning his neck skyward. "Most impressive building in the district. You interviewing there? Lucky woman."

Clarissa managed a thin smile. Lucky? She could only hope fate was finally turning in her favor.

As the taxi pulled up to the gleaming facade, Clarissa stepped out on unsteady legs.

She drew a deep breath and walked through the revolving doors.

The lobby struck her speechless. Polished white marble floors caught and scattered light from crystal chandeliers suspended high above. Floor-to-ceiling glass walls separated the waiting area from an indoor garden lush with tropical plants. At the lobby's heart, a modern fountain whispered like something from a five-star hotel.

"Good morning, you must be Miss Clarissa Maharani." A woman in a navy blazer approached with a practiced smile. "I'm Melissa from HR."

"Good morning, Miss Melissa. Thank you for this opportunity." Clarissa met her handshake firmly.

"Actually, about that..." Melissa's smile carried an odd undertone. "There's something I need to discuss with you. Shall we head to the conference room?"

Melissa led her through marble corridors lined with contemporary art.

"Miss Clarissa," Melissa began once they were seated across from each other in a room that screamed executive luxury, "I have news that might surprise you."

Clarissa's pulse quickened. Please don't let them cancel because they found someone better qualified. Her dream couldn't shatter before it had even solidified.

"You won't need to go through the interview process today," Melissa continued.

The world tilted. Clarissa's shoulders sagged as defeat washed over her. "Oh... I understand if you've decided—"

"Wait, let me finish." Melissa raised a hand, her smile genuine now. "You don't need an interview because Mr. William—our CEO—has personally decided to offer you a position at TechNova Corp immediately."

Clarissa sat frozen, eyes wide with disbelief. Her mind scrambled to process the words, coming up empty. "I'm sorry... what?"

"Mr. William personally reviewed your resume and was thoroughly impressed with your profile. He asked me to bypass the interview process entirely and welcome you to our team." Melissa slid a thick folder across the table. "This is your employment contract for the position of Executive Assistant—a highly strategic role reporting directly to executive leadership."

Clarissa stared at the folder as emotions warred within her. Joy—almost too overwhelming to believe. But also confusion. And suspicion. Why was this so easy?

"Miss Melissa," she said carefully, "I'm incredibly grateful for this opportunity, but I feel I should be transparent. I'm a recent graduate with minimal professional experience. Executive Assistant is typically a role requiring significant expertise and experience. Why is Mr. William so confident in me without even meeting me?"

Melissa paused, seeming to weigh her words. "Mr. William has exceptional instincts for recognizing potential. He believes that raw talent and the right attitude often matter more than experience. He sees qualities in your profile that align with what he's looking for."

The answer felt incomplete, adding layers to the mystery rather than solving it. But Clarissa didn't want to appear ungrateful. Perhaps good fortune sometimes arrived in unexpected packages.

"All right," she said finally, nodding slowly. "I'm honored by Mr. William's confidence and will work tirelessly to prove worthy of it."

"Excellent!" Melissa looked relieved. "Now, let me show you around so you can familiarize yourself with the environment and meet the executive staff you'll be working with closely."

Back in the elevator, Melissa explained the building's layout. "We have twenty-eight floors. Lobby and ground floor are public areas, floors two through five house operations, six through ten are IT development, eleven through fifteen marketing and finance, sixteen through twenty management, and floors twenty-one through twenty-eight are executive levels. As Executive Assistant, your workstation will be on the twenty-fifth floor."

When the elevator opened on twenty-five, Clarissa entered a world apart from the floors below. Quieter, more sophisticated, with opulent interior design. Thick navy carpeting, mahogany-paneled walls, and warm ambient lighting created an atmosphere of understated power.

"Incredible," she breathed.

"The executive floors do have a different energy," Melissa agreed. "And this will be your workstation."

Clarissa found herself before what would be her workspace—a substantial solid wood desk paired with a leather chair that promised comfort through long days. But what stole her breath was the floor-to-ceiling window beside it: Jakarta's entire cityscape spread below like scattered jewels, skyscrapers gleaming against an endless blue sky.

"It's perfect," she whispered. She felt alive again, like she had a place in this world—not just a ghost of better times.

"Let's continue the tour," Melissa said, leading her through the executive amenities.

Each revelation left Clarissa more stunned. Conference rooms with smart glass that could turn opaque at the touch of a button, advanced sound systems, and perfect climate control. A pantry that rivaled upscale restaurants, complete with professional espresso machines, imported snacks, fresh fruit, and a dedicated chef preparing lunch for staff.

"This is our employee fitness center," Melissa announced, opening doors to a spacious gym. Treadmills, weight equipment, yoga area, even a compact sauna. "Available to all employees at no cost. We also have personal trainers twice weekly."

Clarissa nodded, hiding her amazement. Once, even a basic gym membership had felt financially out of reach. Now she had access to five-star amenities at no charge.

