1. Serendipitous Beginnings

Rima’s POV

As I walked into the bustling café, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled my senses. I glanced around, searching for a quiet corner to focus on my job search. I had just moved to the city two weeks ago, leaving behind a life that was no longer mine, a woman who died tragically but found her peace and got away from a miserable existence filled with pain and suffering, seeking new opportunities in this unknown place. My name is Maria…. No wait.. Sorry.. My name is Rima Karam, and this was the beginning of my journey to reinvent myself.

I finally found a small table by the window and settled down, pulling out my laptop and a stack of resumes. It was the last day of the weekend and the café was filled with a lot of people chattering and laughing without a care in the world and I couldn’t help but envy that.

As I started browsing through job postings, my eyes were drawn to a man sitting a few tables away. He was tall and striking, exuding an air of authority that demanded attention. With warm brown eyes that seemed to see right through me, medium-length blonde hair trimmed at the sides and styled to perfection, and a jawline that could cut glass, he was the very definition of handsome. A subtle stubble beard accentuated his features, making him even more distracting. I couldn’t help but be curious about him. He looked to be in his early thirties.

Lost in my thoughts, I didn’t notice when he got up and walked over to my table. It wasn’t until he cleared his throat that I realized he was standing right beside me.

“Excuse me, is this yours?” he asked, holding up a resume that must have fallen from my stack.

I felt my cheeks flush as I nodded, hastily taking it from his hand “Yes, thank you. I didn’t realize I’d dropped it”

He glanced at my resume before meeting my gaze “Rima Karam, huh? You’re looking for a job?”

Feeling a bit flustered, I nodded again “Yes, I just moved here, and I’m trying to find something in marketing or business administration”

He raised an eyebrow, seemingly impressed “Well, it just so happens that I’m in need of a personal assistant. My name is Jacob Snow, and I run a marketing firm here in Toronto”

I blinked in surprise, unable to believe my luck “That’s incredible! I would love to learn more about the position if you’re willing to give me a chance”

Jacob studied my face for a moment, as if he were trying to gauge my sincerity “Tell me, Rima, why should I consider you for this role?”

I took a deep breath, determined to make the most of this unexpected opportunity “Mr. Snow, I may not have an extensive background in marketing, but I am hardworking, dedicated, and eager to learn. I will do whatever it takes to not only meet but exceed your expectations”

As I spoke, I couldn’t help but notice the way his eyes seemed to sparkle with curiosity. There was an intensity to his gaze that was both thrilling and unnerving.

He leaned against the wall, his arms crossed as he considered my words “You certainly have a fire in you, Rima. And I appreciate your honesty about your experience. Alright, let’s give it a shot. You’re hired”

My heart soared at his words, and I couldn’t help but feel that fate had brought us together “Thank you, Mr. Snow. I promise you won’t regret it”

He chuckled, his expression softening ever so slightly “Something tells me I won’t. But let’s see if you can keep up with me. I’ve been known to work my assistants to the bone”

I grinned, feeling a surge of confidence. “Challenge accepted, Mr. Snow”

Our eyes locked on each other as we stared silently into each other’s eyes, I could feel a spark between us, an undeniable chemistry that seemed to crackle in the air. I knew that I should be focused on the professional opportunity before me, but I couldn’t help but be drawn to him.

As he sat down in front of me, he started diving into the details of my new role, and the various responsibilities I have to take on.

As he shared the details of his marketing firm, I couldn’t shake the feeling that our meeting was almost too good to be true. My past had taught me to be cautious, and I’d promised myself never to be fooled again by innocent encounters.

