Secretly Living With My Boss

“Hestia, what now? Have you sent the money yet? We really need it,” her mother, whom she was now talking to on the phone, asked. Hestia winced and sighed. She didn’t know how to explain to her mother. Plus, it was a very wrong timing for her to call her now. “I’m sorry, Mom. I haven’t sent it yet, but I promise I will try to find a way now,” she promised with embarrassment. She didn’t even know if she could fulfill that promise, as it was also what she promised her mother few days ago, but she still hadn’t sent the money. “That’s what you also said the other day, but what? We haven’t received anything!” her mother shouted at her. She understood why her mother’s voice got louder. But what could she do? Nothing at all. “Mom, you and Dad know that I still don’t have a job, right? I prioritized paying for the bed space I’m renting here, as well as my transportation and other expenses for sending out my resumes. Don’t worry, Mom. I have an interview today.” Today was her interview for a position she was applying for as a secretary. Her apartment-mate, who worked as a receptionist there, informed her that there were many job vacancies in the company that applicants were needed for. The truth was, when she saw how beautiful the company was and how well-known it was, she thought that even if she became a janitor there, she would accept it just to work in that place. But when she found out that there was a vacancy for the secretary position, she submitted her resume without hesitation. She hoped to be accepted even though she didn’t have any experience. ‘I did my on-the-job training at the municipal hall, as Mayor’s secretary, so I think I have a high chance of getting this job.’ Hestia glanced at an applicant who had just entered the interview room. She was the third one, and she was next to the person beside her. Instead of focusing on thinking about what questions she might be asked, she was explaining to her mother. She kept her voice low. “But, Mom? I really think I have a high chance of getting this job,” she assured her mom because she’s really confident about getting hired in the company. The signal on her phone suddenly became weak, so she stood up. “Wait a moment, Mom, I can’t hear you clearly.” She went near the other side of the office where there was a closed door because the signal was stronger there. She turned on the loudspeaker of her phone to hear what her mother would say. “There, Mom. It seems like the signal is okay now. Don’t worry, Mom... I’m sure I will get it this time. Trust me, okay?” But her mother quickly withdrew the certainty in her mind. “Ha! That’s what you said before, but you didn’t get accepted. How many interviews did you have already? You’ve been in New York for two months now, and still, you haven’t found a job? My goodness, Hestia! It’s like your father and I wasted money on your education, but it’s going nowhere. This is exactly what I’ve been telling you. Your dreams are too big. You went to New York, but you haven’t progressed at all. If only I knew you would turn out like this, well, we shouldn’t have sold your father’s wheat field and our cow just to fund your education! The cow is even more useful than you!” Hestia seemed to regret that she put her phone on loudspeaker. She noticed that some of the applicants were looking at her, so she avoided their gazes. She didn’t want to think anymore. Besides, she was already used to her mother being like this. Indeed, she couldn’t deny that she felt sad about what her mother have said. It wasn’t what she expected to hear at this moment. She felt like her hope shattered. Her confidence to do well in her interview today was already gone. She wanted to give up, but she couldn’t. ‘I am the eldest, so I have no choice.’ “Ms. Coronel?” She heard someone call her, and her heart suddenly raced. “Okay, Mom, they’re calling me for the interview. I’ll call you later.” She didn’t wait for her mother’s response. She immediately ended the call and followed the woman who called her. The woman smiled a bit. “You already have a copy of your resume there, so no need to give another copy to Mr. Salazar, okay? You can go in now, good luck!” She didn’t know if she should be happy about the woman wishing her good luck. Good luck for her to be accepted? Or good luck if she would even be accepted? She felt her blood rushing through her body due to nervousness. She had been through interviews multiple times before. But her heart still pounded with anxiety. She felt her feet trembling as she walked inside her future boss’ office. “Good morning, s-sir—” Hestia stopped greeting when she saw the man in front of her. ‘Is he going to be my boss? Why is he so handsome? And hot? He’s like a model in magazines and on TV! I wasn’t informed that I would be greeted by someone who can make my panties drop.’ She was expecting an old man to be her boss. With a last name that sounds like a rich person who plays golf and always has brandy on his office table. But she was wrong. This boss seems so young. If she were to guess, their ages wouldn’t be too far apart. She wondered how old he is. “S-Sir, uhm, good morning. I’m Hestia Anya Coronel. Y-you will be interviewing me today for the position of executive secretary,” she stuttered, especially since she noticed he was staring at her. He nodded and gestured for her to sit; his gaze still fixed on her. “Have a seat, Ms. Coronel.” He slightly raised the corner of his lips. She sat down in the chair opposite his office table, awkwardly smiling while her heart continued to beat rapidly. “I’m Raven Ymir Salazar, The President of Salazar Group of Companies. I’m going to be your boss, if... you’ll pass the interview.” ‘If I pass the interview, damn! It feels like I won’t get this job!’ Her hands turned cold, and her heart nearly jumped out of her chest from extreme nervousness. “So, Ms. Coronel, I read your resume, and I noticed that you had high grades in the university where you graduated. But the name of the university isn’t familiar. Is it in your town?” he asked. She immediately nodded, but deep down felt discouraged. Whenever someone asks her that, it usually meant she wasn’t qualified. Just because the university she attended wasn’t well-known. That’s what she noticed when she ventured here in New York. Everyone wanted applicants who graduated from prestigious universities. It was such a disadvantage coming from the town where her school wasn’t even recognized. Often, even if it wasn’t explicitly stated that it was required to be a graduate from a good university, applicants would still be automatically screened out. ‘s**t! No chance at all. I feel like I’ll fail right away. If I don’t get this job, that’s it, I give up! I’ll just go back home. Just kidding! That’s not possible, for sure! My dad will rub salt in my wounds.’ “Hestia... The name of the goddess of the heart,” he said, before slightly raising the corner of his lips. “You’re 26 years old...” He gave her another look. “I noticed on your resume that, aside from the long gap before you graduated, is it true that you don’t have any experience? Why is that?” he asked seriously. “Sir, I stopped studying when I was in my 3rd year of college. And yes, Sir. I don’t have experience because I’m a newly graduate and I decided to come to New York to look for a job. But, Sir, I had on-the-job training as a secretary of the Mayor in our town, so I know what a secretary’s work entails,” Hestia replied with a smile. Mr. Salazar put down her resume. “You said you know what a secretary’s work entails. What if I tell you that the applicant after you is a graduate from one of the prestigious universities here in New York, and she has 3 years of experience as a secretary in my rival’s company. So, why should we hire you instead of her?” Mr. Salazar asked. “U-um, ahh...” She stuttered again. She knew the answer to the question, “Why should we hire you?” but when it was followed by “instead of her?” and the fact that the one referred to was a monster in terms of credentials and experience compared to her, she doesn’t know what to say already. “What is your answer, Ms. Coronel?” Mr. Salazar asked again before looking at his watch. “Sir, you should hire me because I am passionate and hardworking. I may not have that kind of experience, but I’ll assure you that—” “I don’t want that answer,” he interrupted her, halting her. “Give me a different one. I’m tired of hearing that. So, give me an honest answer. Why should I hire you instead of her, who has experience as a secretary in my rival’s company? I want a serious answer from Ms. Hestia, especially since your name is that of the Goddess of the Heart, your answer should come from the heart.” She stared at him, still nervous, but also questioning whether he was serious in what he said. “Do you want a serious answer, sir?” she said, hesitatingly. He smiled and nodded. ‘Alright! Here goes nothing! Maybe I should just speak my mind.’ “Why me, not her, sir?” she asked as if she wasn’t in the interview. “Come on, sir! Why would you hire her as your secretary if she used to be the secretary of your rival company? What if she’s a spy? Not that I’m trying to sabotage or something, but what if she doesn’t have the heart to work here? Unlike me, as soon as I walked through the building’s door, I told myself that I wanted to work here,” she continued, talking as if she were chatting with a friend. The smile returned to Mr. Salazar’s lips. “And how come?” “Well, sir, why not? When I entered, the guard and the receptionists greeted me with a smile. The HR staff and the lady who assisted us applicants were also kind. Not only that, but we also even had free iced tea, coffee, and cake outside. Your coffee isn’t the usual 3-in-1, it’s brewed, and we can choose how much milk we want. Plus, we can have as much as we want. You know, sir? Never in my entire life have applicants been treated like that. We often have to buy our own iced water outside because we aren’t even given water in the company we’re applying to. We actually thought we were attending a seminar instead of an interview. And, sir, we really appreciate it, you know? Even as an applicant, I feel valued. I wonder how it will be when I become an employee in your company…” Mr. Salazar nodded, “So you feel valued, that’s the reason why you want to work here? But let’s go back to the former secretary of my competitor.” Hestia winced. They were going back to the topic about Ms. Perfect. She didn’t know how to answer anymore. “What if, Ms. Coronel, I asked another applicant the same question, why should we hire her instead of you, and she said that she is more qualified and that she has information about my competitor that will benefit my company?” he asked. “Oh, really? Then let her be hired. Alright, I’ll leave now, Sir. Nice meeting you!” Hestia said, turning her back on Mr. Salazar. ‘What else can I do? It looks like one applicant is indeed Ms. Perfect. She has special information, what can I offer in return? My special recipe dishes? Of course he wouldn’t be interested in that. So, maybe it’s better to just accept that I won’t really get hired in this company.’ “Hey, where are you going? You haven’t answered my question yet.” “Sir, I give up. Just hire her. After all, she’s perfect and more experienced than me,” Hestia said while avoiding eye contact with Mr. Salazar. Mr. Salazar smiled. “Hestia,” he called her unexpectedly, causing her to turn to her handsome boss. “I want to know your answer.” Hestia let out a sigh. “I think you should not hire her.” “Continue.” “Because, sir, if she did that in her previous company, then she can do it in your company too.” “So, are you saying that she may betray me?” Mr. Salazar asked with a slight smirk. Hestia nodded. “Not to ruin her reputation, but offering that to you when she accepted it is already wrong, because that matter is confidential, and even if she doesn’t work for her previous company anymore, she still doesn’t have the right to do that. And one more thing, sir, I know that you wouldn’t hire someone like her, because I believe this company is not like that, and most of all, you’re not that kind of boss.” Mr. Salazar fell silent, still gazing at Hestia. She averted her gaze, unsure if her answer was correct, but she already accepted that she won’t be hired as the secretary of the man who loves asking questions. That’s alright. “Ms. Coronel, if I hire you, where do you see yourself 5 years from now?” he asked, something she didn’t understand why he was asking because she knew she had already failed. She answered even though she had no hope left. She had thought about it sometimes. She had dreamt of what she would be 5 years from now. “Five years from now, Sir? Hopefully, I have my own house, or a car, or have invested in a business. But because of my responsibilities to my family? I think that’s unlikely in 5 years. So, I think, after 5 years, I will still be your secretary because I need this job for the next 5 or 10 years. But that depends on whether I am still alive or not,” she jokingly said before looking at Mr. Salazar. “Okay, then… you’re hired,” he said. Her eyes widened, and she felt like she was deaf. “Sir? Is it true?! I’m hired?! You’re not joking, right?” “Nope, I’m serious. You can start tomorrow,” he calmly said. But because of her overwhelming joy, Hestia jumped and quickly hugged Mr. Salazar. “Sir! Thank you! Thank you so much, Sir! You have no idea how much I need this job, so thank you very much!” she happily said while hugging Mr. Salazar, surprising him with her actions. He coughed, causing Hestia to snap out of it and quickly step back. “Sorry, Sir! Peace!” “Alright, you can leave now. Don’t forget tomorrow, okay? You should be here by 7:30am sharp,” he reminded her before fixing his disheveled tie and wrinkled shirt. “Sir, even if it’s 5 am, I’ll be here. I’ll be the one to open the company, no problem for me,” Hestia said before happily leaving the office. Upon closing the door, Raven simply smiled upon hearing her still shouting in excessive joy.