The Secretary

"Sophia, wake up," a feminine voice broke out in her ears as Sophia opened her eyes slowly, taking in the glory of autumn. A smile adorned her lips as she leaned on the headboard.

"Good morning, Marie," she addressed her house-help in return.

"Sophie, it's a big day for you. I can't keep my excitement in check. I am highly charged to see you giving your first press conference today," Marie said as she started making the bed.

Sophia gave her a soft hug and felt lucky to have Marie. She wasn't just an ordinary househelp; Marie was like a second mother to Sophia after her mother, Aurelia Smith, found Marie in search of a job and appointed her on the spot. Since then, there was nowhere Marie would rather be.

Sophia turned around and sat by the huge window, taking in the soft morning breeze with her eyes closed. She had dreamt of this day forever. All the hard work she had done would pay off, and there was no greater feeling than that.

Picking up the new navy pantsuit, she ran her fingers over it with an ever-so-soft yet powerful smile covering her face.

Turning her head, she headed inside the shower. An hour later, she was standing in front of her wall-sized mirror, looking at herself, a new version of herself for new beginnings.

Keeping her head held high, she walked with the power she owned with every move, picking up the keys of her favourite Aston Martin. She sat in her car and drove onto the road.

Taking a driver was an easy option, but Sophia believed in taking charge of her things. She liked to hold power over things. If she saw something she wanted, she would conquer it from a mile away, and if she was detached from it, she could ignore its presence as if it never existed.

Sophie held her head high as she parked her car, and stepped out of it, his newly appointed manager ran toward her.

"Good morning mam," Richard greeted her.

"Good morning Richs, how's everything going? Sophia asked, greeting him back.

"Mam, things are as planned, now we gotta run a quick introduction session with the employee unit as per your command and the media will be present at the auditorium around 1 pm sharp, we have managed the space for all the employees in the auditorium so no one misses out," Richard finished off telling her the process of the work she ordered for.

Sophia smiled at him.

"I am pretty much impressed with your work, Richard, and are you guys successful in choosing the perfect Secretary for me, I want perfection, you remember that right," She said giving a small smile.

One could never judge what was going on in her mind with her face, she had a calm demeanor people could hardly judge, growing up in a family of high-profile people she was well aware of how to manage the people around her and how to make them sway on her fingers.

"Mam the secretary hunt is going in full rhythm, we have finalized a few candidates, would you like to interview them yourself or should we run a check over them," Richard asked.

"Have I not made myself clear Richard," She paused on her steps and looked at him with stern eyes.

"I want a secretary by the time I end the conference and that's your team call upon the details the told you all, I am not here to interview people one by one, and if was that interested in interviewing my secretary myself I wouldn't have asked you, right," She spoke with her voice giving stern commands with each word.

"Yes mam, I understood very well, The Secretary will be here by the time you step inside your cabin after the conference, Richard spoke.

"I would highly appreciate it," Sophia said and made her way to the employee unit.

Stepping in she inhaled the air deep inside her lungs and took a breath, every time she was making herself stronger than ever, after losing her father, she knew she would eventually inherit all his business and wealth, but she knew how the world worked, though she worked as a employee here from past two years, people would still question her place, but she was not here to prove her worth, she knew her worth, she knew what she was and what she wanted.

"Good morning all," She announced, making all the employees stand in their positions.

"Good morning mam," Everyone wished her back with smiling faces.

"I hope you all know what has been upon us in the past week, unfortunately, Johnathan Smith is not among us anymore, and we are highly wounded but it was his company, he made it from scratch as a high-held celebrity representative company, the Smiths held its position at the top, I would love to have you all with me, to make us best of the best, and make Mr. Smith smiles in heaven," Sophia said, her smile turning sad at the end while remembering her father.

The employees smiled in return and one of them spoke.

"Sophia we all are with you, we will make feel proud at us and our company,"

"Yes, Sophie, Mr. Smith was like a father figure to us, he made us all work with our best calibre and now it's our time to pay back.

"We all will be present at the conference hall,"

"Go and conquer the world, Sophia Jonathan Smith," They all said in unison.

This was what Jonathan Smith earned respect and that's what she learnt from her father, always respect what's being served on your plate.

With a smile that was sad a minute turned strong she walked towards her cabin. The new beginnings with new storms and silence awaited for her in this new journey, she entered her cabin and stood by the tall glass window, it was time for seeing the world with new eyes

Anderson Brown wore his crisp white shirt and a navy blue tie as he gave himself a final glance in the mirror. His dark hair was neatly combed back, and his piercing blue eyes scanned himself from bead to toe.

"Perfect for the interview," he muttered to himself.

Anderson was known for his attention to detail and impeccable style, traits that had helped him climb the corporate ladder quickly as a Secretary, in a span of years he worked for many tycoon companies which gave off a remarkable response in his resume.

His reputation for being efficient, organised, and reliable preceded him, making him a desirable candidate for any high-profile position. Anderson's dedication to his work and his ability to handle high-pressure situations with ease made him stand out among his peers.

