The tall building towered over the street, its glass facade coldly reflecting the sunlight. Auren stood at the entrance, clutching her bag. Her heart was beating faster than she would have liked.
"Stay calm," she whispered to herself, taking a deep breath.
She pushed open the heavy metal door and stepped inside. The spacious lobby greeted her with sterile cleanliness—white walls, strict gray chairs, the faint scent of coffee and expensive wood.
Her footsteps echoed in the silence.Behind the reception desk sat a young woman in a business suit, her expression polite but detached.
"Your name?"
"Auren Laurent. I'm here for an interview."
"Please wait here."
Auren sat down on one of the stiff chairs, glancing around.
Two other candidates were nearby—a man with glasses nervously tapping his folder and a perfectly groomed woman typing something on her phone.
"They look so confident... And me?"
She clenched her hands tighter on her lap, forcing herself to stay calm.
Then they called her name.The elevator took her to the top floor. When the doors opened, a long hallway with floor-to-ceiling windows stretched before her.
The city spread to the horizon, but Auren didn't look. She followed a suited man, who silently gestured toward a door.
Inside, a woman in her forties greeted her with a cold, assessing gaze.
"Sit."
Auren settled across from her, straightening her back. The woman opened a folder with her résumé, skimming through it.
"You have a solid background," she remarked in an even tone.
"Why did you choose our company?"
"You have a strong marketing department," Auren answered confidently.
"I studied your projects carefully and see how I could bring fresh ideas and a new perspective."
The woman nodded but didn't seem particularly impressed.
"How do you feel about multitasking?"
"Do you mean handling multiple projects at once?" Auren clarified.
"In a way," the interviewer gave a thin-lipped smile.
"For example, if you needed to coordinate office work, handle administrative tasks."
Auren narrowed her eyes slightly.
"That doesn't sound like marketing."
"We value employees who can adapt. How comfortable are you with paperwork, organizing meetings, coordinating travel?"
The further the conversation went, the more Auren felt something was off. None of the questions were about marketing.
"How proficient are you with office software? Can you manage emails and prepare reports for executives?"
Auren forced herself to remain composed.
"Yes, I can. But, excuse me, how does this relate to marketing?"
The woman froze.
"What do you mean?"
Auren pointed to the phone on the desk.
"The job listing—these requirements fit more for a secretary."
A pause stretched between them. The interviewer silently opened the company's website, scanning the job post. Her expression shifted.
"One moment."
She quickly dialed a number. Within minutes, several employees entered the room, murmuring among themselves about an error.
"Indeed," a man in a sharp suit glanced at Auren.
"This was a mistake. We were looking for a secretary."
An awkward silence followed. Auren looked at them, barely suppressing her irritation.
"I studied, prepared, analyzed your projects, thought about how I could contribute... and it all turns out to be just a mistake?"
"But," the man added, "we reviewed your résumé. You have impressive experience. Honestly, it's surprising that another company hasn't already taken you."
The woman at the desk nodded as well, now studying Auren with genuine interest."
Specialists like you are in high demand. Perhaps this mistake led us to something better."
Auren pressed her lips together.
"You believe I'm a strong candidate, yet you're offering me a temporary position?"
"We don't want to lose you," the man replied calmly.
"But a marketing position won't open for a few months. Until then, you could work in administration while handling some marketing projects. We understand this isn't what you expected. But it's a chance to prove yourself."
Auren felt frustration bubbling inside her.
"So what do I do? Just leave? I don't want to waste time. But taking a secretary's job..."
She looked at the man.
"Do you have doubts?" he asked.
"Of course," Auren replied directly.
"I wasn't aiming for administrative work—I was aiming for marketing."
He studied her carefully.
"Then answer me: why should we hire you in our marketing department?"
Auren bit the inside of her cheek.
"Because I know what I'm doing," she said slowly.
"I'm not just a specialist who follows tasks. I know how to find solutions. I've studied your company, analyzed your projects, and already see ways to improve your marketing strategy. If you're looking for someone to simply execute orders, I'm not the right fit. But if you want someone who will bring real change—then yes."
The man leaned forward slightly.
"Then I'll make a counteroffer. You can start working on one of our marketing projects immediately, but your official position will be temporary. This isn't a probation period—it's a chance for both you and us. If you prove yourself in three months, you'll transition directly to marketing without further evaluations."
Auren was silent.
Three months.
It wasn't the best option.
But it wasn't the worst.
She glanced at the documents in front of her. Her résumé. Their contracts. The possibilities.Then she looked up.
"Alright," she tilted her head slightly.
"But on one condition—when I move into the marketing department, there won't be a probation period."
The man smirked.
"Deal."
Auren felt the tension in her shoulders ease. She stood, thanked them, and walked out.In the elevator, she closed her eyes, still feeling the adrenaline rush through her veins.