“Mr. Snow… ” I began, hesitating for a moment “I hope you don’t take this the wrong way, but this all feels like such a huge coincidence. I need some kind of proof about your identity and that you actually own the company”

He studied my face for a moment, his expression inscrutable. Then, slowly, he pulled out his wallet and handed me his business card “I understand your concerns, Rima. It’s wise to be cautious”

I examined the card, my fingers tracing the embossed logo of Snow Marketing. It seemed legitimate, but I knew that appearances could be deceiving “Thank you for understanding, Mr. Snow. Do you mind if I look up your company online? I just want to be sure”

He nodded, an amused glint in his eyes. “By all means. I’d rather you be certain than have doubts lingering in your mind”

I pulled up the company website on my laptop, my fingers flying across the keyboard. As I navigated through the pages, I found images of Jacob at various company events, as well as articles and testimonials that confirmed his position as the CEO.

Feeling satisfied with my findings, I looked up at him "I apologize if I seemed overly suspicious, Mr. Snow, but I just wanted to be certain that you are who you claim to be. After all, one can't be too careful nowadays"

He smiled warmly, his eyes softening. "No need to apologize, Rima. In fact, I'm impressed by your thoroughness. It's a quality I value in my employees"

Despite my initial suspicions, I found myself drawn to him, his magnetic charm and wit pulling me in.

Curiosity piqued, I asked lightly "Can I ask why your last assistant left and how long she worked for you?"

"Actually, she didn't leave; I fired her. I probably should have warned you before hiring you. I haven't had an assistant who lasted more than two months"

I was surprised and couldn't help but wonder why no assistant had managed to last. My thoughts took a dark turn as I considered the possibility of harassment, after all, I didn’t really know him.

He seemed to catch on to my train of thought somehow "They were just incompetent, I didn't do anything, I swear" he said, raising his hands in a defensive gesture "Each of them had a lacking in some place, but most of them had too many commitments to keep up with my work. Miss Karam, I require my assistants to be fully devoted to me. I work hard, long hours, both at the office and at home. That's why I need my assistants to always be on call. If you have any issues with that, we should probably stop now and I should retract my offer"

"Oh no, I'm totally single and, like I said, I just moved here. I don't really have anyone here. Everyone I know is back in Lebanon"

"Can I ask why you decided to move to Canada?" he inquired gently.

I hesitated, trying hard not to reveal too much, and answered in a clipped tone, "The economy in Lebanon is just declining every day. I looked for work for a long time and couldn't find anything, so I decided to come here"

"What about your family? Do they approve?" he asked with genuine interest.

I answered simply "Of course, they do. I'm their only daughter"

His eyes pierced mine, and I averted my gaze to the window, reminding myself not to share too much personal information. He was a stranger, and even if he wasn't, he was just my boss, not my friend.

"I take it you don't have a place here yet, right?" he asked lightly.

"No, I'm currently living in a hotel. I didn't want to rent a place until I knew where I'd end up"

"That's great. I always provide the small flat next to my penthouse for my assistants. It's much easier that way. We can commute together, and you'll always be accessible whenever I need you"

"Oh, that's convenient. Thank you. How much is the rent for your flat next to your penthouse?" I asked cautiously.

He chuckled, and I felt a warmth spreading through me "You don't have to worry about rent. It's part of your compensation while you work for me"

"How about we wrap this up, and I'll help you move your stuff from the hotel to the flat so you can get settled before your first day tomorrow?" he offered kindly.

I nodded my head and said appreciatively “That would be great”

I gathered my things and we both left the café. Waiting outside was his personal driver who introduced himself to me as Travis. A man in a finely tailored suit who looked to be in his early forties with a very athletic build similar to Mr. Snow’s. He looked more fit to protect than to drive to be honest. Travis seemed kind and welcoming as he shook my hand and congratulated me on the new position.

As we got into the exquisite black SUV and drove off, I looked at the window absentmindedly, my head wrapping up what just happened.

Without applying for a single job, I got hired in a very successful marketing firm by none other than its CEO. I knew that I had a lot to learn. But I also felt a connection with Jacob, a bond that had been forged in that serendipitous encounter at the café. Little did I know that our paths crossing would change my life in ways I never could have imagined.