章節 17: Chapter 17: Competitors
Sam glanced at the commissioner and gave a slight nod. "It's okay," and then looked toward his secretary. "Since my secretary has no issue, neither do I."
"Thank you, ma'am, for forgiving me," the middle-aged man sighed, feeling a wave of relief. He sat back down, his nerves slowly calming, and added, "I promise this will be the first and last time. It won't happen again."
Sam and his secretary exchanged a brief glance, both of their lips curling into faint smiles as their eyes met.
The middle-aged man, now wiping sweat from his palms and forehead with a handkerchief, noticed their silent exchange. A sinking feeling resurfaced in his mind, but he decided to ignore it.
Damn, what bad luck! I was only following my procedure.
I've already offended them. I can't risk upsetting them further by over-asking.
After a heavy internal debate in his mind, he resolved to stay calm, complete the deal, and somehow earn enough goodwill to erase this one offense from their memory.
And he had already worshipped the government's 18 ancestors.
Those fuckers! If anything went wrong. They would make a lamb to satisfy businessman.
I can't wait to retire and spent my life without any anxiety.
Ahh! My old bones! Can't handle these rollercoasters.
Shaking his head and regaining his composure, Sam smiled. "No need to be so tense. I was just joking," he said, glancing at his secretary. "Right?"
Startled, the secretary quickly regained her composure, though she cursed in her mind, "Joking, my ass!" She forced a faint smile and replied, "Yes, sir. There's no need to worry about that. Our boss was just joking." Then, glancing at Sam, she added, "There was an issue at the company today, which is why he's a bit upset."
The commissioner, with a bitter smile that seemed to say, "What can I do?", responded, "I understand. I must have triggered him." Turning back to Sam, he added, "I'm sorry, sir, for upsetting you."
Waving his hand dismissively, Sam interjected, "No need to waste time on this." He glanced at the document and said, "Please, review the document and let us know your thoughts."
"Yes, sir," the commissioner replied, refocusing on the paperwork.
The secretary raised her eyebrows at Sam, her expression clearly asking, "Boss, are you really planning to hire him?"
With a faint smile, Sam picked up his tablet, opened the 'Messages' app, and selected the 'Secretary' chat. He began typing.
"He has experience, and I'm impressed by his capabilities."
"But he doesn't seem to understand how things work at this level, or he wouldn't have asked that question." the reply came.
"True, but he can adapt quickly, and he has a good sense of proportion."
"He does, but where are you planning to place him?"
"I need a personal secretary, so I want you to make him your mirror."
"But sir, he's not cut out for that role. His age..."
"Don't worry. You'll understand after the deal."
Sam waited, but no reply came. He glanced at his secretary, and their eyes met. He noticed the tension on her face, and then a new message appeared on his tablet.
"Boss, are you planning to replace me?"
Sam choked on his breath at the unexpected response, immediately typing back, "You've misunderstood. I want you as my personal secretary, but I know you won't have time after dealing with the company's affairs."
"Sorry, boss, for doubting you." her reply came, and Sam noticed a faint smile forming on her lips. A similar smile appeared on his face.
"I want you to teach him everything within a month and then transition to being my personal secretary." Sam teased.
"But, boss, a personal secretary? I don't have the experience, and I'm... not ready."
"I know, and I'll wait," Sam typed solemnly. He continued, "I understand you may have many questions, but don't worry. I'll explain everything."
Her tense expression softened, and she typed back calmly, "Okay, boss, I'll wait too."
"Sir, everything is as per the rules," a voice interrupted the momentary calm.
Both of them regained their composure. Clearing his throat and straightening up, Sam asked, "Please proceed according to the government scheme and grant me the permission."
The commissioner, rising from his seat, replied, "Alright, sir. Don't worry. Give me a moment." He took the document and stepped out of the office.
The secretary, summoning her courage, turned toward Sam. Nervously rubbing her hands together, she asked solemnly, "Boss, I'm not sure how to ask this, but... are you really serious? You know I've never been in a relationship, so..."
Sam stood up, walked behind her chair, and gently placed his hand on her shoulder. His tone softened as he replied, "You know me better than anyone. We've been through a lot since we graduated from the same college. You've been by my side from the start, helping me build this company."
He paused, taking a deep breath as memories flooded back. "I still remember when we finished our MBAs and were fierce competitors. I invited you to join my company as my secretary because I knew you had the guts to stand by me—not just as an employee, but as a trusted friend."
A faint smile tugged at the corners of the secretary's lips. The tension melted from her body as her expression softened. She chuckled, "Back then, I had no idea you were the son of the richest man around," she teased, turning her head toward Sam with a playful grin. "If I'd known, I might have been more careful before being so bold with you, Your Majesty."
Sam laughed, caught off guard by her response, and gently patted her head. "You're still pulling my leg, huh?" The solemn atmosphere dissolved, replaced with a sense of ease and lightness as he returned to his seat, both of them now smiling.
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