Chapter 4: A JOB AND A JEER

ISLA'S POV

The day I got the job offer from Sterling Corporation felt like the first ray of sunlight after a storm. It was more than a job; it was my ticket to a better future, and save my mom's life.

The first person I wanted to share the news with was Judith. I headed to the café where I used to work before everything fell apart.

Walking into that place brought mixed emotions. Jason owned the café, and seeing him there was inevitable. Still, I had news worth celebrating, and I wouldn’t let anything dampen my spirits.

Judith was behind the counter when I arrived. She spotted me and waved me over with a big smile. “Isla, what’s the occasion? You look like you’ve won the lottery!”

I grinned, unable to hold back my excitement. “Judith, I got the job at Sterling Corporation!”

Her eyes widened with delight, and she leaned over the counter to hug me. “I knew it! I knew they’d see how amazing you are. This calls for a celebration. Coffee’s on me!”

Before I could reply, I heard a familiar voice behind me. “So, Sterling Corporation? Planning to seduce your way to the top?”

I froze. Jason. Of course, he would ruin this moment. I turned to see him leaning against the counter, his smirk as irritating.

“Go away, Jason,” Judith snapped, stepping in to defend me.

But Jason wasn’t done. “I’m just curious. Didn’t take you long to bounce back, huh? What’s the plan this time, Isla? Target a rich boss?”

His words cut deep, but I refused to let him see how much they hurt. I squared my shoulders and looked him in the eye. “Not everyone needs to manipulate people to succeed, Jason. Some of us actually work for what we want.”

Judith added, “And some of us know when to leave. Don’t you have a business to run?”

Jason chuckled, but there was no humor in it. “Fine. Enjoy your little moment, Isla. Let’s see how long it lasts.”

He walked away, leaving me seething. Judith placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. “Don’t let him get to you. You’re better than this.”

I nodded, forcing a smile. “I know. He’s not worth it.”

But deep down, his words lingered, a reminder of the pain he had caused.

The following morning, I arrived at Sterling Corporation for my first day. The sleek office building was intimidating, but I pushed aside my nerves and stepped inside.

As I was navigating the hallways, I accidentally bumped into a woman dressed like a runway model. Her sharp eyes assessed me with disdain, her lips curling into a mocking smirk.

“So, you’re the boss’s new favorite pet,” she said with a sneer, her tone dripping with condescension. “Did he pick you from a charity auction or just drag you in off the streets?”

Her words caught me off guard, but I quickly apologized. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—”

She raised a perfectly manicured hand, silencing me. “Save it. Don’t think you can climb your way to the top just because you landed this job. Women like you don’t last long here. You’re a dime a dozen.”

Her sharp words stung, but I forced myself to remain calm. “I’m here to work, not cause trouble,” I replied quietly.

She let out a harsh laugh, her gaze raking over me. “Work? Please. The only skill you’ll need around here is knowing how to follow orders. Let’s hope you’re good at that.”

With that, she turned and strutted away, her heels clicking against the polished floor as if to punctuate her superiority.

A colleague nearby leaned in and whispered, “That’s Emma, our top designer. She’s brilliant, but she’s obsessed with the boss. Everyone knows she wants to be more than just an employee. Now that you’re his assistant, you’re her new target. Good luck—you’ll need it.”

“Great,” I muttered under my breath, swallowing the lump of frustration forming in my throat. Then, with a quiet, sarcastic edge, I added, “Must be hard carrying that ego around all day.”

Emma returned, holding a cup of coffee. Her glare was icy, and I could tell she had overheard me talking to the colleague.

“I don’t care what you think of me,” she snapped. “But if you insult me again, you’ll regret it.”

Before I could respond, she shoved me against the wall.

The commotion must have caught someone’s attention because the next thing I knew, Victor, my new boss, appeared. His sharp gaze landed on Emma.

“Emma, that’s enough,” he said sternly.

She stepped back, flustered, and muttered an apology before hurrying away.

Victor turned to me. “Are you okay?”

I nodded, though my heart was racing.

“Come to my office,” he instructed.

Once we were seated, he handed me a notepad and began listing some work-related precautions. I scribbled down everything, grateful for the distraction from the earlier incident.

Then, he surprised me by asking, “What do you think of Emma?”

I hesitated. “I don’t have an opinion. I just want to do my job and get promoted.”

For a fleeting moment, I thought I saw disappointment in his eyes. But why would he care?

The next morning, Victor called a team meeting. His professionalism and commanding presence were undeniable, and I found myself admiring how effortlessly he led the discussion.

Emma, however, wasn’t done with her antics. After the meeting, she cornered me in the conference room.

“You think you’re so special because you’re the assistant,” she sneered.

“I’m not here to argue,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm.

But she wasn’t interested in peace. She suddenly raised her voice, accusing me of slapping her.

“What are you talking about?” I exclaimed, stunned.

Before the situation could escalate, Victor appeared again. His timing was almost too perfect.

“What’s going on here?” he demanded.

Emma stammered, trying to play the victim, but Victor wasn’t having it. “Emma, I’ve warned you once. This behavior won’t be tolerated.”

His words caught me off guard. For the first time, I wondered if maybe he wasn’t like the other rich men I had encountered.

That evening, my phone buzzed with a message from Victor: “Let me take you out to dinner to apologize.”

I stared at the text, my heart pounding. What did he really want?