CEOs in Canada

rather, in this world, isn't that right, daughter? - Yes, dad. - I've even lost my appetite. My father is wonderful, he's always been loving and affectionate with me. He's never been an absent father in my life, even though his professional life is very busy. His only flaw is this: he always expects too much from me, he expects me to always be perfect in everything, and to please him, I do everything I can to be the perfect daughter he molded. ARTHUR CAVENDISH Another boring Monday at work and today couldn't be worse.

I'm going to have to take a good part of my time to interview three potential new secretaries. I'm pissed off that I've had to do this five times this year alone, all because of Hunter, my best friend and vice-president of Cavendish, the name of my company that bears my surname. This son of a bitch slept with my secretaries and, after deceiving them, simply dumped them; obviously they went crazy and furious with him, which resulted in the poor quality of their work and their respective dismissals. Honestly, I urgently need to have a serious talk with this bastard. Unlike him, I keep my professional and personal lives separate, and for this to work I have made it my mission to never sleep with the women in the company. Even if I'm in need, I know that this will never happen. I admit that I'm a bit conceited, but I know that I can have what I want. I'm one of the most renowned lawyers in the country and I have the best law firm that is gaining a lot of recognition even outside of Canada. I'm proud of the thirty-seven-year-old man that I've become. I built my own empire by becoming independent from my father, who only knew how to complain about everything I did and who even forced me to marry a woman he didn't love when I had barely finished college. I

love him, but at that time he was a very absent and strict father. It was only after he and my mother divorced and my sister and I moved away from him that he realized the stupid things he had done. Nowadays, Auro does everything he can to make up for his mistakes with our family, especially with my mother, who he still loves very much. I come out of my reverie when I hear someone knocking on the door and I let them in. "Sir, here are the resumes of the selected candidates." Helena says and places the three dark folders on the table. "Okay; Please tell Hunter to come to my office in three hours. I want to have another talk with him. - Yes, sir, and if you'll allow me, I've already warned him about the women in the company, but he's simply adamant. I've been his secretary for eight years and I've become very good friends with Hunter too; before, he listened to my advice, but now... - Hunter is a lost cause, Helena. Although he's a great professional, he still has no limits with women; I'm surprised he hasn't tried anything with you. - She laughs.

- Believe me, he tried, but I knew how to put him in his place and he never bothered me again. - I hope it will be different this time. - Yes, sir. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to check his schedule. - Sure, you can go, and thank you. - Oh, before I forget. Your ex-wife called and said she'll be coming to the company on Thursday, she told me not to schedule anything at three in the afternoon. - I roll my eyes just thinking about it. The hell of my life! - Another one who won't leave me alone - I murmur. - If I may say so, she's unbearable. I don't know how you stayed married to her for eleven years! - Even today, after five years of divorce, I still wonder about that. - But deep down I know why I still put up with her. She's my sentence. - Well, I'm going. Don't forget that the candidates will be arriving soon. - I nod in agreement and she quickly leaves. Receiving news that Agnes will be here on Thursday makes me even more pissed off. I'm going to have to hold myself back from wanting to strangle her. She always got on my nerves and after we separated it only got worse. Without a doubt, my ex-wife is a burden in my life that, unfortunately, will always prevail. ELISABETH BERTOLAZZO I stop in front of the large building and am surprised by how big and beautiful it is; God willing, this is where I'll work. It's all mirrored in dark and brown tones. The huge Cavendish name shines brightly right at the entrance to the main door; it must be made of silver or something similar. I

notice a frantic coming and going of people dressed elegantly, which makes me wonder for a moment what I'm wearing. I'm not a fashion expert and generally everyone knows about Renner Bertolazzo's prodigy daughter, but I rarely appear in the media. I avoid it as much as I can, so I usually go unnoticed on the street and, for a few moments, I can be a normal woman. I think they must expect an elegant and refined woman when they talk about Elisabeth Bertolazzo, poor things. - Miss Bertolazzo, here's your bag. - Sean, my driver, murmurs as he hands it to me. He's about my father's age, tall, with slightly gray hair and has been married to Edna for fifteen years. - Thank you, Sean, and please call me Elisa. - He gives me an awkward smile. - Sorry, force of habit. - Okay. - What time should I come pick you up? - You don't have to. - But how can you... - I'll take a taxi. - His eyes widen. - But Elisa, your father gave me orders to... - I know, but he's not here and he doesn't need to know. - I wanted to take public transportation at least once. I've never been on a regular plane, not even a normal plane, because my father has his own. - You know this is a bad idea, don't you? - It's an excellent idea. - If he finds out, I'll blame you all. - Feel free to go now and relax, I'll be fine. -

