This whole week I just spent either watching movies, sleeping, or chatting with Mira and Ana in our group chat. Nothing interesting happened at all.
But now... the day has finally come.
I woke up extra early to make sure I looked proper and professional. For the past few months under Mr. Liam's rule, I had completely given up on wearing formal clothes. Hoodies, trousers, even mismatched socks—if it was comfy, I wore it. And I wasn't alone. Slowly, everyone at the company started doing the same. It wasn't even an office anymore—more like a lounge with emails.
But not today.
I got ready, ate breakfast, and left for the office. I arrived early, so only a few employees were there when I walked in. I headed to my seat and started fixing my desk because there was no way I'd let the new boss walk in and think I live like this.
While I was still organizing the chaos on my table, Ana and Mira arrived too. I looked around and noticed something weird—everyone was wearing formal clothes today. Like actual proper business outfits.
Now all that was left… was to wait for the new boss to arrive.
Just a few minutes later, we heard a commotion — the sound of footsteps rushing up the stairs and loud whispers echoing through the hall.
That could only mean one thing: the boss had arrived.
Moments later, the elevator doors slid open. A few bodyguards stepped out first, tall and intimidating, and then came the man himself.
The atmosphere shifted immediately.
Female employees around us started full-on fangirling. I don't blame them. He wasn't some old man with a briefcase and wrinkles — no, he was young, tall, and dangerously handsome.
Okay… maybe not my type, but even I couldn't deny his beauty.
He walked with that confident, boss-like stride, and just as he was passing by, my eyes caught the office ID card hanging around his neck.
"J-Joseph…" I mumbled under my breath.
So… that's his name.
Just when I was trying to process it, he suddenly stopped—
Right in front of us.
"As you guys might have already heard about me," he began, his voice deep and firm, "from now on, I'll be the one leading you."
The entire floor went silent — you could practically hear hearts pounding.
"But first," he continued, "there are a few rules I want to set straight."
He scanned the room slowly, and the air felt heavy with pressure.
"I don't know how things were with your previous boss, but with me:
One — I don't tolerate people who aren't punctual. If you're late without a solid reason and proof to back it up, your salary will be deducted. No excuses.
Two — Delays in work? Absolutely not. If I ask for something at 10 AM, I expect it at 10 AM. Not 10:01.
Three — Only formal clothes are allowed. You should look presentable at all times. No exceptions.
And four — Cleanliness. I better not see messy desks or cluttered spaces. Keep it tidy."
He gave one last sharp look before walking off to his cabin like a true king taking his throne.
We all just stood there, frozen in place.
That voice… that confidence…
He didn't just speak —
He commanded.
Out of all the people in this company…
I'm the only one who has broken every single rule he just mentioned.
Punctuality? I haven't seen 9:00 AM in months.
Deadlines? I once submitted a report a day late and blamed the Wi-Fi.
Formal clothes? Hoodie and sweatpants were my go-to.
Clean desk? My desk looks like a mini tornado lives on it.
And now… I'm supposed to be his secretary.
Yeah, this might be my last day on earth.
As I was busy imagining my funeral, a voice pulled me out of my horror movie thoughts.
"Are you Ms. Seren?"
I looked up — one of his bodyguards was towering in front of me like a final boss.
I nodded slowly.
"The boss is calling you to his office," he said.
"Thanks," I whispered, though nothing about this felt thankful. I stood up on shaky legs.
Old boss? He was a pain, sure…
But at least I wasn't scared of him.
Now here I was, standing in front of a door that might as well say Enter at Your Own Risk.
I took a deep breath and knocked.
"Come in," his voice came — softer this time.
I opened the door slowly like I was entering a lion's den. But what I saw next made me blink in confusion.
He was… smiling.
Like an actual normal human being. Not the corporate grim reaper from earlier.
"Please, have a seat," he said. And even his tone was gentler now.
Was I dreaming? Is this a trap?
I nodded awkwardly and sat down across from him.
And then… he started speaking.
"Mr. Vincent told me you'd be my secretary," he said with a calm smile.
"I assume you must be very good at your work. I look forward to learning from you. Also, please don't hesitate to ask me anything — feel comfortable around me."
Good at work?
Who... me?
Learn from me? Bro, no. That might be your worst decision yet.
I forced a polite smile, trying not to let the panic show on my face.
"Sure, I also look forward to working under a genius like you," I said sweetly, while my soul was screaming inside.
Trying to shift the focus away from myself, I quickly added, "Would you like me to make your schedule for today?"
He nodded. "Yes, but before that… Could you brief me on a few things? I'd like to know the previous business deals — their outcomes, the current profit situation, what projects are completed and what's ongoing, any upcoming collaborations, past partners, and our share performance."
I blinked.
This was not going to be a short meeting.
Still, I gathered all the reports, took a deep breath, and started explaining everything in detail. From project outcomes to financial losses, and all the messed-up deals Mr. Liam had left behind like a tornado in a suit.
By the time I finished, his calm face had turned serious.
He had already figured it out — Mr. Liam had been using fraudulent methods, the company was deep in loss, and many investors had lost trust in us.
The collaboration list?
Dusty. Dead.
The good news? Mr. Joseph — with his strong reputation in the business world — might actually be able to turn things around. And thank God for that, because otherwise… we were all professionally doomed.
It literally took us the whole day to go through the company's entire past performance, reports, collaborations, and all that mess Liam left behind. For lunch, I just brought some snacks and coffee for both of us — no break, just munching while working.
By the time we were finally done, it was already time to leave.
I have never worked this much in my entire life. My bones feel like they've aged 50 years in one day. I didn't even get to see my friends' faces — the last time I saw Mira and Ana was in the morning, right before he called me into his office.