IsabellaI returned to my seat with a racing heart, about to burst out of my chest. My hands trembled with anger as I stared at the screen of my cell phone. There were two hours left before I could try again to enter, but in the meantime, I couldn't do it. I felt someone's presence standing next to me on the seat. I looked up, and it was my boss."Follow me," he whispered, gesturing for me to follow him. And so I did. Mrs. Bruce sat two seats ahead, close to Mr. Ashgar's security team. I gave her a determined look. I wouldn't allow her to intimidate me, and if she tried, she would regret it.Mr. Ashgar entered a room, and I followed him. He stepped aside and gestured to someone. He closed the door. Being alone in a room was perfect material for Mrs. Bruce. What kind of rumors would she invent about me? That we were lovers? Just the thought of it made me grimace. "Please, wipe that expression off your face," my boss said, interrupting my thoughts. He was staring at me intently. Had he
IsabellaDubai International Airport, United Arab Emirates, Private runwayMr. Ashgar recommended that I use a scarf to cover my hair, and now I understand why he did it. The wind that was blowing upon arrival tried to snatch the scarf I had wrapped around my head. I didn't want to imagine how my hair would have looked if I had left it loose.Carefully, I descended the steps while carrying my bag and holding my tablet against my chest. The weather was hot, and it was past three in the afternoon. I adjusted my sunglasses and followed Mr. Ashgar. The security team was impressive. He didn't seem like just a CEO of an important company in Toronto, but rather an Arabian prince. The luxury, the security, his demeanor—it all resembled those individuals that appear on the covers of famous high society magazines from abroad.We arrived at a waiting armored truck. I was about to get in when two sleek and apparently high-end trucks entered the runway. I looked at my boss and could only see the t
IsabellaMexico City"Straighten your back," I mentally ordered myself. "Smile," I put on the best smile I could for my interviewers. I had applied for a work visa in the city of Toronto, and I was jumping with joy as I would be leaving my country in search of better economic opportunities. It's not that I didn't like Mexico, but my dream had always been to settle in Canada and explore every corner of that beautiful country."Your application is impressive, Miss..." one of the men in suits began speaking through the laptop screen, "... Sánchez. Isabella Elizabeth Sánchez Figueroa..." He furrowed his brow. "Am I pronouncing it correctly?" I nodded slowly."We are thrilled to have you as part of our team at WB Automotive. We look forward to seeing you here soon.""Thank you so much for the decision to recruit me as an employee of your company," I smiled kindly. We said our goodbyes, and as the screen turned off, I let out a long sigh, released the stomach I had been holding in, and slou
IsabellaMonths later..."What are you doing? You need to take a flight and return home, to your home, with your family," Julio ordered on the other end of the line. I heard complaints, then I heard, "I'll talk to her." I sighed upon hearing Esteban's voice. "Isa?""Here I am," I replied in a low, depressed tone."Have you sent out job applications online? Start doing that. Just because you couldn't be the best employee in that company you joined doesn't mean you can't be elsewhere.""I will return home," I finally said."No, what you will do is take a shower. I imagine you're lying on the couch in your apartment, eating ice cream." I pursed my lips and reluctantly set down the spoon in the nearly empty ice cream container."It's better to go back. I haven't been able to find a job as an administrator. There are others who are better than me.""You will find a job, even if it's in a different field, but don't give up," I heard Luis nearby. "Let me talk to her too." I closed my eyes, n
Isabella―But before he takes her with him, do you have all your documents with you?" the woman asked. I nodded and took them out of my portfolio-style bag, handing them to her. As she reviewed them, I looked around the place. Ever since I entered through the elevator doors, the atmosphere felt cold. I could still feel it beneath my suit jacket. “Were they trying to keep it warm?” I thought sarcastically. It was fall, but it felt like a minimalist freezer decked out with quirky paintings."Alright, follow me," she said. I followed, trying not to slouch due to the buttons on my blouse and being careful not to take wide strides to avoid ripping my skirt. "God, please don't let me harm anyone with a button today." We stopped in front of double doors. "Every time you enter with Mr. Ashgar, you need to knock twice, just as I will, and wait for confirmation before entering.""Okay," I nodded, understanding what she was telling me."You can't knock more than twice. There's a security camera
IsabellaAshgar Export Enterprises"It's nothing out of the ordinary, this job, the only thing is that you need to stay one step ahead of me," he said. I furrowed my brow for a moment. "It doesn't matter if you don't have any experience. To be honest," he ran a hand over his face and then looked at me, "I'm having quite a difficult time finding a personal assistant. I know my secretary is sabotaging me because she wants me to depend on her, but I won't give her that satisfaction." I raised my eyebrows in surprise. "So, you'll be on a one-month trial as my personal assistant.""Thank you, sir," I said calmly, but inside I was excited because I was finally going to have a job, even if it wasn't as an administrator. But how much does a personal assistant earn? God, I hope the salary can help me get back on my feet financially."Go see Eleanor to get all the information you need to fulfill the duties of the position," he continued, looking up and down, then locking eyes with mine, narrowi
IsabellaI was taken aback by what my eyes were reading, "Permanent Contract," as I looked up at my new boss. He was engrossed in a conversation in Arabic, and although I knew the language, I tried not to pay attention until he mentioned me."She's my new assistant, so if my mother asks, tell her it was challenging to find someone with good references and trustworthy," he said. The man nodded and smiled. I discreetly averted my gaze, and my heart raced as I saw the salary. I need to do thorough research to know how to excel in this position. I signed it without hesitation and then waited for their conversation to end. When they finished, I handed my contract to the man."Is everything all right, Miss Sanchez?" asked my new boss, Mr. Ashgar. I nodded politely. "Good, there's a restroom on this floor. Go out and turn right at the end, you'll find it. Change and discard that outfit you're wearing," he raised his eyebrows, and he noticed. "Unless you want to assassinate someone at any mom
IsabellaAt the end, I couldn't continue with the following points because Mr. Ashgar called, and it was a long-distance call. He gave me instructions to stay in my place, and so I did. I checked the folder and found a list of his primary contacts, as well as emergency numbers and the restaurants where he usually eats or orders delivery from. I sighed when I realized how much I urgently needed to learn. Lunchtime came, and I kept reading."I see you're making an effort to become Mr. Ashgar's assistant," said the secretary in front of me. She seemed like a tough woman, but little did she know that I was too, and even though I had already signed a permanent contract, I would fight to stay for as long as possible and make Mr. Ashgar need me more than her. I put on a friendly smile, but she didn't know it was fake."Yes, it seems easy. It's just a matter of memorizing numbers, names, and surnames.""It's not just about memorizing. It's about having everything at hand, following the rules,