I give him a quick hug and then turn around so I can enter the company. I look around and am surprised at how beautiful things are here, the windows are huge, making the room brighter, and the walls go from black to grayish. Different from the facade on the outside. I walk to the reception and the receptionist looks me up and down. - Can I help you? - she asks politely. - Well, I came for a job interview, I'm one of the three selected. - She looks away and starts to use the computer. - Okay, your name? - Elisabeth Bertolazzo. - She looks at me with a raised eyebrow. - What did you say? - Elisabeth Bertolazzo. - The receptionist gives a brief laugh. - Okay girl, get out of here. - I look at her in surprise. - What? - That's what you heard, get out of here. - Irritated by the situation, I say: - You're paid to treat people like this... Shirley? - I read her name on her badge. - Not people like you. - Like me? - Yes. - You don't believe I'm Elisabeth Bertolazzo, do you? - Of course not. - Damn! That's all I needed. - Well, if I show you my ID, will you let

floor. - Your boss will find out about this. - I walk away, stamping my foot in anger at this situation. When I get into the elevator I end up bumping into someone and I quickly apologize. - I'm sorry. - I see that it's a woman. - I hadn't seen you. - I bend down to help her pick up her things. - That's normal, people never notice me. - After helping her, we get up.

- My name is Elisabeth. - I extend my hand to shake hers. - Helena. - She looks at me for a few seconds and then her small eyes widen. - Hey, you're Elisabeth Bertolazzo, daughter of the great Renner Bertolazzo. - I smile awkwardly, confirming. - I almost didn't recognize you because of your glasses and your tied-up hair, you usually appear with your father more... dressed up. - Yes, it's true. - Sorry for saying it like that, it was the only way to... - It's okay, I don't care. - You got into the elevator huffing and puffing, why? - The receptionist didn't want to let me through because she didn't believe I was Elisabeth Bertolazzo.

- Helena smiles, showing her white teeth and tosses her dark brown hair to the side. - Don't worry, Shirley only serves those who suit her or who are some rich, single man. - She can't treat people like that. - Believe me, everyone here is like that. - How awful! - Are you Korean or am I mistaken? South Korea? - I ask. - Yes, I am, with a Canadian father and a Korean mother; they say I got more of my mother's looks, but my temper from my father. But how do you know I'm Korean? People usually get it all mixed up, asking if I'm Japanese or Chinese. - I've traveled to South Korea a few times, it was the only language I haven't learned, even the basics, and I've always loved that country. It's extremely different from North Korea, which is ruled by that man. - She laughs. - Well, each country has its own leaders and customs. My father met my mother on an exchange program in Korea and never left her, they're together to this day. - That sounds like a cliché from a drama. - Oh, it definitely is. - Are you going to the top floor? - I ask. - Yes, and you? By the way, what do you do here at the company? -

I came for a job interview. - She looks at me as if a second head had grown next to mine. - Job interview? Are you one of the three women selected? - Yes. - Now I know why Shirley didn't believe me... A person like you applying for a position like that? How did I not remember that? I was helping Arthur with all the details and took the resumes in my hands. - Arthur? - Oh yes, he's our boss. - Do you call him by his first name? - Sometimes yes; I've been working here for eight years, I'm Hunter Peterson's secretary, the vice president, and during my time here, I've developed a kind of friendship with both of them. - And is this Arthur nice? - Well, as a person he is, with those he's close to, but as a boss he's very demanding and, sometimes, annoying. - What a shit. - Wow. When we got to the top floor, Helena went to one side and before leaving she told me where the interviews were taking place. When I got there, I saw two women outside the room waiting for something, they must be my two competitors.

