Chapter 3

That afternoon, a major issue erupted with one of the Vance Group’s partnership projects. The client furiously stormed into the office, demanding to see Silas.

Linda stood nearby with her arms crossed, openly enjoying the chaos. "Well, Jade, it sucks to be you. First day on the job and you already landed in the middle of a disaster."

Before I could respond, Silas walked out of his office. He didn’t even glance at me before speaking to Linda directly, "You handle it."

Linda froze for a second, but quickly recovered and strutted toward the conference room, looking smug again.

I heard Silas grumbling internally.

[Linda ruined this project because she was too desperate for quick results. She can clean up her own mess. Perfect chance for Jade to witness my ruthless leadership skills and fall head over heels for me.]

Standing behind him, staring at his back, I started calculating something else entirely.

Less than half an hour later, Linda came stumbling out of the conference room looking miserable, followed by a middle-aged man whose face was burning with rage.

Dominic Sosa marched straight up to Sila, yelling, "Is this your idea of professional sincerity, Mr. Vance? Sending an amateur to waste my time is an insult!"

Silas remained perfectly calm. "Mr. Sosa, please calm down. I promise that a proper resolution is coming."

Then his gaze landed on me. "Jade, take it from here."

Everyone looked at me like they were waiting for a train wreck. Linda, in particular, looked ready to tear me apart.

I took a deep breath and stepped forward to meet Silas's eyes.

[Go get them, sweetheart. Show them what you've got. Grandpa already filled me in on everything. You were the debate champion back in college. This little hurdle is nothing for someone with your skills.]

So he'd already investigated me thoroughly.

I entered the conference room to find Mr. Sosa still fuming. As soon as I took my seat, his frantic internal monologue echoed in my mind.

[Another one? The Vance Group has gone too far! My daughter's school admissions are already driving me insane, and now this business mess gets dumped on me too!]

Something clicked in my mind.

I smiled calmly and said, "Mr. Sosa, my name is Jade Sterling. I'm Mr. Vance's executive assistant. He sent me because he wants the fastest and most effective solution possible."

For the next hour, I never once mentioned the contract or compensation.

First, I sincerely apologized for the project's issues. Then I smoothly shifted the conversation toward his entrepreneurial journey, bringing up how he'd built his company from nothing. From there, I casually transitioned into discussing admissions policies at elite private schools, naturally connecting it to the concerns he was having about his daughter's education.

Those were all things I'd painstakingly researched in my previous life while building business connections.

Mr. Sosa's attitude gradually softened. What started as hostility slowly turned into openness, and eventually, he was venting his frustrations to me like an old friend. Once the atmosphere felt right, I finally slid a revised proposal across the table.

"Mr. Sosa, this is an updated plan we prepared overnight based on your company's current needs. If you look at this distribution channel here..."

He picked up the proposal, and the more he read, the brighter his eyes became. Finally, he slapped his thigh.

"Let's do it this way! Jade, you're seriously talented. Way better than that pretty but useless woman from earlier!"

After the contract was signed, I politely escorted him to the elevator.

When I returned, the entire office was silent. Linda stood frozen in place, her face pale as paper, staring at me like she wanted to devour me alive.

Without sparing her a glance, I walked straight into the CEO's office. Silas stood in front of the massive floor-to-ceiling windows with his back facing me.

[Amazing job! That is my wife for you! She made me look incredible today, and now the entire company recognizes her talent. Let's see who would even think of looking down on her now!]

He turned to face me.

"That was barely acceptable. If a blunder like this happens again, you're fired."

"Understood, Mr. Vance."

[Crap, was I too harsh again? What if she gets upset? I need to make it up to her somehow.]

After a brief pause, he pulled out a black card from his drawer and tossed it onto the desk. "A new restaurant opened downstairs. Go try it out and write me a report."

I picked up the card.

[That's my supplementary card with no limit. I hope she uses it for whatever she desires. She should buy everything—honestly, every single thing.]

Suppressing a smile, I replied, "Got it, Silas."

When I deliberately addressed him by name, his body visibly stiffened.

[She said my name! She actually called me Silas! God, it sounded so good. Is she hinting at something? Are we moving into the next stage of our relationship already?]

Watching him maintain that cold, composed exterior while his inner thoughts were in complete chaos, the smile at the corners of my lips grew wider and wider.

'Silas, how much longer can you really keep up this icy CEO act?'