A friend or a spy?

Selena was surprised at how peaceful the next few days turned out to be. After the tension-filled encounters with Julian, she had fully braced herself for a storm of scolding and sarcasm. But instead of criticism, she got... silence.

Julian barely spoke to her. Even when she fumbled, he didn’t explode like usual. Instead, he assigned Clara to oversee her work, giving her clear instructions to train Selena thoroughly.

Clara, always cheerful and optimistic, was thrilled to take Selena under her wing. “Don’t worry, Selena. You’ll get the hang of this in no time!” she chirped on the first day of their lessons.

And Clara was right. Selena, determined not to give Julian any more ammunition against her, poured herself into the work. She picked up everything surprisingly fast, from drafting emails and handling schedules to understanding the basics of business correspondence.

“Wow,” Clara said one afternoon, looking over Selena’s completed reports. “I have to say, Selena, you’re a quick learner. Most people take weeks to figure all this out, but you’ve nailed it in just a few days!”

Selena smiled, proud of herself. “Well, I’ve always been good at adapting. And honestly, I’m kind of enjoying this. It’s like a whole new world I never explored before.”

“Good,” Clara said, handing her another stack of papers. “Because working under Mr. Julian means you’ll never have a dull moment. He’s demanding but fair. And if he’s letting you get through this without much yelling now, it means you’re doing great.”

Selena raised an eyebrow. “Demanding but fair? Are we talking about the same man?”

Clara laughed. “He’s just strict because he expects perfection. But trust me, you’re doing fine. Maybe he’s easing up on you because he knows you’re new to all this.”

Selena highly doubted that. Julian didn’t seem like the type to "ease up" on anyone. Still, the lack of confrontations made her days significantly more bearable.

Meanwhile, the company was buzzing with activity. The production crew for the drama visited almost daily, working out every detail with Julian. Discussions about casting, locations, and budgets filled the meeting rooms, and Julian was at the center of it all. His ability to juggle so many things at once was almost awe-inspiring.

Selena found herself observing him more during these meetings. He was meticulous, sharp, and commanding—everything she’d expect from someone in his position. Despite his cold demeanor, she couldn’t deny that he was brilliant at what he did.

Things seemed to be going well, almost too well, until Selena’s phone buzzed one afternoon. She glanced at the screen and saw her father’s name flashing.

“Hello?” she answered, stepping away from her desk to take the call.

“Selena, it’s me,” her father’s familiar voice came through, warm and gentle. “How are you, sweetheart?”

“I’m good, Dad,” Selena replied, a smile spreading across her face. “How about you?”

“I’m fine. But there’s something I wanted to tell you.”

Selena’s stomach did a small flip. Her father’s tone had shifted slightly, and she could sense something important was coming. “What is it?”

“Samantha’s back,” he said, and Selena’s breath caught.

“Samantha?” she repeated, her voice filled with a mixture of surprise and excitement. “She’s back? When did she return?”

“A few days ago,” her father replied. “She asked about you. She wants to see you.”

A wave of happiness washed over Selena. Samantha is her twin sister. They had lost touch over the years due to Samantha moving abroad, but hearing she was backfilled Selena with joy.

“Of course, I want to see her!” Selena exclaimed. “I’ll come home this weekend. Is that okay?”

“Perfect,” her father said, his voice warm with approval. “She’ll be so happy to see you. And so will I.”

After hanging up, Selena couldn’t help but feel a surge of anticipation. It had been so long since she’d seen Samantha. Her weekend suddenly looked brighter.

For the rest of the day, Selena worked with renewed energy, a small smile lingering on her lips. Clara noticed and teased her about it.

“What’s with the happy face, huh?” Clara asked, nudging Selena playfully.

“Nothing,” Selena said, though the excitement in her voice was unmistakable. “Just... looking forward to the weekend.”

Clara grinned. “Ah, a secret plan, I see. Well, good for you. You deserve a little happiness after all the hard work you’ve been putting in.”

Selena chuckled, feeling lighter than she had in days. For the first time in a while, she felt like she had something to look forward to—something that had nothing to do with Julian, the company, or the chaos of her current life.

As the workday wound down, Clara strolled into Julian’s office, a spring in her step. She knocked lightly on the glass door and entered when he gave his usual curt nod.

“Sir, I thought you’d want an update on Ms. Selena’s progress,” she said with a polite smile, clasping her hands in front of her.

Julian leaned back in his chair, his piercing eyes fixed on her. “Go on.”

“She’s improving significantly,” Clara said, choosing her words carefully. “She picks up tasks quickly, and she seems quite dedicated. Today especially, she seemed... lighter.”

“Lighter?” Julian raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued.

“Yes, Sir,” Clara nodded. “After receiving a call, her mood shifted. She looked genuinely happy for the first time since she started here. It was noticeable.”

Julian leaned forward, his elbows resting on the desk as his sharp mind started working. “Did she say why?”

“No, Sir,” Clara said apologetically. “All I know is that she mentioned looking forward to the weekend after the call.”

He smirked, his mind racing through possibilities. What could make Selena Frost—someone he had so carefully knocked off her pedestal—suddenly so cheerful? It was unusual and, frankly, suspicious.

“Good work, Clara,” he said, his voice smooth yet cold. “You’ve done well. Expect your bonus in your next paycheck.”

Clara’s face lit up with gratitude. “Thank you, Sir!”

He waved her away dismissively, and she left the office with a bounce in her step, thrilled at the prospect of extra cash.

As the door clicked shut, Julian’s smirk widened into something far more menacing. He swiveled his chair to face the window, his gaze falling on the skyline of the bustling city below.

“So, Selena’s looking forward to the weekend,” he thought, tapping his pen against his desk. “Interesting.”

This wasn’t merely curiosity for Julian. It was a calculated game. Every move Selena made could be a clue, a potential advantage for him to exploit. He had appointed Clara not out of benevolence or a genuine desire to help Selena improve, but as a spy. Clara’s sunny disposition made her perfect for the role—trustworthy enough to Selena yet loyal to him.

Julian’s hand tightened around the pen as his mind returned to the purpose behind all of this. Selena Frost had ruined things for him in the past, and no matter how small her current victories were, he wasn’t going to let her climb back to the top.

“The more I know about you, Selena,” he thought darkly, “the better I can break you.”

But then, a flicker of something—almost unrecognizable—passed through him. Why did it bother him to see her happy? Was it because he’d gotten used to seeing her fight back with fire in her eyes? Or was it something else entirely?

He shook the thought off immediately.

“This is going to be fun,” he muttered to himself, his smirk returning. “Let’s see what you’re up to this weekend, Selena.”