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.

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