This wasn't the opportunity she had expected.
But maybe it was exactly what she needed.
***
The Next Day
The morning was cold. A light breeze slipped through the slightly open window, making the curtains sway gently in rhythm with the air's movement.
Auren Laurent had risen before dawn, a strange restlessness stirring in her chest. A new day. A new chapter.
She caught her reflection in the mirror—attentive brown eyes, a faint flush on her cheeks, long hair neatly pulled into an elegant ponytail. A strict yet comfortable suit fit her perfectly, accentuating her poised posture.
"Everything's ready," she murmured to herself, adjusting the cuff of her blazer.
Yet, despite her confidence, an inexplicable feeling lingered.
This job… It had to be something more than just a temporary position. Yes, her résumé boasted experience in leading marketing firms, yet here she was, assigned as a secretary.
A mistake? Or something else entirely?
She would step onto this stage and play by her own rules.
The office greeted her with its familiar atmosphere—sleek interior lines, glass partitions, dimmed lighting.
Everything here exuded professionalism, and yet a faint doubt crept into her mind once more.
Auren approached the reception desk, introduced herself, and within a minute, she was led to an office where the company's secretary awaited her.
"Good morning!"
A blonde woman seated behind a spacious desk greeted her warmly.
"My name is Rhea. If you have any questions, feel free to ask."
"Thank you."
"You have a lot on your plate today—scheduling meetings, receiving guests, organizing documents. There will also be a series of administrative tasks in the evening."
Auren held back a quiet sigh and nodded. She knew she had to execute her duties flawlessly, but her mind was elsewhere. She wasn't here for the secretary position. She was here for marketing.
The woman left the office.
The click of the door made her lift her head.
He entered the office.
Kael.
His confident steps echoed dully through the room.
He held a folder of documents in his hands, his gaze lowered, but the moment his eyes landed on Auren's figure, he froze.
Her.
She was sitting at the desk, not immediately realizing she was being watched.
But the feeling of someone's presence made her look up.
Their eyes met.
For a moment, the air became thick, almost tangible.
Kael slowly closed the folder, set it down on the desk, then straightened. His dark eyes studied her intently.
"You…"
Auren stood up, her chair creaking in the silence.
"Are you my new secretary?"
His voice carried a hint of amusement mixed with curiosity.
She crossed her arms over her chest.
"Temporary secretary."Kael smirked.
"Didn't you say you'd never take a job like this?"
Her fingers clenched.
"Circumstances change," she replied evenly.
The door opened again, and an older man in an expensive suit entered the office. His gaze was sharp, and his voice calm.
"Mr. Dantes, I see you've already met our new employee."
"We're acquainted."
"Excellent. Auren, we're pleased to have you in our company. Your skills are valuable, and we're confident you'll be an important part of the team."
She nodded politely.
"Thank you."
The man paused briefly.
"Of course, your potential extends beyond a secretary position. That's why, in addition to administrative duties, we've assigned you marketing projects."
Kael frowned.
"Why her?"
Mr. Min tilted his head slightly as he answered Kael Dantes' question.
"Because she has an impeccable résumé. Auren Laurent isn't just a specialist—she's one of the best in her field."
He paused briefly to ensure his words sank in.
"She was a leading marketing strategist at one of the largest international companies. Her past projects didn't just generate profit—they changed the market. In her most recent project, her team developed a strategy that increased the company's market share by 15% in an industry where such a result was nearly impossible."
Kael narrowed his eyes slightly but remained silent, listening.
"Besides that, Auren graduated from Harvard. Not just attended—she was one of the top students in her class."
"Harvard?"
Kael instinctively shifted his gaze to the woman, now studying her in a new light.
He was used to people with such education and experience immediately taking leadership positions, not accepting temporary jobs.
Auren, however, met his gaze with unwavering confidence.
"If she's that good, why did she even agree to work as a secretary?" he finally asked, voicing the question that had been nagging at him since their encounter.
This time, Auren answered herself.
"It's temporary. You know the circumstances."
Kael let out a quiet chuckle, but before he could say anything, Mr. Min continued.
"Talents like Auren are rare. We're lucky she agreed, even temporarily. People with her level of knowledge and experience can take this company to new heights, and we can't afford to lose such an opportunity."
He cast Kael a meaningful look, as if reminding him that specialists of this caliber weren't easy to find. Satisfied that his point had been made, Mr. Min nodded and headed for the exit.
"I hope you two will work well together."
With that, he closed the door behind him, leaving Auren and Kael in tense silence.
Kael looked at Auren carefully.
Then, not knowing how to ease the atmosphere, he said, "Bring me a coffee."
Auren raised an eyebrow.
"Seriously?"
Kael cleared his throat, quickly turned away, and walked into his office.
She watched him go, shaking her head slightly.
"This is going to be an interesting job."