In the midst of the bustling construction project owned by the Alexius family, a young woman with blonde hair arrived with a confident stride. Gillian Fellow, clad in worn coveralls and carrying a tool-box, surveyed the large machines that loomed like giants awaiting her. This ambitious construction project belonged to Geoffrey Alexius, a wealthy businessman known for his disdain for love, and now, he needed Gillian. Indirectly, that is.
Previous technicians had failed to address the technical issues on this project, leading them to contract Gillian, a skilled technician working as an assistant in her father Greg Fellow's workshop. Although just an assistant, her skills were well-known. Now, she stood in the middle of the project office, facing recruiters, managers, and construction superintendents.
"Welcome, Miss Fellow. We desperately need your expertise," said the recruiter with a tense tone. Gillian simply nodded, her eyes sharp and ready.
After a brief conversation, she headed straight to the field. The sun warmed her safety helmet, but Gillian didn't care. Her gaze was fixed on the machines waiting for her touch. The other workers' looks, full of skepticism and curiosity, followed her every move. She was the only woman here, and her presence was like a bright spot amidst the male dominance.
"Who is that woman? The new technician?" one worker asked with a tone of wonder.
"Looks like it," came the reply as they watched Gillian arrive at the site, accompanied by the manager and construction superintendent.
Gillian wasted no time. She began working on the broken generator set. Quickly, her small but deft hands removed the machine cover, checked the cables, and got to work. Every movement demonstrated her skill and mastery of the technical tools. She rearranged cables, replaced components, and cleaned oil leaks with impressive speed and precision.
The machine roared back to life, drawing the attention of the previously skeptical workers. "How is this possible? So quickly?" one worker whispered.
Gillian gave a faint smile. "No machine is beyond repair with a little attention," she said modestly, cleaning her tools. Her face was covered in dust and oil stains, but her eyes shone with satisfaction.
She let her skills speak louder than the dismissive looks around her. The project workers began to realize that the woman's beauty was just a camouflage for her other charm—a clever disguise.
The news about the generator set that had long been dead, now revived, caught the attention of a group of male workers who had been observing from afar. They began approaching the woman who was tidying up her tools, preparing to move on to another machine or vehicle.
~~~
The windows of the Alexius Corporation office were wide open, letting in the warm sunlight and the magnificent view of London. The skyscrapers towered high, creating a glittering and relentless urban landscape. The elegant office was filled with a silent business aura, punctuated by the occasional sound of a photocopier and footsteps on the cold marble floor.
In one corner of the room, Geoffrey Alexius's personal assistant—Sebastian Foster sat at a neatly organized desk. Files and a laptop formed the landscape of his busy work. Although the surroundings were quiet, his focus was broken when the phone on his desk rang, as if interrupting the silence.
He received news from the construction manager, Reynolds, who delivered the good news that a young technician had gotten the project back on track.
"Hello, this is Foster," the man answered the phone.
"Hello, Mr. Foster! This is Reynolds. I have good news for you and Mr. Alexius. Our project is back on schedule thanks to the technician we just hired," Reynolds's voice was full of enthusiasm.
Sebastian paused, disbelief etched on his face. Then a broad smile spread across his face. The man could not hide his joy. "This is excellent news, Mr. Reynolds. I'll relay this to Mr. Alexius! Thank you. Have a great day!" he quickly ended the call without asking about the new technician's identity.
Sebastian left his desk with a cheerful expression. He was ready to share the good news he had just received. Right in front of a room, Sebastian knocked firmly on the door.
"Come in!" Geoffrey said, still focused on his work, occasionally lifting his head.
"Sebastian! You look pleased. Is there good news?" he asked with a faint smile. The man was only being friendly and showed his smile to Sebastian and the Alexius Residence's Chief Steward.
"Mr. Alexius, I have good news for you! Our project is back on track thanks to a new technician we've hired!" The man quickly shut the office door.
"Hm— Really? Who is this technician? Do you know his identity, Sebastian?" the man presumed that the young technician they were talking about was a young man, freshly graduated from university. A mechanical engineering engineer.
Alas! He hadn't had the chance to ask further about the technician from Mr. Reynolds. The news came so suddenly, and he was too enthusiastic, receiving positive news after so long. How could he not? It was like an oasis in the desert.
"Sorry, I didn't have time to ask, Mr. Alexius."
Geoffrey sighed, clearly disappointed. "You can contact him now, can't you? I want to know who this skilled technician is," he then slumped back in his chair, twisting his family ring. Only the primary heir was allowed to wear it.
Sebastian promptly picked up his cell phone and contacted Mr. Reynolds, the construction manager. This answered Mr. Reynolds's guess that Mr. Foster would be calling him back. Among the workers, the man was known for his sharp intuition.
"Hello, Mr. Reynolds?"
"Hello, Mr. Foster! How can I help you?"
"Mr. Reynolds, I will put the call on speaker so Mr. Alexius can hear our conversation. Didn't you say that our project is back on track thanks to your technician's skills? We'd like to know more about his identity. Can you provide some information about him?"
