Chapter 4: From Intern To Assistant

What a mystical name. Are you Hebrew by religion, if I may ask?” he asked, squinting like my name dragged him down memory lane.

“Yes!” I said, smiling wide, masking everything I truly felt. “What made you ask?”

“My mum was actually Hebrew,” he replied with a soft chuckle, “and she loved that name. She even made me promise I'd name my first daughter Seraph.”

The moment he said the word mum, I wanted to rip his mouth apart, just so he’d never get to say that sacred word again,the same word his father had stolen from me. He didn't know how it felt to feel empty for years, to grow up craving warmth and closure that would never return. And yet, here he was, tossing it around like it was a candy in his mouth.

I didn’t want him to notice the flimsy flame in me, which was about to be rekindled, so I quickly excused myself. “Sir, if you don’t mind, I’d love to take my leave now.”

“Yes, you may,” he said, then paused. “But just one more thing. If you ever feel alone or depressed… I’m always here. So—do you need a hug?”

That sentence right there? It nearly made me lose it.

Just when I was beginning to think he was different from his father… he proved he was exactly the same. He had the sweetest words, but they all aimed for bitter motives. But I wouldn't make the same mistake as my mum,I wasn’t going to fall for their charm and kind gestures, instead I would use his weakness, which was his masculine flaw, against him.

So I gave him what he wanted.

I nodded. And before I could say anything else, he stood up and walked toward me.My heart started beating like I’d swallowed a drum.When he wrapped his arms around me, I didn't feel what someone with hate and resentment would,I expected disgust but what I got was confusion.

His scent, his warmth, the firmness of his chest,it didn’t feel wrong. Even when his hand slid gently from my back down to my waist, I didn’t flinch. Instead, my hands encircled his neck.

And for one wild second, just for one wild second, I imagined him not as my stepbrother… but as my crush. The man I used to dream of being with. My future.

But reality slapped me the moment a knock came at the door.

Miss Harper.

We separated so fast it felt like a crime scene cleanup. Luca cleared his throat. I adjusted my blouse and turned away so she wouldn’t see the chaos on my face.

“Excuse me, sir. You called for me?” Harper said, her fake smile stretching tight.

“Yes. Seraph will no longer be taking the internship program from you. She’s now my personal assistant,who would be in charge of my external affairs and scheduling.”

He didn’t say it twice. He didn’t blink. He dropped that bomb on her like it was casual office news.

Miss Harper’s smile cracked.

“Yes, sir,” she said through gritted teeth.

“And miss Harper… this time, don’t slam my glass door on your way out.” He didn’t look at her as he said it, but the weight behind his words made her stiffen.

We walked out together. Or rather, she was ahead of me, fuming like an overheated iron, realising smoke.

Her office,was just one floor below his, it looked like a war zone compared to his. Her desk was scattered. Her plants were fake. Her walls were plain. Just like her tone when she snapped, “You think you’re smart, don’t you? Already scheming your way to the top.”

I let her talk.

Then I turned around, slowly.

“Hey! Harper,” I said, adding the pause on purpose. “We are now in the same position. Don’t point those red witchy nails at me like I’m still an intern. In two days, I’ll have mine done,and they’ll be as sharp as yours. It will serve as a reminder that we're now equals. And if you think you're still the superior because everyone takes orders from you,well think again, you got this position after working five years for it, and I became your equal in five hours. Think about what would happen in five days,

“Hey Seraph, for now I'm above you, so you better reduce that tone” she barked, still pointing those fingers at me.

“You know what I'm thinking of making mine sharper. Pointier. More threatening. It’ll remind you that I’m no longer beneath you.”

She blinked. Once. Twice.

That was when I realized I wasn’t scared of her anymore. Not even without Luca around.

This courage,I didn't know where I got it from, could it be from the truth I’d discovered just moments ago. The truth that had changed my whole character from fan girl to revenge driven, this truth had also changed my whole mission, I wasn't interested in becoming an intern but a boss.Or maybe from Luca’s sympathy, which was an undeniable title,to even people like Miss Harper.

Whatever it was I loved it,I sat on her seat leaving her standing shocked,pulled out a pen, clicked it with a smirk, and said,

“Well, Harper. I’m listening. Start talking.”

As I began drafting the briefing schedule, she walked up to me and did what any dethroned king would do.