An actress being a secretary?

The morning at Grant Enterprises was as usual—sharp-dressed employees buzzing around with files, coffee mugs in hand, and nerves on edge. Julian Mather’s reputation preceded him, and the entire company thrived on his precision and ruthless drive for success.

Every employee knew Julian demanded perfection. Even a single mistake could result in a devastating reprimand or, worse, immediate termination.

A group of his senior staff, including department heads and his temporary assistant, gathered in the grand conference hall. They were rehearsing their reports for the day.

“Everything must be perfect,” one of the department heads, Martin, murmured as he flipped through his notes. “Mr. Mather won’t tolerate stuttering or incomplete answers.”

“Do we even know who the new secretary is?” whispered Clara, the head of marketing.

“No idea,” Martin replied, adjusting his tie nervously. “But whoever it is must be extraordinary if Mr. Mather chose them personally.”

Clara scoffed softly. “I just hope they can survive. You know how he is with new hires.”

“Strict, yes. But fair,” Martin said, though his voice wavered slightly.

Just then, the elevator doors chimed open, and the usual hum of the office died down. A powerful aura swept through the space as Julian Mather stepped out, his sharp black suit tailored to perfection. His stride was confident, his dark eyes scanning the floor like a hawk assessing its territory.

Beside him walked a woman who immediately drew everyone’s attention. Selena Frost.

Whispers rippled through the office like wildfire.

“Is that… Selena Frost?”

“The actress? What’s she doing here?”

“Didn’t she just get out of a scandal?”

“She’s gorgeous, but wasn’t her career ruined?”

“Why is she walking with Mr. Mather?”

“Wait… Don’t tell me she’s the new secretary!”

Selena felt the weight of their stares, her heart pounding in her chest. She was used to the spotlight, but this was different. These weren’t adoring fans or photographers begging for her attention. These were professionals sizing her up, judging her presence in their pristine corporate world.

Julian, however, seemed completely unaffected. He walked with his usual commanding aura, his face a mask of indifference as if the entire building wasn’t buzzing with gossip about his companion.

Selena leaned toward him and whispered, “They’re all staring.”

He smirked without looking at her. “Of course, they are. You’re infamous.”

Selena resisted the urge to glare at him, keeping her head high as they reached the glass-walled conference room.

As they approached the group of senior employees waiting in the conference hall, the whispers ceased, and everyone straightened, their attention snapping to Julian. He exuded an air of authority that demanded respect, if not outright fear.

The moment Julian entered, the room stilled. The department heads stood straighter, clutching their notes as if they were shields. Clara, the head of marketing, offered a polite smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“Good morning, Mr. Mather,” Martin, the operations director, began, his voice steady despite the tension in the air. “We’ve prepared reports on—”

Julian raised a hand, silencing him. His eyes scanned the group, sharp and unyielding. “I’ll review the reports shortly. For now, there’s another matter to address.”

The executives exchanged curious glances as Julian turned toward Selena, gesturing for her to step forward.

“This,” he announced, his tone calm yet authoritative, “is Selena Frost. She’ll be joining us as my new personal secretary.”

A stunned silence followed.

“Wait…” Clara muttered under her breath. “*The* Selena Frost?”

Julian’s assistant, who had been quietly observing, suppressed a smirk as the whispers began.

“Her? Isn’t she…you know?”

“Didn’t she ruin her career with that scandal?”

“Why would Mr. Mather hire her? She’s not qualified for this.”

“She’s gorgeous, but this is a business, not a runway.”

Julian’s sharp gaze swept across the room, silencing the murmurs. “I expect her to be treated with the same respect as any other employee here. If anyone has an issue with that, they can find another job. Am I clear?”

A collective nod followed.

Selena remained quiet, her cheeks burning under their scrutiny. She didn’t want to be here, let alone as the center of attention. But Julian’s presence beside her, his unflinching confidence, kept her from faltering.

“Good,” Julian said briskly. “Now, back to work. Selena, follow me.”

Julian led Selena to her new office, a sleek, minimalist space adjacent to his own. Glass walls gave her a clear view of the bustling office floor, and modern furniture filled the room. A state-of-the-art computer sat atop a pristine desk, flanked by neatly arranged office supplies.

“This will be your workspace,” Julian said, his tone devoid of warmth. “Your responsibilities will include managing my schedule, coordinating with department heads, and ensuring that my time isn’t wasted. Understood?”

Selena nodded, her jaw tight. “Understood.”

Julian stepped closer, his imposing frame towering over her. “Good. Because if you screw this up, there won’t be a second chance.”

His words stung, but Selena met his gaze head-on. “I won’t.”

He smirked, clearly entertained by her defiance. “We’ll see.”

Back on the office floor, the employees were far from settled.

“Did you see how she looked? Like she owns the place,” one intern whispered.

“Maybe she does. She *is the Selena Frost*”

“Do you think the boss hired her out of pity?”

“Pity? Have you seen her? If I looked like that, I wouldn’t need pity.”

“Still, it’s strange. Why would someone as meticulous as Mr. Mather hire *her*?”

The employees weren’t wrong to question Julian’s decision. He was known for his exacting standards and an almost obsessive focus on perfection. Every hire was meticulously vetted, every project scrutinized to the last detail. Bringing someone as controversial as Selena into his orbit was wildly out of character.

But no one dared to question him directly.

Selena spent the next few hours familiarizing herself with her office. Julian’s assistant, briefly walked her through the company’s systems before leaving her to sort through the avalanche of emails flooding her inbox.

Outside her office, the whispers continued to ripple through the building. Employees speculated on Selena’s role and how long she’d last under Julian’s intense scrutiny.

“Do you think she’ll survive the week?” Clara mused to Martin as they walked past Selena’s glass-walled office.

“She’s an actress, not a secretary. She’s doomed,” Martin replied.

“Unless…” Clara’s eyes sparkled mischievously.

“Unless what?”

“She uses her charm. You know how Mr. Mather is around beautiful women.”

Martin rolled his eyes. “He doesn’t care about charm. He cares about results. If she doesn’t deliver, she’s gone.”