By 4:30pm, the sun dipped behind the tall buildings as Venus stepped out of Raymond & Co. headquarters.
Her heels clicked confidently on the pavement, and the gentle breeze toyed with her curls. As she headed to the parking lot, she heard a voice call out.
"Hey, boss lady! Don't forget us when you become the face of Copeland juice!" Franklin teased, twirling his car keys.
Venus turned and laughed. "Only if you stop tapping that pen like you're in a rock band, Franklin."
Melanie, with her usual calm expression, waved and said, "Have a good evening, Venus."
Davis grinned. "Try not to solve all the company's problems overnight."
"I'll try, but no promises," Venus replied with a wink, opening her car door.
As she drove away, music playing softly in the background, she felt lighter than she had in days. Her first day had been a rollercoaster, but she had survived—with laughter, confidence, and a team that already felt like a family.
By the time she gets to her apartment complex, the sun has painted gold across the city skyline.
On the balcony of the sixth-floor official residence, Katherine and her grandmother stood watching. Her grey hair was wrapped in a scarf, and her eyes sparkled with love and pride.
"The moment Venus stepped out of the elevator, she found her already waiting by the door with a wide smile and open arms."
"There she is! The corporate warrior!"
Venus laughed and hugged her grandmother tightly. "Grandma, I survived! And guess what? They didn't even throw me out."
She pulled her inside. "Sit down and tell me everything. Don't leave out a single thing. I even ironed some clothes for you myself."
"Haha, Grandma, you are indirectly telling me something," Venus laughed.
Her grandmother looked at her and said, "Because I don't want certain things to repeat itself." They both laughed again.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, Raymond Copeland's car pulled into the underground garage of a modern high-rise.
The doors to the penthouse opened, and a tall, older man with white hair and a graceful personality greeted him.
"Welcome back, Master Raymond," Pa Alfred said warmly.
"Pa," Raymond nodded, removing his suit jacket. "She made me laugh today. Like—really laugh."
Pa Alfred raised an eyebrow, amused. "Let me guess. Venus."
Raymond smiled. "She handled Rose better than anyone ever has. Told her to knock before entering like a true boss. You should've seen Rose's face."
Pa Alfred chuckled. "She sounds like a firecracker."
"She is. And not just that. She has this presence. Real leadership energy. I like her spirit."
Pa Alfred gave him a knowing look. "And it's good to see you becoming yourself again. You need someone who can match your spark."
"Let's go inside," Pa Alfred said to him.
Inside the penthouse, the space gleamed with elegance. Marble floors, sleek black furniture, and expansive windows made it feel like something out of a design magazine. The warm aroma of spices filled the air.
"Welcome, sir, dinner will be ready in thirty minutes," called Mrs. Gilda, the head cook. She was a short, round woman with a booming voice and an apron that read Queen of the Kitchen.
Two young maids, Mira and Sade, stood near the entrance of the penthouse as Raymond stepped in.
Mira, with her soft face and glasses sliding down her nose, quickly adjusted them and gave a polite smile. Sade, tall and always humming a soft tune, stopped mid-hum to greet him.
"Good evening, sir," Mira said with a gentle voice. "Hope you had a good day at the office?"
Raymond nodded, loosening his tie slightly. "It was… eventful."
Sade chuckled lightly. "Do you need anything this evening, sir? Before dinner is ready, should I fix you a drink?"
He smiled. "Not yet. I'll just freshen up first. Thank you, ladies."
Mira and Sade exchanged a quick look and smiled again. "Alright, sir," they said in unison, stepping aside as he walked further into the penthouse.
"Mira, just tell Mrs. Gilda not to overfeed me," Raymond said playfully. "I need to stay sharp."
Mira smiled and said, " Okay sir, I will tell her right away."
Back in her apartment later that evening, Venus was curled up on the couch with her shoes off and her head resting on a pillow. Her grandmother handed her a cup of tea.
"So... tell me more. Did anyone give you trouble?"
"Only Rose. She barged into my office, and I had to ask her to go out and knock first. I showed her my badge too," Venus smirked.
Katherine burst into laughter. "You didn't!"
"Oh, I did, Grandma. And then she reported me to the CEO. But guess what? He backed me up!" Venus grinned.
"That's my girl. Don't let anyone push you around; you are a lion."
"Grandma" Venus said. "A lion?"
"Yes, lions are bold, and you are the granddaughter of a lioness." They both laughed.
Venus chuckled, sipping her tea, and said,. "Also, the CEO ordered lunch for me. Sent it through a delivery guy. I was scared to eat it at first until he called and told me it was a 'Copeland juice' special".
Her grandmother clutched her stomach, laughing. "A Copeland juice! I love that."
Venus mimicked Raymond's voice. "Please accept it; it's a Copeland juice."
They both laughed.
"He sounds like he enjoys your company."
Venus shrugged with a mischievous grin. "He laughed at one of my jokes today. He said he hadn't laughed like that in a long time."
Katherine gave her a look. "Careful now. You're charming and all, but don't go falling for your boss."
Venus raised her hands. "Who said anything about falling? I'm just enjoying the ride."
They shared a look of understanding before bursting into another round of laughter.
Outside, the city lights blinked like stars. Inside, warmth, laughter, and the scent of home-cooked food filled the apartment.
As Venus tucked her legs beneath her on the couch and took another sip of tea, she whispered,
"Day one down, Grandma. Just a hundred more to go."
Katherine smiled. "You've already won, my child. Just keep being you."
She chuckled as she served Venus another spoonful of stew. "So, the CEO ordered lunch for you, eh? What kind of boss does that on day one?"
Venus smiled, stretching her legs on the sofa. "The kind of boss who's unknowingly been flirted with at a gas station and a bar."
Her grandmother threw her head back in laughter. "You and your story!"
Venus stood and stretched. "Grandma, let me go prepare for tomorrow. You know me—new job or not, if I don't iron my clothes and pack my bag tonight, I'll be running around in the morning like a lost chicken."
"Oh, thank you, Grandma. I forgot you already helped me to iron some clothes, but I need to check if the ones you ironed will be suitable for tomorrow."
"I can see that your level has changed," her grandmother remarked as they both burst out laughing.
She followed her down the hallway, arms folded, teasing. "Just don't turn this place upside down like the day you were looking for that pencil skirt for your interview."
Venus groaned, giggling. "Ah! That skirt nearly ended my career before it even started. I searched everywhere—under the bed, behind the fridge—"
"You even accused me of hiding it!" her grandmother added, laughing.
"I still believe you did, until you said I should check the ironing board," Venus said playfully, opening the door to her room.
Just then, her phone rang.
She froze. The screen lit up with a number she didn't recognize.
Her grandmother glanced at her. "Are you going to answer?"
Venus hesitated.