CHAPTER 4

HAZEL

Damn, this man is smart.

“With all due respect, sir,” I said calmly, “you’re being a little too suspicious. I helped you because I would want someone to help my father if he were in danger.”

His eyes remained fixed on me.

“I didn’t even know who you were until yesterday,” I continued smoothly. “I only saw the job opening afterwards and applied.”

The silence stretched briefly while he tapped his pen lightly against the desk.

For one dangerous second, I imagined grabbing the hot coffee beside him and pouring it directly on his face for raising a terrible son.

Unfortunately, prison had already taught me enough lessons about self-control.

“Sit,” he finally said. “And your documents.”

“Thank you, sir.”

I handed the file over carefully.

He opened it lazily at first, but his expression shifted slightly after reading through my qualifications.

“A full-stack developer,” he murmured. “Mostly freelance.”

His gaze lifted slowly toward me.

“So why exactly are you applying to become an executive assistant?”

He tossed the documents back onto the desk carelessly.

“This role is beneath your qualifications. Didn’t you read the job description properly?”

God, this man really had an attitude problem.

I forced a polite smile.

“My first job was actually in administration before I moved fully into tech.”

“And what happened?” he asked dryly. “Clients stopped hiring you?”

The insult nearly made me laugh.

If only he knew the kind of systems I could destroy within minutes.

“Remote work pays well,” I replied calmly, “but it gets lonely after a while. I wanted to work physically again.”

He leaned back slightly in his chair.

“And?”

“And hiring me would benefit you,” I continued. “Aside from assisting you, I can handle technical problems too.”

He studied me quietly for a few seconds. I couldn’t tell what exactly he was thinking.

“Second office on the left. Meet Anna. She’ll brief you.”

Wait, that was it?

I got the job?

“You resume tomorrow by eight sharp,” he added. “One minute late and you’re fired.”

I stood there trying not to look too excited.

Then he frowned slightly.

“And change your perfume. It’s too strong.”

Excuse me?

Before I could respond, he lifted his head again.

“Why are you still standing there?”

I quickly grabbed my documents.

“Thank you, sir. You won’t regret hiring me.”

“No,” he replied flatly while opening his laptop. “I definitely won’t. One silly mistake and you’re out.”

I practically escaped before he changed his mind.

The second office on the left had "HR" boldly written on the nameplate.

I knocked once before entering.

Unfortunately, it was the same woman from earlier; she is Anna.

The one with the permanent expression of irritation.

“Mr Elvis asked me to see you,” I said.

I pulled a chair slightly.

“What exactly do you think you’re doing?” she snapped immediately. “I didn’t ask you to sit.”

Interesting, another difficult human being.

“Sorry.”

She gave me a long look before opening a file.

“I’ll forward Mr Elvis’s schedule and work itinerary to your email.”

Her tone carried fake politeness now.

“If I were you, I would focus on doing my job properly. Any funny behaviour and you’ll be removed from this company immediately.”

The funny thing was that she genuinely thought she scared me, poor Anna.

“You resume officially tomorrow,” she continued. “And wipe that smile off your face. This isn’t a fashion company.”

I nodded calmly and stood up.

“Okay.”

I had almost reached the door when her voice stopped me again.

“And wear something more decent next time.”

I slowly turned back toward her.

“With all due respect,” I said sweetly, “I am dressed decently. Some of us are simply curved at the right places.”

Her expression darkened immediately.

I smiled politely.

“Thank you.”

Then I walked out before my mouth created bigger problems.

++++++

DAY 4.

Betty stepped back dramatically after helping me adjust my outfit.

“You look hot,” she declared.

“I know.”

She narrowed her eyes at me.

“You’re enjoying this revenge thing too much.”

“Not enough.”

She sighed while fixing the collar of my blouse.

“What happens if Jarvis visits the prison and finds out you were released already?”

I grabbed my handbag.

“Jarvis is no longer important.”

Betty raised a brow.

“His father is the goal now.”

By 7:30 a.m., I was already inside the Laurent Group, preparing for my first official day.

Everything moved fast around here.

At exactly 8:15, I carried a mug of coffee toward Elvis' office. No sugar, very little cream. That was exactly what Anna wrote in the schedule file.

I knocked once before entering.

“Good morning, sir,” I said professionally. “Your coffee. You also have a meeting with the marketing department at eight-thirty.”

“Stop talking.”

I blinked.

“You only speak when necessary.”

Wow. What a lovely man.

He grabbed the coffee and took a sip. Then immediately spit it back into the cup.

“What is this?” he snapped.

I stared at him.

“Sir?”

“Are you trying to burn my tongue off?”

I don’t mind.

“This coffee is terrible,” he continued angrily. “I hate cream in my coffee.”

My brows pulled together immediately.

He picked up the office phone immediately.

“To my office. Now.”

A few seconds later, Anna rushed inside.

“Yes, sir?”

He pointed toward the coffee angrily.

“Didn’t you explain how I take my coffee?”

“Of course I did,” she answered smoothly. “Maybe she forgot.”

Liar, she literally wrote cream. I finally understood what she was trying to do.

She wanted me gone before I settled in.

“You both are wasting my time,” Elvis muttered. “Get out.”

We stepped outside together.

The moment his office door shut, Anna smiled smugly, big mistake.

I grabbed her wrist immediately and dragged her into the nearest empty office.

“What the hell…”

I shoved her lightly against the wall.

Her eyes widened.

“Listen carefully,” I said quietly. “Do not try that nonsense with me again.”

She stared at me in shock.

“I know exactly what you did.”

“You’re crazy,”

“Maybe.”

I stepped closer slightly.

“But if you try setting me up again, we’ll both stop pretending to be professional.”

For the first time since meeting her, Anna looked nervous.

Good.

“I’m Hazel,” I said softly. “Don’t push me.”