Serena walked through the polished glass doors of Pearl Empire, her eyes wide as she took in the sleek, modern architecture of the building. The energy of the bustling office, with employees moving briskly from one place to another, felt like a world entirely different from what she was used to. Her heart raced—this was it, the beginning of her new journey.
"Right this way, Serena," James Parker said, his voice warm and welcoming. He guided her through the spacious office, pointing out different departments and explaining their roles as they walked. His calm demeanour was a stark contrast to the intensity of the office, and Serena found herself thankful for his easygoing nature.
They stopped in front of a sleek desk tucked in a quiet corner of the open office space. "This is your station," James said, his smile reassuring. "You'll be reporting directly to Kael, as you know, and you'll be assisting with his day-to-day needs. Most of your tasks will involve organising his meetings, handling documents, and keeping track of important information, but it's also essential to stay on top of any unexpected requests he might have."
Serena set down her bag, her nerves bubbling. She had no idea what Kael would expect of her, but she had to prove she could handle this—she couldn't afford to fail.
"Kael?" Serena repeated, slightly taken aback. She hadn't expected James to refer to him so casually, as if they were close friends.
James noticed her confusion and gave a light chuckle. "Oh, right. You're probably wondering why I just said his name like that. Kael and I go way back. We were friends at university before we both joined Pearl Empire. We're pretty close."
Serena nodded, still a bit surprised but grateful for the clarification. She couldn't imagine having such a personal relationship with someone like Kael, given his reputation.
"I'll be honest," James said, a more serious note entering his voice. "Kael can come off as... intense. He's got high expectations, and sometimes it can feel like nothing is ever good enough for him. But trust me, he's a good person at heart. He just has a lot of pressure on his shoulders."
Serena raised an eyebrow, unable to suppress a sceptical smile. "A good person? From what I've seen so far, I haven't seen any kindness from him. He's arrogant and self-centred."
James sighed, glancing down for a moment before meeting her gaze. "I know he can seem that way, but there's more to him than just what you see on the surface. He's got his reasons for acting the way he does. If you give him a chance, you'll see a side of him that most people don't. I'm not saying he's perfect, but he's not all bad, either."
Serena wasn't sure what to think. She had yet to see anything that made her believe Kael was anything but the cold, distant figure that everyone warned her about. But she didn't want to dismiss James's words entirely. "I'll keep that in mind," she said, though she still wasn't convinced.
James gave her a reassuring smile. "Good. Just remember, it's a high-pressure role, but I believe you'll fit right in. You'll work closely with me, but most of your tasks will be independent. Kael tends to have a lot of demands, so it's important to stay on top of everything. If you ever need help or have questions, don't hesitate to ask. I'm just down the hall."
Serena nodded again, trying to calm the fluttering in her chest. This was her new reality. She just had to keep up.
Serena had barely settled into her desk when her inbox pinged with an email marked URGENT. The subject line read: Kael Valen's Schedule for Review. She opened it hesitantly, scanning the long list of meetings, calls, and tasks. It was overwhelming.
"Everything okay over here?" James asked, walking up with a cup of coffee in hand.
"Uh... fine, I think?" Serena said, her voice uncertain. She gestured at the screen. "Is it always like this?"
James chuckled. "Welcome to life with Kael. His schedule is a beast, but you'll get the hang of it. Just focus on the priorities for now."
Serena nodded, though the knot in her stomach tightened. She spent the next hour double-checking the details, ensuring every meeting had the right participants, locations, and times. She was just about to click 'Send' to confirm when a sharp voice broke her concentration.
"Are you planning to send that, or are you auditioning for the role of most indecisive assistant?"
Serena flinched at the sharp voice cutting through her thoughts. She looked up to find Kael looming over her desk, his piercing gaze fixed on her screen. His suit, tailored to perfection, screamed authority, and his mere presence seemed to drain the air from the room. His footsteps were sharp and deliberate, echoing in the otherwise quiet office. Every step seemed to steal the breath from the air around him. Serena barely had time to look up before he was standing over her desk, his towering figure blocking the light. His tailored suit seemed to sharpen the atmosphere, making the space feel colder and more oppressive. His gaze, piercing and unblinking, locked onto her screen with an intensity that made Serena's fingers freeze mid-type. It was as though he could see through her, see into her thoughts, and his presence seemed to devour the space around him. The air in the room became thick, and for a fleeting moment, it felt like everything else—the buzzing of computers, the shuffle of papers, the murmur of voices—vanished. Only Kael remained, towering above her, making every inch of her body aware of his dominance.
"I—uh—was just double-checking everything," she managed, her fingers hovering nervously over the keyboard.
