Chapter two

I wake up to the sound of the alarm echoing in my ears; it's five o'clock, and it's high time to get out of bed.

I take a quick shower and start getting ready, wearing red wide-leg pants, a coat, a shirt, and white heels. I tie my hair into a ponytail and leave the house in a taxi.

"Good morning, William," I say after reading his name on the badge.

"Good morning, miss. I see you've been hired."

"Please call me Sophia."

"As you prefer," he smiles. "Have a great first day at work."

"Thank you."

Once I enter the office, I notice Samantha already at her desk, very punctual, just like me.

"I see you're punctual, twenty minutes early?"

"I don't want to make a bad impression on my first day."

"How are you?"

"Happy, and you?"

"I'm great."

"Has Mr. Bennet arrived?"

"Of course not. It's six forty; usually, the owners tend to be late."

"True, but some are present in the company before the secretary."

"Not the case with the one responsible for our salaries," she said, smiling.

"Who do you work for?"

"For Mr. Leonardo. You'll meet him soon, but I'll warn you he's a womanizer."

"Don't worry; I know how to handle that kind of man."

Some employees are already at work. Some welcome me, and others just smile. It seems he has a competent team, less talk and more work. Good for me; I won't have fake people trying to strike up conversations with me.

The boss enters the office with firm and determined steps. His imposing figure and confident posture confirm his position of authority in the company. Dressed in an elegant suit and a well-aligned tie, he conveys a professional and respectable image.

I don't like this man, but I can't deny that his presence is dangerously striking.

I walk quickly behind him, rolling my eyes. Seriously, I hate this kind of work, and if it weren't for a greater cause, I'd be in Canada helping my brother manage one of our companies.

"Good morning, sir."

"Good morning," he replied rudely.

"I came to remind you of an important commitment you have today - at eight in the evening, you have a business dinner with Mr. Aniston and Mr. López. Should I accompany you?"

"No," he said, his eyes fixed on some papers.

"Should I prepare your breakfast?"

"No, I ate at home."

"What can I do for you now?"

"Work," my new boss raised his gaze and stared at me seriously. "I believe you have many things to do."

"You're right. Excuse me."

My God! Why was he so rude to me? Is he always like this? I wouldn't doubt it; some people are truly despicable, and Alexander is undoubtedly one of them.

I am enjoying my boss's schedule, carefully organizing appointments and reviewing pending tasks. It's gratifying to see how everything is well planned and structured; his former secretary excelled in this role. I take the opportunity to adjust the schedules as needed, ensuring that each commitment is adequately accommodated. I'm not satisfied contributing to the efficiency and productivity of the man who destroyed my sister and my family, but I need to do it to make him happy with my work.

Now I'm organizing important documents, creating organized folders to ensure that files are kept properly for easy access.

"Are you busy now?" Samantha asked with a simple smile.

My desk is next to Samantha's, creating a close and collaborative working environment.

"Not too much, why?"

"I'd like to show you where the Bennet family's products are manufactured."

"I would love that," I smile.

We get up from our desks and enter the elevator. As we reach the thirty-eighth floor, where the Bennet family's hair and skin products factory is located, my eyes widen. The environment is filled with the constant hum of machines working in harmony.

The corridors are spacious and clean, with engaged employees in their tasks, each playing their role in creating the products I've been researching for years.

"This is so beautiful," I say with admiration in my voice.

"I felt exactly the same on my first day in this place."

We reach a production area where advanced machines are in full operation. Products are packaged, wrapped, and labeled with care, ready to be distributed to consumers. It's an impressive sight of mass production.

Samantha stays by my side, attentive to every detail like me. Together, we appreciate the effort and dedication dedicated to creating these products.

We leave the place with ear-to-ear smiles and return to our activities.

"Let's have lunch, Sophia?"

"Please, I'm starving."

"Me too, I've lost count of how many times my stomach growled," she said, making me laugh.

I'm sitting in an elegant restaurant where I was invited for lunch by Samantha a few minutes ago.

Our main courses arrive at the table, beautifully presented. I opted for a succulent grilled steak accompanied by fresh vegetables. Samantha chose a creamy mushroom risotto, which looks incredibly tasty.

"Is Mr. Alexander always like this?"

"Like what?"

"Rude, crude?"

"How could he be different with that annoying wife of his?" She rolled her eyes, and I laughed.

