Chapter 1 Why don't you lock the door first

"This is the 11th incompetent assistant you have recruited for me in just a month," Nathan seethed. "Fix it," he hissed in his usual cold and arrogant tone.

Vincent, his HR manager, was disturbed. "I'm very sorry, Mr President, I will get you a new assistant in two weeks," he expressed, his eyes lowered as Nathan cast a sharp glare at him.

Nathan stood from his luxury swivel chair and banged his balled fist on the table, "are you so incapable? You should be recruiting your replacement as well if you can't get me a new assistant now." It was a command, his aura exhumed authority.

"I'll be on it, Mr President." Vincent scurried out of his office. Nathan was agitated. This was the 47th assistant he's fired within the first quarter of the year.

Vincent got to his office, wiping the beads of sweat forming in his face. He couldn't let his assistant handle this because his job was at stake. The assistants he hired for Nathan Legend were the best with a wide range of experiences. Working with Nathan was like smashing an egg on the floor, expecting it to remain intact.

His level of perfection was extreme and he gave no room for minor mistakes. Vincent checked through the records of his recent interviews. He had three applicants qualified for the position. Two were male and one was female.

Nathan had zero tolerance for female assistants therefore, he chose one of the male applicants. Unfortunately, he got fired on his first day. Vincent put a call through to the next qualified applicant but his number was busy so he quickly sent an email across.

He contemplated for a while. If Nathan wanted an assistant now, he could plead with him for the assistant to arrive on Monday since today was a Friday. He would also put an advertisement for a new assistant so he can hire the female temporarily. Satisfied with his thought process, he put a call through to Mercedes Winters, the female applicant.

The call was answered on the second ring. "Mercedes Winters on the line, how may I help you," her calm and pleasant voice responded. Her left hand held her phone while her right hand typed on her computer.

"My name is Vincent Shaw, the HR Manager of Legend Incorporated." Mercedes recalled vividly that Vincent Shaw was the one who conducted her interview a few days ago with some other managers. However, she was rather expecting his assistant, Thelma to call but hearing directly from the manager might just be a good thing right?

"I'm glad to hear from you Mr Shaw but to what do I owe this call?" Her voice was polite.

"First and foremost, congratulations. You got the position of personal assistant to the director of Legend incorporated but you will temporarily assist the president till we get him an assistant," he explained.

Mercedes felt on top of the world. She had attended several interviews this month. Some of them had called to make an offer but she wasn't as excited as this. Legend incorporated was the largest mining company. "Thank you very much, Mr Shaw, I look forward to the contract."

"Before preparing the contract, I would like to know if you could begin work on Monday."

Mercedes was stunned. Referring to work ethics, she couldn't just quit her job. She needed time. "I'm sorry Mr Shaw but Monday is too short. I will need at least two weeks' notice."

Vincent couldn't explain the urgency to her in plain terms. He only had to hope that she would change her mind, while he kept trying to get her in touch with the other applicant. "I will give you some time to think about it. Your remuneration will be adjusted to suit the urgency."

Hearing the adjustment in remuneration awoke something in her. "I will indeed give it a serious thought, goodbye."

Mercedes was dumbfounded when she hung up the phone. She just began working here three weeks ago, which was the longest she had worked in any company within the first quarter of the year. She either got fired or willingly resigned. So far, she has changed jobs at least six times this year. Working with Legend Incorporated would be a huge stepping stone for her.

She needed the remuneration as much as the reputation. In situations like this, her best friend Griffin would give her adequate advice. A smile brightened her face when she dialled his number, quickly wiped by the cruising of disappointment when a female voice sounded at the end of the line.

"Hey Mercedes, Griffin is busy."

"I can tell, Penelope." Griffin was the only one she trusted for advice except for Angela, who had relocated from New York to Virginia. She hid her sadness and hung up the phone, while she turned to the pile of paperwork on her desk. The intercom rang before she got a hang of the document in her hand.

"Come to my office now, Mercedes," an angry snarl met her ears. She dropped the document and raced to her boss's office.

"Mr Hayes, is there a problem?" She panted through each word as she tried to catch her breath at the speed she used to get there.

"I should be asking you." Mr Hayes was seated on his swivel chair, displeasure cooking his demeanour.

"I don't get it, sir."

"Well sit." He motioned to the visitor's chair in front of him and continued, "I realized that everyone worked overtime yesterday to catch up on the deadline for the awards night except you. What do you have to say?"

"I was able to finish my workload on time and besides, I don't work overtime," she uttered, her voice lacing with confidence.

"Such an attitude. How far do you think you can go in the working field if you continue like this?" He directly accused her.

Mercedes was upset. She had leant to control her anger and one of those was for her to walk away. "Can I leave now? I have a lot of work to do." She turned to leave without his response and was quickly blocked by him.

"In case you didn't read the contract, working overtime time when needed is mandatory," he pointed out.

Mercedes' face was drained of color. Most working contracts carried the same clauses so she didn't suspect such a unique one to be captured. "I...I didn't see that." She truthfully conveyed.

Mr Hayes was victorious. "So we can work something out," he took a step close to her.

"What?"

"I know about your dearest brother's condition in California and how your mother spends her life taking care of him. I also know about your father's tragedy even though he was better dead."

Mercedes boiled with dread, "Don't talk about my father like that. You have no right."

"I'm just reminding you of why you need this job, and I have a task for you if you want to keep it," he grinned.

"What task?" Mercedes was uncomfortable with whatever he was going to propose which he quickly confirmed,

"Why don't you lock the door first?"