Elizabeth arrived at 6:42 AM, because coming at 6:50 felt late and coming at 6:30 felt desperate.

She stood in front of the building like a kid on the first day of school—except the school was a 100-floor glass tower and the teacher was a man who could probably intimidate a statue. She checked her reflection in the lobby glass.

Okay…You look fine. Professional. Mature. Like someone who knows how to file things alphabetically and not cry in office bathrooms. She stepped inside. The receptionist—tall, elegant, hair perfectly twisted into a bun—smiled politely.

“You must be the new secretary?”

“Oh—yes! Elizabeth. Elizabeth Darmos.”

She offered her sanitized hand like it was a peace treaty. The receptionist shook it lightly. “I’m Nina. Mr. Romano asked me to bring you up.”

Mr. Romano asked.

The words made Elizabeth’s heartbeat tap-dance.

Nina stopped at the door of the executive floor. “He’s inside. He doesn’t like knocks—he prefers you enter quietly and announce yourself once the door is closed.” Elizabeth nodded, feeling like she had just been given instructions to defuse a bomb.

“Good luck,” Nina whispered.

Why did that sound like a warning?

Elizabeth gently pushed the door open. Alexandro was already at his desk, posture perfect, suit immaculate, expression carved out of stone. The clock said 6:59 AM. She closed the door softly and said, “Good morning, sir.”

He didn’t look up. “You’re early.”

She tried not to sound too proud. “Yes, sir.”

“Sit.”

She sat.

He glanced at her outfit—a simple blouse and black formal pants—but his face gave no reaction.

“You will manage my schedule, handle all calls, filter emails, and organize meetings. Do you have a notebook?”

“Yes,” she pulled out a tiny one.

“That is too small. You’ll need something larger.”

“Oh.”

“And a laptop.”

“Oh.”

“And attention to detail.”

“Oh.”

He finally looked at her.

“Do you say anything besides ‘oh’?”

“I—well—y-yes, sir. I can say other things. Many things. Words. Lots of them. I just… haven’t had coffee yet.”

He blinked once. “You don’t seem like someone who should have caffeine.”

She wasn’t sure if that was an insult, observation, or safety precaution.

“Your first task,” he said, turning back to his screen, “is simple. Call the Tokyo office and confirm the revised shipment report.”

“Tokyo,??” she repeated. “Time difference, sir?”

“Three hours ahead.”

“Right. Of course.”

No idea. Zero idea.

She grabbed the office phone like it was a wild animal she was trying to tame.

She dialed.

It beeped.

She panicked.

She hung up.

Alexandro finally looked up again. “Did you just call… and hang up?”

“No,” she said too quickly. “It was… a test call.”

He arched a brow. “A test call?”

“To… check the… phone… vibrations?”

Phones didn’t vibrate.

Why did she say that?

Alexandro stared at her for a moment - long, silent, unreadable.

Elizabeth prepared to be fired. Then very faintly, so faintly she almost thought she imagined it ; the corner of his mouth moved.

Not a smile.

But not nothing.

“Try again,” he said quietly.

She nodded, heart pounding but determined. Okay, Elizabeth. You might fail. You might accidentally call pizza delivery in Tokyo. But you will NOT give up.

And she dialed again.