"Is it Sheira?" Sheira focused intently on the man before her, trying to recall his face, but nothing came to mind, leaving her feeling uneasy.
"I'm Zeny," the man said, recognizing the confusion in her expression. He introduced himself first.
"Oh, hi Zeny," Sheira responded with a warm smile, finally connecting the name to the description Viren had given her.
"Sorry for the wait. Let's go; I'll take you to meet HRD," Zeny said.
"That quickly?" Sheira asked, puzzled. Zeny seemed taken aback by her reaction.
"Yes, what else is there to do?" he inquired.
"Zeny, I'm still a student. It won't be easy to land a secretary position; if I'm lucky, I might just get an internship," Sheira admitted hesitantly.
"Don't worry; I've got everything sorted out. Just trust me; all you need to do is meet HRD, and it will all be taken care of," Zeny reassured her.
"Alright, let's go!" Sheira said, gathering her courage. Just as they began walking, Zeny's cellphone rang, and he had to excuse himself to take the call.
A short while later, he returned with an uneasy expression. "I'm sorry, Sheira, I received an urgent call," Zeny said, looking guilty.
Sheira smiled, sensing his concern. "It's fine; I know you have work to do. I can manage on my own," she replied cheerfully.
"Thanks for understanding, Sheira," Zeny said, giving her directions to HRD before leaving.
"Okay, turn left, then right, and straight ahead," Sheira muttered to herself as she walked, reciting Zeny's directions. But as she was concentrated on memorizing them, she accidentally bumped into someone.
"Oops!" she exclaimed, rubbing her forehead, which throbbed from the collision.
"Watch where you're going! Can't you pay attention?" a voice scolded.
"Huh? Rey?" The man she had bumped into, Rey, looked at her closely, his brows furrowing as if he were trying to remember her.
"Sheira?" he said uncertainly. "Yes, Rey, it's me!" Sheira beamed.
"Wow, Rey! I never expected to run into you here. You've changed so much! I still remember when you were shorter than me, and now you're taller! And look at those muscles!" she said playfully, admiring Rey's sturdy build.
"Are you working here too? Where?" Sheira asked eagerly, without missing a beat.
"What are you doing here?" Rey countered, evading her question.
"I'm here for an interview; I'm really hoping to work here!" Sheira replied, excitement bubbling inside her, especially since she was meeting an old friend. However, as she examined Rey's appearance—his expensive suit, branded belt, and top-notch shoes—she realized he must hold a significant position in the company.
"Rey, you still haven't answered my question, where are you working?" Sheira pressed again.
"CEO," Rey replied nonchalantly. Sheira's jaw dropped in surprise as she covered her mouth with both hands. She cursed herself for not having asked more about the CEO of Heroic Company or at least looked at a picture.
'Stupid!' Sheira berated herself silently. If she had known that her target was her former classmate, she might have thought twice about being here. But there was no turning back now. She never imagined that Rey, her school friend, had become a company owner. Two years had passed, and for reasons unknown, she and Rey had ended up in the same class again. What stood out most in Sheira's memory was how Rey had been the geeky one back then. Now, everything had changed; Rey had transformed into a handsome and muscular man.
"Are you just cosplaying as CEO, Rey?" Sheira asked cautiously, hoping her assumption was barely true.
"What? Oh, you want an interview, right? Do you want me to refuse you now?" Rey asked in a teasing tone.
"Rejected?" That word echoed in her mind, conjuring images of the two billion she had hoped for vanishing into thin air. She struggled with the idea of facing Rey again but couldn't ignore her father's urgent needs.
"No, Sheira, don't think like that. Focus on what matters—your father's health. He needs treatment now," she murmured to herself.
"Please, don't turn me down," Sheira pleaded earnestly, convincing herself that as long as she was just one man's temptation, it would be better than exposing herself to many others.
"Just be careful around your big boss," Rey said arrogantly, and he walked away, leaving Sheira silently reflecting on her predicament. She felt annoyed by Rey's newfound arrogance. The once geeky boy had become a charming, yet arrogant, man.
Sheira was also worried that Rey held a grudge against her for how she had teased him in the past. She chuckled to herself, bewildered by how fate had dealt her this card. She found herself in a position where she had to seduce the very man she had once mocked.
"How did Arsen become so successful at such a young age while I'm still struggling?" she thought, shaking her head as she continued on her way to HRD.
-//-
"What?!" Sheira recounted the day's events to her best friend, Zora, who was equally astonished by the story.
"Are you serious? He's the Rey we knew? The geeky, whiny Rey?!" Zora exclaimed.
"Yes, Zora, it's hard to believe. I'm concerned he might want revenge on me," Sheira said, her voice tinged with frustration.
"Remember, Sheira, Rey used to like you! He pursued you relentlessly, and you flat-out rejected him. Now, the tables have turned. You need to win Rey's heart, fight to make him like you, and mess up his happy home. Is this karma coming back to bite you?"
Zora teased.
"That's true," Sheira replied flatly. "But I'm starting to feel overwhelmed. I can't give up, especially thinking about my dad's health. If I quit now, what will happen to him?"
Zora looked at her friend sympathetically, feeling her pain but knowing there was little she could do to help. "Sheira, don't give up so easily. Your father really needs you now. Imagine, if you win over Rey, you could change both your lives, and your father's health might improve!"
Sheira gazed at Zora, her exhaustion evident in her eyes. The weight of her situation was heavy on her shoulders.
"I know this might be the wrong approach, but life isn't easy for girls like us," Zora encouraged, holding Sheira's hand.
"Thanks, Zora. I feel motivated again, especially for my father's recovery," Sheira said, managing a smile, despite uncertainty about her next steps.
-//-
The previous day's interview had been mere formality since Zeny had already handled everything, marking Sheira's first day at Heroic Company. She was thankful for the opportunity; her new salary would help her meet her needs, especially with the financial support promised by Viren for her father's surgery.
"Alright, Sheira, focus on catching Rey's attention and disrupting his life," she whispered to herself.
All day, she worked diligently, hoping for a chance to see Rey. Though she was apprehensive, she was determined to face him no matter what. Finally, the opportunity arose when she needed Rey's signature on some documents. Taking a deep breath for courage, motivated by thoughts of her father, Sheira approached Rey's office.
"Excuse me, Mr. Rey?" she called out.
"Come in!" Rey's authoritative voice replied. Sheira stepped inside and halted in front of Rey's desk, where he was engrossed in his work.
"Good afternoon, sir. I have reports that require your signature."
"Hand it over!" he instructed brusquely. As Sheira moved alongside Rey, she leaned in slightly, presenting the documents, her heart racing.
"Just a moment, sir," she said, her voice softer.