Duty And Desire

Chapter Six

I arrive at my new working place. The receptionist greets me, she gave me the key and direct me to my new working place.

As I open the office, I couldn't express my excitement, the office looks very simple and beautiful.

I text Nolan to let him know about my arrival. He replies me immediately.

“Good to hear. I am on my way, see you soon”

I feel so lucky as I lay my back to the chair.

As I am about to turn on the system, a knock at the door interupts me.

"Come in," I says.

The door opens, and a tall, elegant woman steps in. Her polished appearance and confident stride make an immediate impression. She smiles wa,rmly as she enters.

"I’m Nancy, Mr. Nolan’s personal assistant," she introduces herself, her tone both professional and friendly.

As she steps inside, her high heels click on the polish floor.

"I am Marie Smith” I responded, extending a hand.

Nancy shakes my hand firmly, her grip confident. "The receptionist mentioned you were starting today, so I thought I’d come by and say hello."

"Thank you, Miss Nancy. It’s nice to meet you."

"Likewise," she replies with a warm smile. "See you around."

With a friendly nod, she exits the office, leaving me to settle in.

I smile, and watch her leave. My phone buzzes and I check. It's a message from the CEO, Nolan.

“I am at the office now, you can come”

I feel so happy, I gathered my things and leave the office, eager to see him as my CEO this time, not as my ex-boyfriend.

As I reach Nolan's office, he spots me and pulls me tightly. Just as I’m savoring the warmth of his hug, Nancy walks in and catches us in the middle of this intimate moment. The surprise in her eyes is evident as she pauses at the doorway.

She clears her throat and says, "Good morning, Mr. Nolan."

Nolan releases me and turns to Nancy with a warm smile. "Good morning, Miss Nancy. How are you doing today?”

Nancy raises an eyebrow but maintains her professional demeanor. "I’m fine, but you seem busy. Should I excuse the two of you?"

"Don’t worry, Miss Nancy," I say, trying to make my exit from his office. "I’m just getting settled in.”

"Nancy, is there anything you need to discuss with me?" Nolan asks, his tone gentle but firm. “I need to explain to her about her new roles”

Nancy looks slightly taken aback but quickly recovers. "Oh, it’s usually my task to explain new roles to employees."

Nolan nods. "You can excuse us for now, Miss Nancy. I still need to welcome Marie and go over her new role with her."

Nancy offers a polite smile and nods. "Alright, I’ll come back in thirty minutes then."

With a quick glance at both of us, she exits the office, closing the door behind her.

He pulls me closer once again, his eyes filled with longing.

"Marie, I’ve missed you so much," he says softly, his voice almost pleading.

"I understand, Nolan. I’ve missed you too," I reply, my own feelings mirroring his.

"I want us to be together again, just the two of us," he continues, his tone earnest.

"I understand," I say gently, "but for now, let’s focus on getting to work. We need to make sure everything is in order."

He nods reluctantly, the intensity in his eyes fading as we shift our focus back to the tasks at hand.

He sits down behind his desk, and I take a seat opposite him.

“Marie, you do not know how happy I am that you are working as my secretary, though this is exactly not what I want, I want having you as my side, my wife” he smile, and shift the conversation, “Marie, your role here as my secetary is to be conservant with my schedule, you will ensure the company runs smoothly. You will be the first point of contact for clients and staffs. You will be the one to organize meetings and maintain confidential records”

He looks at me, his gaze reassuring. "Do you have any questions to ask me, you need to be free, my office is yours, okay”

I nod, “I understand Mr. Nolan, thank you” I said and leave to my office.

As I settle into my office, the first few hours are a whirlwind of introductions. Colleagues come and go, each offering warm welcomes and friendly smiles. I do my best to remember their names and roles while maintaining a polite and engaged demeanor.

I ask each person about the day-to-day activities and how things have been running since they have been working here. Their explanations provide me with a comprehensive overview of the office dynamics and current projects.

****

The next morning, I receive a message from Nolan:

“Marie, I won’t be coming to work today. Please arrange a meeting with the staff to discuss the ongoing projects and any issues they might be facing. I trust you to handle this in my absence. Thanks.”

I read the message, feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension. This will be my first major task in my new role as Nolan's secretary, and it’s a significant responsibility.

I quickly draft a message and send it to the team, notifying them of the meeting scheduled for 10 a.m. I make sure to include a brief agenda so they know what to expect.

As I’m about to leave my office to prepare the meeting room, the door swings open abruptly.

“Miss Marie—”

I cut her off, trying to maintain a professional tone. “You can address me as Mrs. Robinson, please.”

She looks momentarily taken aback but quickly regains her composure. “Mrs. Robinson, I think you’re already doing more than yourself. I’m the one who usually handles these things. You’ve just resumed, and now you’re already involved in everything.”

I hold up a hand, attempting to diffuse the tension. “I appreciate your concern, but Nolan has specifically asked me to handle this meeting. It’s part of my new role, and I want to make sure everything goes smoothly.”

Her expression hardens. “I know how my boss can be. He might instruct you to do something, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he wants you to. And speaking of which, I saw you hugging him yesterday. What’s that about?”

Her words catch me off guard, and I feel a flush of embarrassment. I take a moment to compose myself before responding. “Our personal interactions are irrelevant to the professional tasks at hand. My focus here is to fulfill my responsibilities effectively. If you have any concerns about the meeting or my role, we can discuss them after.”

She narrows her eyes, clearly offended. “You must be joking. Remember, you’re talking to a senior colleague. You need to respect me. Don’t bite off more than you can chew, or I might have to bite back.”

I feel a surge of tension but keep my voice steady. “Respect is mutual, Miss Nancy. I’m here to do my job, and I expect to be treated with the same professionalism I offer. Let’s keep our interactions focused on work.”

With a final, challenging look, she turns and exits the room, leaving me to face the upcoming meeting with a heightened sense of resolve.