Mila's POV...
I woke up early, my excitement preventing me from sleeping a wink. Today was my first day at Harris Construction, and I could hardly contain my anticipation.
I quickly showered, then slipped into an all-black dress, eager to get started.
Rushing down the stairs, I headed straight for the kitchen to grab a quick bite. As I savored my breakfast, my phone dinged with a message from Maya wishing me luck. Every word she wrote made me smile, filling me with optimism that today would be perfect, and nothing could stop me now.
Stepping out of the house, I hopped on a bus heading to the other side of town, where the company was located.
But as I neared the building, an unexpected wave of doubt hit me. Unanswered questions flooded my mind, and my confidence began to waver.
Taking a deep breath, I mentally steeled myself and walked into the office with my head held high.
I approached the receptionist, greeting her with a nervous smile.
"Good morning. How can I help you?" she asked with a warm expression.
"I'm Mila Brown, here to start my job," I replied, my voice shaking slightly.
She nodded, quickly typing away at her computer. I stood there, my nerves creeping up, until she finally looked up, her smile reassuring.
"You need to take the elevator on your left to the 10th floor. Marie is waiting for you there," she instructed.
Nodding, I walked to the elevator, still feeling lost in my thoughts.
When I reached the 10th floor, a girl with stunning shoes rushed over to me.
"Hi, I'm Marie," she said, pulling me along briskly.
"Mila Brown," I replied, my nerves palpable.
"Let's get you settled," Marie said, her voice cheery. "You'll be Mr. Harris's new assistant."
The moment she said it, my knees nearly buckled. The tension that had been simmering inside me suddenly intensified.
"Wait... you mean the owner of the company?" I asked, my voice trembling.
"Yeah," Marie smiled, tugging me toward the elevator. "His former assistant retired. You're here to take her place."
As we stepped out of the elevator, I was almost too stunned to take in my surroundings. The office was breathtaking. I struggled to maintain my composure as Marie led me to the only office in sight.
"Sir..." Marie called, knocking lightly on the door.
The chair swiveled around to reveal an older man, probably in his early 60s, his steady gaze meeting ours.
"Marie, what do you have for me?" he asked, standing to pour himself a cup of coffee.
"Sir, we've found a new assistant for you," she said.
"Finally," he muttered, giving me a firm handshake. "And what is your name?"
"Mila Brown," I replied with a smile, still processing everything.
"It's great to meet you, Mila," Mr. Harris said warmly. "Marie will show you to your desk once you've signed the necessary paperwork."
I nodded in gratitude, and Marie led me to complete the formalities before taking me to my workspace.
"Now you're all set," she said. "Lunch is at 2 PM in the cafeteria downstairs. If you need anything or just feel bored, don't hesitate to call me. Here's my number." She wrote it down on a piece of paper.
"Thanks, Marie," I said, feeling slightly more at ease.
I quickly texted Maya, telling her everything was going smoothly, and got to work.
Six months later...
Working at Harris Construction had been everything I hoped for. Mr. Harris was like a father figure to me, and I'd become good friends with Marie. Life was perfect. But little did I know, everything was about to change.
"Mila, can you come to my office, please?" Mr. Harris called.
I rushed to his office, eager not to keep him waiting.
"Yes, Sir?" I asked, standing before him.
"As you know, the end of the year is fast approaching, and I need you to start preparing for the company party. Marie and Jolie will help you with the planning since this is your first one," he said, dismissing me with a wave of his hand.
"Got it," I replied, heading back to my desk.
As soon as I texted Marie, she was at my side, practically squealing with excitement.
"Mila, do you realize what this means?" she said. "Mr. Harris doesn't just trust anyone with the end-of-year party planning. This is a big deal, and we need to bring our A-game!"
"We've got this," I said, sharing in her enthusiasm.
Marie, Jolie, and I worked tirelessly on the preparations. The night of the party arrived, and Maya insisted on going shopping with me for a new dress.
"Maya, hurry up! We're going to be late!" I called out as she took her time getting ready.
"I'm almost done, you don't have to yell," Maya replied, laughing as she walked down the stairs.
Finally, we made it to the venue, where the company was buzzing with people eating, drinking, and socializing. The decorations were exactly as I had envisioned, and I felt a swell of pride.
Marie approached us, a drink in hand.
"Mila, we did it!" she said, her excitement contagious as she handed me a glass.
I smiled, introducing Maya to Marie. They hit it off immediately, and before I knew it, the night was flying by.
As the evening wound down, Mr. Harris took the stage for his speech.
"Good evening, everyone. For those who don't know me, I'm George Harris, CEO of Harris Construction. It's my pleasure to welcome you all tonight," he began.
He paused, his expression turning serious.
"And before we raise our glasses, I have an important announcement to make," he continued. "I am retiring from the company."
The room fell silent. I stood frozen, stunned by the news. Mr. Harris hadn't told me anything about this.
"But I'm not leaving you without a leader," he said. "My son Angel will be taking over as CEO in the new year."
I felt my heart race. I'd heard all the rumors about Angel — his rebellious attitude, his reputation for trouble. The thought of him taking over sent a chill through me.
In that moment, I knew nothing would ever be the same again.