3

SOFIA

"I shouldn't have taken this up..." I have no idea how many times I'd said that to myself while sitting in the waiting room with other candidates. 

The pressure makes me wonder if I made the right decision by taking up that role. Backing out at the last moment after having been so determined was surely going to raise a couple of eyebrows.

And I didn't want that. Especially because I know how well the FBI could dig up stuff. I couldn't afford to let them know about my late night escapade.

"Anne Wolfe?" A tall, middle aged Latino lady came out to call in the next candidates to be interviewed. "Anne Wolfe...?"

"Oh... that's me..." I am in my thoughts so much that I forget that was my undercover name. I had worn a blonde wig to go with. "So sorry." I spring up to my feet. 

The lady stares at me for a while before shaking her head. "Follow me..." 

I follow her through the door, trying to get my entire act in order, while hoping not to run into Hector. I keep repeating my new name in my head so I don't fall out of character. 

"Anne Wolfe..." It feels weird but I have to get used to it. There was no telling how long that mission was going to last. 

Soon enough I am standing before a woman who looks like she's in her late forties. Her gaze is anything but friendly.

"Anne Wolfe?" She asks with an unfriendly look.

"Yes ma'am." My heartbeat is frantic as she takes a very long look at me. I already suspect she knows me from somewhere and knows that I am not Anne Wolfe.

"Your resume says you worked at Luxury Hills..." Her eyes are still on the documents in front of her. Hopefully she won't be able to tell that none of it is real— not even my name or the blonde hair I have on. 

"Yes ma'am." I try my best to sound free and authentic at the same time. 

"The Luxury Hills?" She looks at me in disbelief.

"Yeah, the Luxury Hills. It would interest you to know they folded after I left." I went on with the conversation as I had planned.

"If this is some sort of joke?" She folds her arms and gives me her full attention. "This is a very serious role and I'm not here to play around."

"Neither am I. I take my work seriously and that's exactly why I left Luxury Hills." I lean forward in my seat to meet her gaze straight on. "I handled the secretary position along with some other responsibilities that didn't come with the role. I did that for the last three years of their bloom before they went down."

"Interesting." She stares deep into my soul like she wants to run a scan to find out how much of a lie that was. "If you know the ins and outs of what used to be one of our main competitors then you wouldn't have any issues with the questions I'm about to ask."

"Bring them on." I don't show any fear. I had spent the past couple of days getting ready for that interview. Only thing I am afraid of is running into Hector and him recognizing me.

Question after question, I answer till she is tired of asking. She tries hard to find a hole in my armor but she can't find any. It is time for me to give my final pitch.

"When you hire me, I won't be just the best assistant the secretary has ever had. I will make Castillo de Reyes the best ever hotel in the world." I look her straight in the eyes, watching the look in her face go from suspicion to admiration. "I know all the secret strategies of Luxury Hills which are yet to be applied here. If I get this role I will—"

The door opens while I am still talking. "Pamela, the President is here." The woman who had brought me in comes in and announces. "He says to show up at the meeting with your assistant. Have you found your assistant?"

"Looks like she's sitting right in front of me..." The lady who had been interviewing me was now looking at me with a smile. "It's about time you show me all that you claim to know in real time."

"Uhm...what?" It is all happening too fast for me to keep up. "I already have the job?"

"Let's see what you are made of. Mess up and you will be in a lot of deep shit." She stands up and takes up a few files. "Follow me. We have a board meeting."

I can't ask any further questions as it would make her question my credibility. It is scary that I'm going to stand in front of the board, which means inevitably standing before Hector. 

"Aren't you ready for work yet, Anne Wolfe?" Pamela calls out to me one more time. She's at the door and looks really impatient.

"I'm coming." I get up and decide to face my fears. It is a part of the mission I didn't prepare for. But I had to survive it somehow.

I follow her to where other applicants are still waiting. 

"You all can go now." That is all Pamela says to them and walks off.

I glance at the sorry looks on their faces. Too bad I am taking their jobs and I am not even a real secretary. 

By the time we get to the board room, I scan the whole place and there's no sign of Hector. I am relieved as it seems he wasn't the president the lady spoke of. 

But I can't let my guard down so easily. It might all be some trap I am being lured into to give me a false sense of progress.

I calmly take the seat labelled with assistant secretary which is close to Pamela and quite close to the head of the table. Which is still vacant.

For the time being, I take my time to observe the whole place. It's a white themed room, except for the chairs and the long mahogany table which are covered in black leather. 

Few minutes in. Still no signs of Hector.

"Don't be nervous." Pamela mutters in my ears, giving me even more reason to be nervous. "He doesn't like people being nervous in the board room"

"He...? Who's he?" I barely finish speaking when the door opens and everyone's on their feet. 

Hector strides in casually, suited up like he had been the night we had met. 

"Damn it..." I can't even hide my face.