The Billionaire's Bargain

Chapter 3

It marked a new chapter in Chelsea's life, now as Mr. Elliott's secretary. She hurried through her shower and set out for the day's business. Arriving at the office, she felt a knot of anxiety tightening in her chest as she hurried inside the building, steeling herself for the challenges that lay ahead.

"Miss Chelsea, or whatever that unfortunate excuse for a name is, get in my office now!". The CEO's voice shattered the calm like a gunshot.

"Yes, sir," Chelsea replied, her heart feeling as though it might leap out of her chest with every beat.

Arriving late on her first day of work, tension hung thick in the air. Every other worker glanced at her with apprehension, fully aware of the unforgiving nature of their CEO, who tolerated no nonsense.

Chelsea made her way upstairs to where Mr. Elliott's office was located. Each step felt like a weight on her chest as she approached the door. Summoning all her courage, she raised her hand and knocked, her knuckles tapping against the wood with trepidation.

"Come in, you," Mr. Elliott barked, his voice devoid of any sense of warmth or compassion.

Chelsea's hand hovered over the cool metal knob as she cracked it open. Her eyes scanned the room, searching for any sign of what awaited her.

"Good morning, sir," Chelsea stammered, her voice betraying her nervousness. "I'm sorry, I'm late.”

"Oh, spare me that crab", Mr. Elliott snapped, his tone dripping with contempt.

Chelsea's legs felt like lead weights as she stood before her boss, the weight of his harsh words bearing down on her.

"Does this mean I'll have to endure this every day?".

Her mind raced with anxiety and uncertainty, grappling with the daunting prospect of facing such treatment daily.

"Hey, you fool! What's with that empty thought of yours?" Mr. Elliott's voice thundered, jolting Chelsea back to reality with a harsh reminder of her place in his eyes.

"Nothing, sir," Chelsea whispered, her voice trembling with fear.

"Now listen up!" Mr. Elliott's voice boomed with authority. "I'm Mr. Elliott Sterling, the CEO of Sterling's Company. I don't tolerate any nonsense from anyone.”

Chelsea stood there, feeling utterly puzzled and unsure of how to respond.

"Okay, sir," she replied quietly, her voice barely above a whisper as her hand rested on her chest trying to calm herself down

"You don't wear anything fancy to work; you're just a secretary, you fool!" Mr. Elliott's voice was stern and unforgiving. "Stick to a white button-up shirt and black office attire. Occasionally, you'll wear something fancier, but only for meetings. Is that understood?”

"Yes, sir," Chelsea replied meekly, her voice trembling slightly as she acknowledged Mr. Elliott's strict instructions.

The strict dress code reminded Chelsea of her secondary school days when they were required to wear corporate attire from Monday to Friday, with exceptions only for special occasions. The memory brought a sense of familiarity amidst the new challenges she faced in her job as Mr. Elliott's secretary.

"What's on my schedule for today?" Mr. Elliott demanded, his tone brusque and demanding as he turned his attention to the tasks at hand.

Chelsea brushed aside her anxiety as she read out his schedule for the day.

"Sir, we have a budget review meeting scheduled for this afternoon. We must finalize the financial projections for the upcoming quarter,”

"Oh, yes, that's why I fired Mrs. Sarah. She wasn't proactive enough about this project," Mr. Elliott remarked, his voice cold and unforgiving as he justified his decision.

Chelsea's heart raced as Mr. Elliott's words sank in, filling her with a sense of foreboding about the challenges ahead but she continued.

“Sir, We have a strategic planning session with the department heads this morning. We need to ensure alignment on our long-term goals and objectives,"

"Of course, Chelsea. I'm well aware of the schedule. Ensure everything is prepped and ready for the meeting," Mr. Elliott replied.

“Yes, sir," she replied sharply

"Get me a cup of coffee, and make it quick," Mr. Elliott ordered, his tone brusque. "And just so you know, I take it black, no sugar.”

"Right away, sir," Chelsea replied promptly, her movements swift as she prepared Mr. Elliott's coffee without delay.

For Chelsea, it all seemed like a surreal experience. Being a secretary was completely new to her, and her first day on the job felt overwhelming and disheartening. The pressure of meeting Mr. Elliott's expectations weighed heavily on her, leaving her feeling frustrated and unsure of herself.

Five minutes later,

As Mr. Elliott walked into the meeting, the department heads stood up excitedly to greet him. But when he frowned at them, the mood in the room became tense. They sat down feeling nervous and resigned, knowing that Mr. Elliott's serious demeanor would shape how the meeting unfolded.

“Man, he's such a jerk," a voice muttered from the back.

"I hear you, buddy," another voice chimed in agreement.

Thanks to Chelsea's quick thinking, she had already consulted with a colleague on what to do. She walked around and distributed copies of the document to each of the seated colleagues, presenting herself as diligent and proactive.

During the meeting, Chelsea's phone suddenly lit up with an incoming call from Dr. Jamie. She stole a glance at the screen before promptly powering it off, not wanting to disrupt the proceedings.

Mr. Elliott shot her a glare that spoke volumes, louder than any words could convey. Chelsea instantly recognized the meaning behind it: his "stop being stupid" glare.

"I'm sorry, sir," she said, flashing him an apologetic smile.

Chelsea's distraction made Mr. Elliott increasingly irritated, finding everything around him annoying.

Mr. Elliott shifted his focus, his frustration evident as he began tapping his finger on the table in irritation.

“What kind of joke is this? I gave you over a week for this presentation, and this is the best you could come up with. This is utterly disappointing and unacceptable!

The room became tense, and the board members grew worried about their jobs. Things took a turn for the worse when Chelsea's phone lit up for the second time, triggering a sudden disruption in the room.

Dr. Jamie called several times to remind her about the outstanding balance on the hospital bill.

"Oh no!" Chelsea exclaimed, a wave of frustration washing over her.

"And you!" Mr. Elliott barked, jabbing his accusatory finger in Chelsea's direction. "Didn't I explicitly instruct you to ensure that everything was ready by now? I expected you to meticulously double-check every single detail! I will not tolerate these sloppy mistakes!" His unforgiving voice sent a chill down Chelsea's spine.

"I wanted to..." Chelsea began, but she was cut off before she could even attempt to justify

Mr. Elliot scanned the faces of each board member one by one, his expression dripping with disappointment.

“I hate excuses, it is either you're a cable or you are not”.

Mr. Elliott's words had a clear message that all the board members grasped: if they couldn't handle the job, they didn't belong at Sterling Company.

Silence filled the room as

everyone watched Mr. Elliott leave, feelings of anxiety and uncertainty lingering.