3. ~Klaire~

“Mrs Claire Kingston, this way please,” the tall suited man called for me. 

I sucked in a deep breath, murmuring a quick prayer before walking in. 

After crying myself to sleep yesterday, Elise had offered to help me retrieve my important documents from my cloud. 

I don't know how she did it but this morning, I received a printed copy of all my certifications. I almost kissed her in gratitude. It made job hunting even easier for me now. 

I thought I was going to rot away as a bartender or dishwasher somewhere. 

I stopped by the hospital to check on the old woman and bring her some of the chicken soup I made this morning. It was my routine for the last three days. Bringing a portion of every meal I made for her and talking about literally everything. 

I didn't tell her about her grandson’s decision to divorce me though. The text was still sitting in my phone waiting for a response. I wasn't lucky enough to run into him at the hospital either but I didn't push it. 

If he didn't take the marriage seriously, fine. I just needed the title to protect me from my father and conceited fiance. 

The old woman, however, surprised me by giving me a recommendation letter for a job here at Vilmorre Enterprise. As a Kingston, I knew the business world in and out and Vilmorre was one of those places you had to fight tooth and nail to get partnerships with. 

My father was never lucky in that aspect and neither was my fiance. So casually getting a recommendation letter from the old woman was shocking. 

I knew she was from money but I didn't think she was that wealthy. I wasn't sure what her connection with the company was, but I wanted to try to get in with my own effort. 

Which was why I purposely left out the letter from my file, preserving it as a last minute resort. 

The moment I stepped into the office, I understood exactly why people trembled at the mention of Vilmorre Enterprise.

The room alone was enough to make someone question their self-worth.

Dark polished floors reflected the sunlight pouring through the massive glass windows behind the desk. The shelves along the walls carried awards, expensive liquor and thick files arranged with terrifying precision.

And seated at the center of it all was a man who looked like he owned the entire city

My breath caught for half a second.

Good Lord.

He was… unfairly handsome. 

Sharp jawline. Broad shoulders. Black suit tailored to perfection. The silver watch resting against his wrist probably cost more than my yearly allowance back home.

Yet none of that was the most intimidating thing about him.

It was his eyes.

An icy sapphire blue that sent nerve-wracking chills down my spine. 

He didn't say a word to me at first. Instead, he continued flipping through the file in his hand while I stood there awkwardly like a schoolgirl waiting to be scolded.

“Mrs Klaire Kingston,” he read slowly. 

The way he said my name sounded almost… displeased.

“Yes sir.”

“Sit.”

I immediately obeyed, trying my best to keep myself from fidgeting. 

“You graduated top of your class in business administration.”

“Yes.”

“You also completed two overseas internships.”

“Yes.”

“You previously worked under Kingston Holdings.” His expression remained unreadable. I nodded. 

“And yet you’re applying for an entry-level secretary position.”

Heat crawled up my neck.

Right. Because on paper, it looked ridiculous.

But after running away from home with frozen accounts and no support system, I wasn't exactly in a position to be picky.

“I’m aware I may seem overqualified,” I answered carefully, “but I’m more interested in stability and growth right now.”

Overqualified people still need to eat. 

One of his brows lifted slightly. It was subtle. Almost invisible. Still, I somehow felt judged.

“You left Kingston Holdings voluntarily?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

Personal reasons. Humiliating reasons.

Reasons I refused to spill in front of a stranger who already looked like he had no patience for nonsense.

“Personal reasons.”

The man leaned back slightly in his chair.

“And those personal reasons suddenly made you interested in office administration?”

I inhaled slowly.

Okay. He was definitely doing this on purpose.

“I’m capable of much more than office administration,” I replied calmly. “But Vilmorre Enterprise is not exactly a company people casually walk into. I know I need to start somewhere.”

“Fine. Let's see what you can do.” 

The next twenty minutes were brutal.

Every question he asked felt less like an interview and more like a test specifically designed to make me fail.

Market projections. Corporate recovery strategies. Acquisition risks. Crisis management.

At some point, I was almost certain he was intentionally trying to pressure me. But unfortunately for him, business was the one thing I actually understood.

For the first time, he looked genuinely interested. He closed the file slowly.

“What do you know about Vilmorre?”

“Aggressive expansion strategy. Strong international influence. Ruthless leadership structure.” I paused briefly. “And a reputation for swallowing smaller competitors whole.”

The assistant coughed violently.

Oops. Did I say too much?

“You certainly have a lot to say for someone unemployed.”

I blinked.

Was this man naturally rude or was I simply unlucky?

I forced a smile anyway.

“And you seem very hostile for someone conducting an interview.”

The air shifted instantly.

The suited man by the door nearly choked.

For one horrifying second, I wondered if I had just destroyed my chances completely.

But then a low chuckle escaped the man behind the desk. Rich. Deep. Dangerously attractive.

My eyes widened slightly.

So the ice king could laugh.

Interesting.

He studied me for another long moment before finally pressing a button on his desk.

“Prepare her employment documents.”

The assistant blinked. “Sir?”

“She starts tomorrow.”

Wait… What? Just like that?

I stared at him in shock, mirroring his assistant's expression. 

“You’re hiring me?”

He stood from his chair and suddenly the office felt smaller. Much much smaller.

I knew he was tall but dear Lord…

Looking at him from this angle, he looked almost unreal. 

He walked toward me slowly before stopping directly in front of my chair. Close enough for me to catch the faint scent of that expensive cologne.

“I rarely conduct interviews personally,” he said as he moved around the desk. “But I dislike incompetence even more than I dislike wasting time.”

I held my breath.

“So here’s what’s going to happen, Mrs Kingston.” He paused. “You’ll begin a one-month probationary period starting tomorrow.”

My eyes widened.

“If you disappoint me, you’re out immediately,” he continued smoothly. “No excuses. No second chances.”

Relief crashed into me so hard I almost slumped in my chair.

I got the job.

Holy crap.

I got the job.

“Thank you, sir,” I breathed out quickly.

His expression remained unreadable as he extended a hand toward me.

“Aleksander Vilmorre.”

The name hit me instantly. My breath caught. 

Aleksander Vilmorre.

As in… CEO of Vilmorre Enterprise.

The youngest billionaire in the country.

And apparently…

My new boss.

“Welcome to Vilmorre Enterprises, Ms Klaire.” 

I took his hand with the brightest smile I could muster. They felt so big against my small ones. 

“Looking forward to working with you, sir.” 

He looked like he was about to say something when his assistant suddenly cut in. 

“Sir… your grandmother is here.”