A new job

Chapter 5

Martina POV 

I looked at myself one last time, making sure I looked presentable for the secretary job. After sending the email, I had written an application and was told to come in for the interview today. All I prayed for was success, because if this failed again, I would have no choice but to return to working at a bar, doing part-time jobs, or even ending up as a club waitress.

I stepped inside and followed the proper channel.

“Good day. I’m here for the secretary position. I was asked to come in for an interview,” I told the lady I met, and she smiled.

“Alright. You should head toward that door. The director and other board members will be interviewing you themselves,” she said.

My heart skipped.

Not just one person. What if I wasn’t given the job?

I took a deep breath and walked in.

Then my eyes met their faces.

I nearly collapsed—none of them looked friendly.

Then my gaze caught someone familiar.

I froze.

The guy at the club.

The one who had tried to get on my nerves.

He looked at me and spoke calmly, nothing like the man from that night.

“Miss, why are you standing there? Please come and take a seat so we can begin,” he said.

His tone was cool and professional.

It seemed he didn’t recognize me.

I moved toward the table and sat down, avoiding eye contact with him as much as possible. I took a deep breath, steadying myself, making sure I didn’t falter and looked confident in every way possible.

They all started asking questions about how I can handle pressure and all that. It was difficult, but I made sure not to slack off. The guy, whom I had been trying to avoid eye contact with and who had been quiet this whole time, finally spoke.

“Tell me, Miss, how do you intend to handle your anger at work, especially if a customer pisses you off?” he asked. In that moment, my heart started racing. I thought, Did he recognize me? Does he know who I am?

I took a deep breath, making sure I didn’t slack off. “Handling my anger is part of my responsibility as a staff member. However, respect from the company would go a long way, because there are situations where we can't control our anger,” I said, and they all exchanged looks.

“What type of situation?” a lady asked.

“Situations where I’m assaulted, touched, or hit, which is unprofessional,” I replied, and she nodded in agreement.

“You may go now. We’ll get back to you,” the lady said.

I stood up, bowed slightly, and walked toward the door. I didn’t think I’d gotten the job. I didn’t think I was impressive enough, but just as I was about to leave, his voice stopped me.

“You can start tomorrow. We’ve found the right person for the job. The interview is closed,” the guy said.

I looked at him, and the others in the room looked at him too.

“Does anyone want to speak against my decision?” he asked, and they all shook their heads, standing up and walking away.

As everyone filed out, he stayed seated, and the lady walked up to me. “Congratulations on getting the job. Come with me,” she said.

I nodded, following her out.

We walked to a door with the name "Director Lily" written on it. We both entered, and she asked me to sit down.

She took a deep breath as she looked at me. “Working as a secretary to Mr. Herrick means a lot,” she said. So his name is Herrick...

“You’re not just any secretary who sits in an office,” she said. “You’ll go everywhere with him—traveling and everything. I doubt you’ll even have time to rest because you have to resume work as early as 6 a.m. You’ll head to his house, help him dress, prepare his schedule, and by 8 a.m., both of you will be heading to the company. Do you understand?”

I blinked. I honestly wasn’t getting it. Six in the morning?

“Do you mean 6 a.m.?” I asked.

She nodded.

I told myself I could manage it. Six to six wouldn’t be too bad.

“Your closing time will be 9 p.m.,” she added.

I almost screamed, but I forced myself to stay calm. Is this even a job? I wanted to ask. But I didn’t have a choice. This was my only way out. As long as the pay was good, I could increase the caregiver’s payment and adjust her schedule.

Without hesitation, I said, “I’ll accept the job.”

“Congratulations, then,” she replied. “But you need to understand something. He’s an uptight person and doesn’t joke around. He’s blunt and doesn’t like being questioned. Make sure you don’t get on his nerves.”

I nodded, even though I couldn’t believe I had to agree to all that. Blunt—I already knew that. But uptight? I wasn’t so sure.

How could someone so uptight be such a flirt?

“Do you have any questions?” she asked.

I shook my head.

She leaned forward and handed me a pass.

“This is what you’ll use to enter his house tomorrow. His address is written at the back. Don’t slack off—he’s already fired two secretaries this month,” she delivered the final blow.

I took the card, thanked her, and walked out of her office, stopping just outside the door. I stared down at the card in my hand. It still felt like a dream.

“I knew we were going to meet again.”

I looked up—and there was Herrick, standing right in front of me.

“So... you knew it was me?” I asked voice shaking. 

He scoffed.

“You walked freely into my den,” he replied coldly.

Just as I was about to apologize, Miss Lily approached us.

“Mr. Herrick, your grandfather has insisted on seeing you with immediate effect,” she said.

He immediately turned to leave.

“Prepare the car,” he ordered.

And just like that, he was gone.