- Elisabeth... Bertolazzo. - The woman says my name in disbelief. I walk quickly and enter the office of what could possibly be my boss. - Carmen, can you leave us alone please? - The man barely speaks and the woman runs away, his back to me. - You can sit down, Miss Bertolazzo. - I sit down in one of the dark leather chairs, then he turns around and my heart almost skips a beat. They forgot to mention that he's gorgeous! - Nice to meet you, I'm Arthur Cavendish. - He extends his hand to me, I feel the exact moment our skin touches each other and a kind of electric current passes through my body. Wow, how strange. - Elisabeth... - I know who you are. - He interrupts me rudely and coarsely. - Before we start, I wanted to say something. - He sits down in his chair and looks at me. - Your receptionist didn't want to let me pass because she didn't believe I was Elisabeth Bertolazzo. - Arthur gets up, goes close to my chair and gets very close to my ear and whispers. - I don't blame you, after all, you're very different from what people imagine, and it's hard to believe that someone so rich would want such a lowly position. - When he sat down again in front of me, he looks at me with a certain disdain. What is the problem with the people in this company, anyway?

- I read your resume, it would be foolish not to accept you in my company; your resume is one of the best I've ever seen, even though you have no experience whatsoever. - Thank you. - But I find myself wondering what a woman like you, the daughter of such a rich and powerful man, wants in my company? - First of all, what my father is or isn't is him, not me; he may have all the money he wants, but none of it is mine or earned through my merit, but rather his, who inherited it from my grandfather and only raised the level of the company even higher. I want to build my career in law and I want to become a renowned lawyer without needing my father's influence or money. - He laughs. - So you mean to say that daddy's little girl wants to prove that she can do things on her own? - I already hate him. - I studied at the best schools and colleges in the world, all on scholarships. Nothing was paid for with my father's money, just my language courses. If you look closely at my resume, you'll see that I speak five languages ​​fluently and have an intermediate level in several others. As I said and will repeat again, I want to grow on my own, and there's nothing better than starting from scratch.

- This Arthur looks at me curiously. - Interesting. You're a very intelligent woman, but don't you think the way you dress can get in the way a little? I mean, when representing a client, I think a little makeup helps, taking off those horrible glasses, letting your hair down or tying it up more decently. - I know that appearance counts a lot, and that's one of the things I intend to change, but nothing radical. If I'm hired, I hope to give my best to your company as your secretary, and I guarantee you won't regret it. - I have to admit, you're quite full of yourself, it doesn't match your appearance. - Oh, if he only knew what I look like in front of my father. - I am as you see me right now.

- Well, working with me you will have to be at my disposal at all times, because, in addition to being a secretary, you will be my personal assistant, so the salary is great, I mean, for you it must be mere pennies. - Please, don't talk about my personal life while we are interviewing, after all, if you are as professional as you say you are, I think that at the moment what matters is whether I am hired or not. - Well, be here tomorrow at eight o'clock sharp. - So I am hired? - Welcome to Cavendish, Miss Bertolazzo. EL

still a secretary, it might take a while for me to get a position like that. - It'll be quick, my dear; when they realize how wonderful you are at their company, they'll beg to be part of the company's team of lawyers. Even more so because you're a Bertolazzo! - He says it with such joy that I can barely hide my nervousness. - Renner, don't talk to the girl like that, she'll get there at her own pace, not because of a last name. - Edna comes to my rescue again. - Your mother would be so proud of her little girl. So grown up and on the path to success, to further elevate our family's name.

Who knows, maybe in this new environment

I can find a husband, a grandson to be my successor? - I let out a heavy breath. - Dad, please - I murmur. - Renner, let's let the girl go to work, my husband is waiting to take her to work. - Ah, that's why I came here, Elisa. - He takes a key out of his pocket. - You got your license over two years ago and it's more than time for you to have your own car. I know you're scared and think you're too clumsy, but a lawyer has to be brave and, above all, have her own car. My father doesn't know, but the fact that I didn't accept a car before was because I waited until I found a job so I could buy one with my salary; I've already said that I want, more than anything, to earn my way through my own hard work. - I think that now that she's working, it would be a good idea, but what do you think about Elisa buying things with her own money?

