Page 9 of The Secretary Volume II
The conference room is cold, expensive, controlled.The kind of place where even oxygen probably has to get approval before it circulates.
A man waits inside.He doesn’t have to introduce himself.I know exactly who he is.Most people do.
Ellis Harrison.
Founder.CEO.The man in charge of all this.
I knew he might be involved in the hiring process, but I assumed I’d be dealing with some middle-manager gatekeeper.Not him directly.
He stands when I enter.His smile is carefully measured, like everything else in this office.
“Miss Blackwell,” he says, watching me cross the room.I don’t know why, but I already don’t like how much space his voice takes up.
I take the only empty seat, immediately noticing that it sits lower than his.A deliberate move.A power play.
I hate that I notice it.But I sit anyway.
He studies me like a curiosity rather than a candidate.“You come highly recommended.”
“Thank you,” I say, though I have no idea who supposedly recommended me.
He folds his hands, studying me.“Tell me, what do you know about Shergar Corporation?”
I hesitate.“You’re a research company?”
A slow smile.Not amused.Not pleased.Just… waiting.
“What kind of research?”
I should have seen that coming.I hesitate just long enough for him to notice.
“Various industries,” I say, but the moment the words leave my mouth, I know they sound ridiculous.
Ellis hums, the sound low, considering.
Then, out of nowhere, he asks:
“Do you know who I am?”
The question is abrupt.It feels like a trick.
I meet his gaze.“I do.”
“And what have you heard?”
I smile.“That you run a successful company.”
A beat.Then, with a half-smile:
“And that you like knowing what people say about you.”
His expression doesn’t change.“That’s very diplomatic.”
I say nothing.
He studies me for a long moment.“You’re recently divorced, correct?”
It’s a gut punch—an unexpected question that shouldn’t matter, but somehow does.