"And this," Melissa opened another door, "is our relaxation space. When you need a break from demanding work."

The room featured plush sofas, dim lighting, soft music, and aromatherapy creating a sanctuary of calm. Several employees were taking power naps or simply unwinding with herbal tea.

"Mr. William prioritizes work-life balance," Melissa explained. "He believes happy employees produce extraordinary results."

Every mention of William—Mr. William, as everyone called him—deepened Clarissa's curiosity about this enigmatic CEO. From the website, she knew David William was a young visionary who'd built TechNova Corp from nothing. But personal details were scarce.

"What is Mr. William like?" Clarissa asked carefully as they returned to the twenty-fifth floor.

Melissa's smile turned cryptic. "Mr. William is... intensely professional. Completely dedicated to his work. And a perfectionist of the highest caliber. He expects excellence from everyone, especially himself."

"But he's fair. As long as you perform at maximum capacity and deliver results, Mr. William will recognize your contributions. Just... don't disappoint him."

"Oh," Melissa glanced at her watch, "tomorrow morning we have our monthly meeting with all department heads and Mr. William. It'll be your first encounter with him. Make sure you prepare an impressive introduction. First impressions carry enormous weight here."

Clarissa's pulse quickened. "Of course. I'll be thoroughly prepared."

"Perfect. Now, let me introduce you to the executive staff you'll be working with regularly."

The rest of the day unfolded like a beautiful dream. Clarissa met various department heads who welcomed her with professional warmth. They shared lunch in the executive dining area, which felt like an upscale restaurant.

"Clarissa, what's your educational and professional background?" asked Sandra, the VP of Marketing, savoring salmon prepared by the executive floor's personal chef.

Clarissa hesitated. She couldn't mention her family's bankruptcy or recent struggles. "This is my first professional position."

"Straight to Executive Assistant? That's quite unusual," David, the Finance Director, nodded with obvious curiosity. "Mr. William must have seen something very special in you."

Special? Clarissa wasn't sure what could be special about her. And honestly, this only deepened her suspicion. There was some mysterious thread she couldn't yet unravel.

"Mr. William personally reviewed and approved Clarissa's recruitment," Melissa added. "He said her profile was exactly what he was looking for."

This information intensified Clarissa's bewilderment. A perfectionist CEO with such demanding schedules had taken time to personally review her resume? And approved her without an interview? What was really happening? The questions circled her mind like an unsolvable maze.

When the workday ended, Clarissa stood beside her desk watching the city lights begin to twinkle below. Jakarta looked stunning from this height—like scattered diamonds catching the fading light. Her emotions swirled—gratitude, excitement, but also anxiety and questions that defied explanation.

Why her? Why immediate acceptance? Why such a strategic position?

She pulled out her phone and called her mother.

"Mom, my first day is finished," she said, voice thick with emotion.

"How did it go? Was the interview smooth?"

"That's the strange part, Mom. I didn't interview at all. The CEO decided to offer me the Executive Assistant position immediately. The office is... like a palace. Every amenity imaginable, and I have a desk on the executive floor with an incredible city view."

She heard her mother's pause. "Executive Assistant? That's... quite a senior role?"

"That's what puzzles me too, Mom. But maybe it's just fate. I'll work hard to prove I deserve this."

"Be careful. If anything feels wrong, don't hesitate to tell me."

"Of course, Mom. Tomorrow I meet the CEO. I'm terrified."

"You'll do wonderfully. But stay alert."

After hanging up, Clarissa packed her work bag while considering her mother's gentle warning. Something was indeed unusual about this situation. But for now, she chose gratitude and hope that everything would work out.

What she didn't realize was that a pair of eyes watched her from behind office glass on the same floor. David William stood behind partially opened blinds, studying Clarissa as she prepared to leave, his expression unreadable.

One hand held a cup of cold coffee, the other clenched in his pocket.

His jaw tightened as he watched the confused but hopeful smile on Clarissa's face.

"Enjoy this sweet confusion, Clarissa," he whispered, voice low and cold. "Because soon, everything will become crystal clear."

He closed the blinds and returned to his desk, scattered with documents. His laptop displayed Clarissa Maharani's personnel file—complete with photos, biographical data, and her family's history. Including information about her father's bankruptcy and their current financial situation.

William's smile was razor-thin.

"Welcome back into my life, Clarissa," he murmured, closing the laptop. "This time, the game will be played by my rules."

Two hearts that had once been connected were preparing to meet again. One carried hope and wariness for a fresh start, the other harbored vengeance that had crystallized into ice over the years.

And tomorrow, when their eyes met again, fate would begin revealing cards long hidden in this complex game of love and revenge.

Clarissa's life, just beginning to find light, would soon enter its deepest darkness. And she had no idea what was about to strike her.