You must remember how incredible it was for you when you bought your things with your effort and dedication. - I love Edna so much. She knows everything I feel and think; and that I never had the courage to tell my father how I feel so as not to hurt him. - But why wait? Besides, maybe my salary is only enough to buy a very simple car and a lawyer like you deserves much more. - I look at Edna, feeling like I'm losing this fight. - I can take a taxi, dad. - He can't even imagine that I went home in one yesterday. - No way, imagine the danger of taking a car with a stranger! Especially without any need, these taxis don't have the slightest bit of decent hygiene, my daughter doesn't get in one. - Edna seems to want to say something, but afraid of what she will say, I take the lead. - Dad, it's okay. I'll accept the car. Thanks for the gift. - He gives me a huge smile and pulls me out of my chair for a hug. I smile awkwardly, feeling that I'm sinking deeper and deeper into a situation where I can't even tell my father how I feel, for fear of hurting him and him hating me. **** The car is a gray Audi e-tron GT quattro. It's beautiful, but very exaggerated, and I don't even want to imagine how much it cost. This is terrible, first day on the job and the secretary arrives with a car that is as expensive as or more expensive than the owner of the company's. I park the car in front of the building's entrance, and the valet attendant arrives and widens his eyes. "What a beautiful car," he says. "Thank you.

" I hand him the key and walk into the building. I throw my hair back, I still don't know why Edna insisted on letting it down, I adjust my skirt that goes down to my knees, which is tight, and my suit. "Shirley, good morning." She looks at me and when she remembers who I am, I can clearly see that she's nervous. "Your badge is ready." She hands me the ID and I give her a brief smile, then walk to the elevator. When it starts to close, a hand appears, holding it, startling me, and soon Arthur and another man enter. "Miss Bertolazzo, you tried to dress up better today, how nice." "Imbec." Stay calm, you need this job, hanging your boss could lead to a nice lawsuit. - Good morning, Mr. Cavendish. - This is the vice president, Hunter Peterson. - The man extends his hand to greet me. - I couldn't believe it when Arthur said that a Bertolazzo would be his secretary. - He seems to be sizing me up and down. - I graduated in law from Harvard. Since this company is the best in the field here in Canada, it's only fair that I start working here. - But with your father's money, he could set up an office to... - I would like to ask, please, that my personal life not be discussed in the company, especially by my bosses. Here I'm just a secretary who wants to get ahead on her own two feet. - They both look at each other, exchanging knowing glances. I foresee that the topic of my personal life will be brought up a lot. - Well, let's get to work

- Arthur murmurs and soon the elevator doors open; they both make way for me to go first. At least they're gentlemen. - Helena, my dear, what is my schedule for today? - The Hunter guy walks up to her. - I'll give you everything. Hello Elisabeth, welcome to the company, if you have any questions, you can ask me. - She gives a friendly smile. - Thank you. - Miss Bertolazzo, can you come with me to my office? I need to give you information about my professional and personal routine, since you'll also be my personal assistant. - Of course. - We walk together into his office. He walks to his chair and sits down, I sit in front of him.

- Well, as you know, I'm a very punctual man about everything, not only at work, but in my personal life as well. So my schedule has to be precise and impeccable, allowing me to do my things without being late for a single second. For example, on Friday night I have an important personal appointment right after I get off work, I scheduled it for seven o'clock sharp, so my schedule has to be on schedule so that I'm not late. Any meeting or commitment that seems to be more than expected and that my time will be disrupted, reacts to the next day or when it gives it to both parties - and if there is something of urgent? From the secretary of the vice president for easier access when we request your presence. Also aware that you should accompany me in important events that can occur in the city, in the country and even outside it. It makes me realize the veins of your hand along with a tattoo and some rings; He does not have the CEO, is more for a successful or mobster gangster, and I think, by his appearance, he should be afraid of many people. Corporate, in addition to efficiency, the appearance is too important for a good presentation, especially for a woman. "Just because I'm a woman I should walk in more flashy clothes?-

May I ask you a question and make a comment? - Yes. - You are the daughter of an extremely rich and influential man in the country, who is surrounded by elegant and wealthy people, especially at events. How does your father react when he sees you dressed like that? Do you not accompany him to events? - In this case, you asked two questions. - If you don't want to answer, that's you