Chapter 1

“Good job, Miss Vernace,” Mr. Rusco, the CEO of Hornbrown Investments, said to me. 

He was here today at the Main Branch to evaluate the performance of us managers.

Mr. Rusco stood up and extended his right hand to me for a handshake. “You never fail to amaze me with your competence and skills.”

“Thank you so much, sir,” I replied before taking his hand and giving it a firm shake. “It’s a great pleasure to work in this company.”

A round of loud applause echoed throughout the meeting room after I finished presenting our monthly sales for Hornbrown Investments. 

Not to brag, but I’m one of the most valued financial managers here at the New York Branch, not only because I’m professional and communicate well with investors, but also because of my competence in the stock market.

I can easily increase direct investments from my clients by personally handling and maneuvering them. 

Life is like the fluctuation of the stock market, and if I don’t take calculated risks and allow myself to drown in fear, I’ll never fully understand its technicalities or how to reduce the risks that come with investing.

I know how to play the stock market. It’s something I’ve studied for a long time. 

Name it, and I’ll play it. 

If there’s anyone more deserving to be the branch manager of this branch, it’s me.

Not that man sitting in the corner, idly playing with his upper lip using his fingers while staring intently at me.

Kleinder Maze Velasco.

When he noticed that I was looking at him, he immediately raised an eyebrow and smirked. He didn’t even bother to look away, even though I’d clearly caught him staring.

Even though he was seated far from me, I could already feel my blood boiling. He didn’t have to say anything. I already knew exactly what he was thinking while I stood there with Mr. Rusco, smiling as the CEO reread my proposal.

“No matter how many times Mr. Rusco praises you, I’ll still remain the Branch Manager. And that won’t change as long as I’m here.”

I knew that was exactly what was running through his mind, which was why he kept smirking at me, as if he were observing my every move. 

He may be the branch manager, but the way he lounged in his swivel chair made him look like some street bum loitering on a corner. 

What exactly did Mr. Rusco see in him that made him appoint him as the New York Branch manager?

Mr. Rusco could clearly see his behavior, yet he didn’t reprimand him at all. Why? What kind of connection do you have with this company, Kleinder?

I wanted to roll my eyes at him, but Mr. Rusco was still in front of me. He was extremely lenient with Kleinder, but overly strict with the rest of us. Unfair, I know. But what can I do? He’s the CEO.

I am competent. No matter who watches me, I won’t stutter. I won’t get nervous, especially not because of Kleinder.

“You never fail to impress me,” he complimented as he handed the blue folder to his secretary. “You’re still under observation for the manager position of the new branch, but you truly have potential. Keep up the good work.”

“Thank you for the compliment, sir. The company made me this way,” I replied, bowing my head slightly as a sign of respect.

He patted my shoulder before walking toward the glass door of the meeting room.

Several bodyguards followed him, even though he was only visiting the New York Branch. There were four of them, all large-built men wearing tuxedos. 

His female secretary walked on his left side, speaking to him as they walked, probably discussing his other agenda for the day since it was still early.

It’s only eleven in the morning.

And since it was already eleven, I was starting to feel hungry.

“Let’s go eat already!”

“I always get drained whenever Mr. Rusco is around. It’s like he sucks out all my energy.”

Those were just some of the conversations echoing inside the meeting room. Most of the managers here were close to one another, except for me. 

Shainara is my only friend here, but unfortunately, she wasn’t around today.

Once Mr. Rusco left the meeting room, we all began organizing our respective tables. I unplugged the projector before shutting down the laptop in the room. 

There’s already a permanently assembled laptop here so presenters can simply plug in their flash drives.

It’s much faster that way.

One of the company’s past concerns was the ransomware attack that spread through several laptops, an issue Kleinder immediately resolved. After that incident, he ordered antivirus software to be installed on all company laptops. 

Many people opposed it at first because of how expensive the software was, but what we failed to see was the long-term cost reduction that resulted from his strategy.

Nearly four million dollars were cut from the company’s expenses because of that decision. Annoying as it is to admit, he really is a good manager, which is why the New York Branch is currently the strongest branch of Hornbrown Investments.

And not only because of him, I’m here too. If Kleinder is the most competent branch manager, then I’m the best finance manager.

“Congratulations, Miss Vernace.”

Instead of feeling pleased, I felt even more irritated when Kleinder suddenly approached me, smirking as he watched me remove my flash drive from the laptop. 

I’d been so lost in thought earlier that I didn’t notice everyone else had already left. We were the only ones remaining in the meeting room.

“You should only pull your flash drive out once, Vernace,” he added when he noticed how I was struggling to remove my flash drive.

I had to wiggle it because it was stuck.

“One insertion, one pull.”

I shot him a sharp glare at his last remark. He raised an eyebrow at me, and judging by the smirk on his lips, there was no doubt. 

He meant it with a double meaning.

If his baby face and flowery words worked on other women, they wouldn’t work on me. I wouldn’t feel a single flutter for men like him, men who see women as toys they can throw away once they’re bored.

“You’re such a pervert,” I snapped, even pretending I was about to throw my flash drive at him. 

Instead of being scared, he just laughed loudly.

“Oh, I didn’t say anything. You’re hot-headed again, sweetheart,” he replied with a grin, raising both hands as if I were a cop arresting him.

How had I even managed to stay in this company with him as the branch manager? Was it because of the fringe benefits? The incentives? The salary? 

Honestly, I didn’t even know anymore how I’d endured all those days of interacting with him, especially since I had to report directly to him about my clients’ status, particularly the VIP ones.

“How could I not get irritated when you’re here?” I shot back as I gathered the documents I used earlier for my report.

I tucked them under my right arm while holding my Starbucks coffee in my left, the one I bought before coming to work. 

In a job like this, I always need coffee to stay fully alert, especially since I only slept for three hours last night preparing for this presentation.

The end of the month is both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because I get my salary, and a curse because it’s when we have to organize reports, financial documents, and review the company’s overall sales. 

It’s also when most of my clients come to me to ask how their investments are doing.

I love the job, but not the environment. Good thing the benefits in this company are great. The stress is worth it.

“I’m still your branch manager, Vernace,” he said firmly as he followed me back toward my office. “Show some respect.”

He may look young because of his face, but when he gets serious, he’s terrifying. That’s probably one of the reasons the women in our company are so drawn to him. He may look like a saint, but we all know there’s a devil sleeping inside him.

And I’m terribly curious to find out just how bad he really is.

I can’t wait to unleash that devil inside him… so I can break him.