Maybe his marriage isn't at its best. If my suspicions are correct, I can take advantage of that.

"What happened to his last assistant?"

"She got married and moved to another city."

"Oh, that's good."

"Yeah," she said without expressing joy.

"Why do I feel a bit of sadness in your words?"

"She was my best friend."

"Not anymore?"

"Oh, Sophia, I don't know," she replied sadly. "Things changed; she got married and moved with her husband. Married life isn't easy, and I don't want to be in the middle of them."

"I understand," I reach out and take her hand. "I'm here now, and I believe we'll be good friends. I may not be the best, but I'll be a great ally."

"I think so, Sophia."

Samantha insisted on paying the bill, even though I said it wasn't necessary. She argued that it was a welcome gift, and I had no choice but to accept and express my gratitude. We got up from the table and headed towards the restaurant's exit.

As we approach the office, the conversation continues to flow, and I feel comfortable beside Samantha. There's a pleasant chemistry between us, and I believe working together will be a positive experience.

"Please hold the elevator!" a man standing next to my boss requests. Samantha does so. "Who's this masterpiece in front of me?" he asks after entering the elevator.

"Sophia Villalobos, my new assistant," my boss says with a stern face.

"Pleasure to meet you, miss. I'm Leonardo Walker, the vice president of this company."

"The pleasure is all mine, sir."

"Please, call me Leonardo or simply Leo."

"Sorry, sir, but I don't usually address my superiors by their first names."

"But you can make an exception for me."

"What makes you think I would do that for you, sir? Please don't mix things up; I think it's better for everyone if you act professionally."

Bennett looked at me with a certain admiration, while Samantha held back her laughter. Leonardo seemed to devour me with his eyes. It's good that he immediately realized his attempts at cheap flirting won't have an effect on me.

As I exited the elevator, I could feel Mr. Leonardo's intense gaze on me, as if its intensity could penetrate my skin.

"What was that, Sophia?" he smiled broadly. "I've been working in this company for four years and have never seen someone talk to my boss like that."

"He deserved it. He can't expect to take to bed every beautiful woman he sees."

"That moment will be stored in my memory for a long time."

"In mine too, for sure," we laughed with humor.

"I like you, Sophia."

"I like you too, Samantha."

The day passed very slowly, and if it weren't for Samantha and her relaxed conversations, everything would have been more difficult. I like her, and I hope we become good friends.

It's seven in the evening, and I'm reviewing some papers that were given to me in the afternoon. They are very complex, and I need to get through a significant portion to avoid suffering tomorrow.

"Sophia? What are you doing here?"

"I'm analyzing the reports Mr. Bennet gave me after lunch."

"Please, pack up your things; finish it tomorrow."

"But sir..."

"No 'buts,' pack up your things!"

"All right, sir."

"Can you go home?"

"Yes, I'll take a taxi."

"It's not safe for you to walk alone in the streets; I'll take you home."

"It's not necessary; I don't want to bother."

"Don't worry about it; let's go."

Throughout the entire journey, no one uttered a single word. Occasionally, I felt his eyes fixed on me, but every time I looked at him, he averted his gaze. It was hard to decipher what was going on in his head.

It was horrible to be in the same car as the man who destroyed my childhood. Every minute felt like an eternity, filling the air with unbearable discomfort. The silence was suffocating, and tension lingered in the air like a dark cloud over me.

I felt his presence next to me like a sinister shadow relentlessly following me. I couldn't help the constant flow of painful memories that surfaced every time I looked at him. He was responsible for so many deep wounds, for the scars that marked my childhood and shaped who I became. Each time our gazes met, it was as if all the negative emotions I had stored inside me came to the surface—a mixture of anger, sadness, and resentment. I felt powerless, trapped in a car with my worst enemy.

"Your quitting time is at six in the evening, Miss Villalobos. If you have unfinished work, make sure to finalize it the next day, understood?" he said after stopping the car at my building.

"Yes, sir, thank you for the ride. Have a great night."

"Thank you, and likewise," I got out of the car and saw my new boss walking away.

It's a relief to leave this torment behind, even if only temporarily.

I know it won't be an easy task for me to be around him almost all the time, but my mind has been trained over many years to withstand the shocks he might cause.

I will get my revenge, even if it's the last thing I do in life.