"Double-checking?" Kael arched a brow, his lips curving into something between a smirk and a sneer. "Efficient. Or is it just an excuse to stall?"
Her back straightened instinctively, a flash of irritation warming her cheeks. "I don't want to make any mistakes."
Kael leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a dangerously low register. "Mistakes are inevitable, Winters. The difference between success and failure is how quickly you fix them. What I don't tolerate is hesitation. This company moves fast, and I don't have time for second thoughts—or second chances."
Serena swallowed hard, her hands balling into fists under the desk. His words felt like a challenge she wasn't ready to rise to yet.
"I'll keep that in mind," she replied coolly, meeting his gaze with more defiance than she felt.
"Good," he said, straightening and adjusting his cufflinks as if to punctuate his authority. "I need the Baxter report on my desk in fifteen minutes. And, Winters…" His eyes narrowed slightly, his tone laced with finality. "If it's late—or wrong—don't bother coming in tomorrow."
As he turned to leave, Serena's irritation bubbled to the surface. "Mr. Valen," she called, standing abruptly.
Kael paused mid-step, turning his head just enough to glance over his shoulder. "Mm?"
"Could you… not call me Winters?" she asked, her voice firm despite the nervous flutter in her chest. "Just Serena is fine." She tried to be friendly with him, hoping it would make working together a bit easier.
Kael turned fully, his sharp gaze locking onto hers like a predator assessing its prey. For a moment, he said nothing, the silence stretching uncomfortably. Then, his lips curled into a faint, humourless smile.
"You don't like Winters?" he said, his tone smooth but carrying an edge. "It suits you—detached, professional, and not something that needs much thought."
Serena's jaw tightened, and a flash of disappointment crossed her face. She'd hoped for a different response, something that might bridge the gap between them, but his words cut deeper than she expected. Still, she held her ground.
"I'd prefer Serena."
His expression didn't soften, but something shifted in his eyes—mild amusement, perhaps. "You'd prefer it, would you?" He stepped closer, his presence suddenly overwhelming. "Let me make something clear, Serena. What I call you isn't a matter of your preference. It's a matter of mine."
Her breath hitched, but she didn't look away. "Understood," she said, her voice steady.
Kael's smirk returned, faint and cold. "Good. Now, fifteen minutes." With that, he turned and strode away, leaving Serena fuming silently behind her desk.
"Jerk!" she muttered under her breath, her fingers flying over the keyboard. As she hit "Send," she resolved one thing: Kael Valen would never be satisfied to see her back down.
Still absorbed in finalising the Baxter report, Serena's focus remained on the screen, her fingers tapping away at the keys. But just as she was about to dive deeper into the work, James appeared at her desk, holding a sticky note with a phone number scribbled on it.
"Here," James said, placing the note on her desk.
"What's this?" Serena asked, glancing up at him.
"Kael's personal number," James replied casually.
Her eyes widened. "Why are you giving me this?"
James chuckled. "Relax. It's part of the job. You'll need it to contact him directly about urgent matters—scheduling changes, meetings, or anything critical. But," his tone turned serious, "this number is not to be shared with anyone. It's only for his family, close friends, and work purposes."
Serena picked up the sticky note, staring at the numbers like they might explode. "Got it. Work only."
"And one more thing," James added, leaning on her desk. "Don't chat with him unless it's about work. Kael doesn't do small talk."
She smirked. "Trust me, I won't. And I'd never chat with him unless I absolutely have to."
James raised an eyebrow, a playful glint in his eyes. "Really? No woman can resist Kael Valen."
Serena snorted, her expression deadpan. "Well, congratulations. You've just met the one who isn't."
James blinked, then let out a laugh. "Come on. Not even a little curious? He's rich, good-looking, and has this mysterious bad-boy vibe."
She rolled her eyes, folding the sticky note and sliding it into her phone case. "Not my type. At all."
James shook his head, grinning. "If you say so."
Pulling out her phone, Serena quickly saved the number. She hesitated for a moment, her lips curling into a mischievous grin. Under "Name," she typed: Devil.
James caught a glimpse of her screen and burst out laughing. "Oh, you're bold."
She shrugged, sliding her phone back into her pocket. "I'm just speaking the truth as I see it."
"Well, good luck, Devil's secretary," James said, his voice filled with amusement. "You're going to need it."
As James walked away, Serena couldn't help but chuckle to herself. If Kael found out what she'd saved his number as, he'd probably have her fired on the spot. But for now, it was her little secret.
She glanced at her phone and saw the name "Devil" she had just saved. Her mouth twisted into a faint, wry smile as she muttered under her breath, "Maybe try not to be such a jerk while you're at it."