Sebastian waited nervously for Mr. Reynolds's response. There was a reason for his anxiety. Geoffrey Alexius, the youngest son of Lord Victor, was known to be unfriendly and had never been involved in any scandal with women. Not even scandals; the man had never cared to touch a woman.
"Yes, as I just informed you. We are very pleased to know that this time we did not make a mistake in hiring someone. Although she is a young woman. But her expertise—"
"Sorry, I have to interrupt!" Sebastian was somewhat startled when the man mentioned a young woman. His eyes looked at Geoffrey, who was focused on the blueprint on his desk just minutes ago.
But now, his gaze was fixed on him with a sharp look. "A woman?" Geoffrey's attention was entirely on him.
"Did I hear you correctly, Mr. Reynolds? A woman?" Sebastian could read the expression on his boss's face, which further emphasized Mr. Reynolds's words.
"No, Mr. Foster! Although she is very young, her skills are beyond doubt. Truly an excellent young technician. We are very grateful to Gillian. She has really saved us! You have to see her for yourself! She is the pride of our project!" he replied with great enthusiasm.
"Gillian who?" Sebastian asked quietly, his voice seeming to falter as he observed Geoffrey's reaction.
"If I heard correctly, Fellow! Yes, Gillian Fellow. The only daughter of the Fellow workshop owner. Quite a distance from here!"
"Please convey my thanks to Miss Fellow, Mr. Reynolds. Thank you for giving us the good news." Geoffrey replied suddenly, still staring at Sebastian.
"Alright, Mr. Alexius. I will let her know! Have a great day!" Reynolds ended the call with a smile.
Sebastian felt a bit relieved after the call ended. Meanwhile, Geoffrey's expression reflected confusion. How could a young woman like Gillian Fellow possess such remarkable skills in the technical world? Questions swirled in his mind, but he had no answers.
Meanwhile, in his grand office, Geoffrey remained seated with a serious expression. The news of a young woman named Gillian Fellow saving their project seemed to spark curiosity and interest in him. For the first time.
"Sebastian," Geoffrey said calmly, "I want to know more about Gillian Fellow. Provide me with all the information you can gather, including her background and technical experience."
Sebastian nodded respectfully, though in his heart, he felt that this situation could become increasingly complicated. Informing Geoffrey about a young woman with extraordinary technical skills might elicit unexpected reactions. However, he didn't want to think about it.
"Is there anything else I can assist you with, Mr. Alexius?"
"You may leave, Sebastian! Thank you," he replied with a furrowed brow, as if deeply contemplating something.
"Excuse me!" Sebastian quickly walked toward the door, leaving Geoffrey in a thoughtful silence. His gaze appeared downward.
"What is he thinking this time?" Sebastian wondered to himself.
It was truly surprising news that the newly hired female technician by Alexius Corporation could resolve the technical issues in his project. Geoffrey felt disappointment and reluctance in his heart. His conservative mindset made him skeptical of the idea that a woman could handle technical work in a construction field traditionally dominated by men.
"A woman? Could she possibly understand this job? Are there no male workers capable of handling this issue? Why a woman?" Geoffrey muttered, puzzled, with a dismissive tone. He sighed deeply.
Geoffrey's views on the cunning and deceit of women, and a flash of a past bad memory etched in his mind, resurfaced. The enormous suspicion further fueled his doubts. Especially as he witnessed how a woman had shattered his family's harmony.
Not wanting to think too much, Geoffrey quickly grabbed his cell phone and called Sebastian. "Sebastian, get ready! We are going for a site visit. Now! Change the entire schedule!" he ordered abruptly, his tone brooking no argument.
"What the bloody hell! I knew it!" Sebastian cursed inwardly.
"Sebastian, why are you silent? Are you cursing me?"
"Isn't it natural to curse you!" Sebastian inwardly felt frustrated. "You mean now, Mr. Alexius?"
"Now, Sebastian! Leave your work and come to my office quickly! I'm waiting!" he replied, ending the call.
Sebastian should have known that Geoffrey, his boss, often changed his mind abruptly. However, he still found himself frequently frustrated by his boss's personality. Sebastian quickly contacted Olivia to alter Geoffrey's entire work agenda for the month, while stepping out of his office, still feeling annoyed.
After providing detailed instructions on the necessary changes, including canceling some appointments, rescheduling client meetings, and coordinating with relevant parties to accommodate the schedule shifts, he said, "I know this is very inconvenient, Miss Wycliffe, but we have to keep everything running smoothly," trying to reassure himself.
"I understand, Mr. Foster!"
There was a knock on the office door, causing Geoffrey to momentarily glance toward it. Receiving no response from inside, Sebastian opened the door.
"Let's go!" Geoffrey said, rising from his seat. He grabbed his favorite pen, quickly straightened his suit, and stepped out.
"Look! Who's irritated now? You always curse me, Sebastian. But I know you secretly enjoy it." He smiled, pleased with making his personal assistant feel annoyed.
Sebastian huffed. "Only I can endure dealing with you! Otherwise, I would have drowned you at the bottom of the River Thames!" he whispered softly, enough to make Geoffrey chuckle as they headed to the project site.
❄❄❄