Not only was Anderson a top-performing employee, but he also had a keen eye for fashion and always dressed impeccably. His colleagues often joked that he looked like he stepped out of a magazine, with his perfectly tailored suits and polished shoes. Anderson's attention to detail extended beyond his work to his personal appearance, showcasing his commitment to excellence in all aspects of his life.

Overall, Anderson's combination of professionalism, style, and dedication set him apart in the corporate world, earning him a reputation as a valuable asset in the industry. His impressive resume spoke volumes about his accomplishments and his potential for even greater success in the future. Anderson was a force to be reckoned with, and his career trajectory was only going up from here.

Anderson walked out of his apartment and stood on the footpath waiting for his cab he booked earlier, his interview for the post of Secretary at The Smiths awaited for him.

He was looking forward to joining The Smiths for the past few months and now when the post was vacant he couldn't miss it for the world.

Anderson sat inside the cab and opened his e-news app to get the details of things happening around the world.

As he scrolled through the headlines, he came across a breaking news alert about a major earthquake hitting a country on the other side of the globe. Anderson's heart sank as he read about the devastation and loss of life caused by the natural disaster.

Feeling a sense of helplessness, he closed the app and looked out the window at the bustling city streets. He couldn't shake the feeling of sadness and empathy for the people affected by the earthquake.

As the cab made its way through traffic, Anderson knew that he couldn't just sit back and do nothing. He made a mental note to research ways he could donate or volunteer to help those in need.

The rest of the cab ride was filled with a mix of emotions for Anderson - sadness for the victims of the earthquake, but also a sense of determination to make a positive impact.

The cab stopped in front of The Smiths and he walked inside, people were engrossed in their works as The Press conference of the CEO was to be held at the same day.

Anderson moved towards the Receptionist to gather information about where the interview is to be held.

The Receptionist directed him to the conference room on the top floor. Anderson thanked her and made his way towards the elevator. As he reached the top floor, he could hear voices coming from the conference room.

He took a deep breath and knocked on the door. The manager came out of the room at the same time.

"Hello, Mr. Anderson you are on time, I am highly impressed," Richard spoke.

"Thanks," He acknowledged.

"Anderson, move to the main conference room. You will find your reserved seats there, I am done with all the verbal questions with you, it's time for some practical words, after that please come back here for the final outcome," Richard informed Anderson , nodding in agreement.

Anderson moved his feets back to the conference room and he found his research seat and picked up the notepad placed right on his seat. The CEO was already seated at the head of the table, surrounded by journalists and cameras.

Anderson found an empty seat and sat down, taking out his notepad and pen in preparation for the interview. The room was buzzing with anticipation as everyone waited for the CEO to begin.

After a few minutes, the CEO stood up and cleared her throat. Anderson's eyes fell upon Sophia as she stood up, a sly smile adorning his face.

Sophia began to speak about the company's recent successes and future plans. Anderson listened intently, jotting down notes trying to occupy the information.

As the press conference concluded, Anderson gathered his things and made his way out of the room. He felt satisfied with his work. The day felt like a success, and Anderson knew that it was indeed going to get him where he wanted to be.

Anderson reached back to the top floor conference room and took a seat in the waiting line to present his work, the door and his name was called, he stood up and walked inside.

As he took his seat in front of the interviewer, Anderson felt a sense of anxiety wash over him. He had worked hard to get to where he was, and he was determined to prove himself once again, chucking the nervousness aside he held his face firm with determination in his eyes.

As the interviewer began to ask him about his perception and ideas gathered from the conference, Anderson answered each question confidently and thoroughly. He drew on his experiences and knowledge, showcasing his skills and expertise in the field. The interviewer seemed impressed by his answers, nodding along and taking notes.

By the end of the interview, Anderson felt a sense of accomplishment. He had faced his anxiety head-on and had performed well. As he shook hands with the interviewer and left the room, he couldn't help but smile to himself. He knew that he had given it his all, and no matter the outcome, he was proud of himself for not letting his nerves get the best of him.

By the end of the interview, Anderson had successfully confirmed his spot. He had once again proven himself to be a force to be reckoned with in the business world.

As he left the room, Anderson couldn't help but smile. He knew that his hard work and dedication had paid off once again.

Step one was done and dusted it was time for the another one.

Sophia turned her heels towards the account managers officer, to meet her father's best friend who was like a brother from another mother to Sophia's father

As she walked in, she saw Mr. Jackson Wilde. Jackson had a strong grip over numbers, he was with her father since they both settled the first step of developing this world wide firm.

They both had been through thick and thin, facing numerous challenges and celebrating countless victories together. Sophia always admired the bond they shared, like two brothers who had each other's back no matter what.

Jackson stood up from his seat and walked towards her smiling warmly. Sophia felt an emotional apocalypse as the thought of her father not being alive hit her.

Sophia looked up at him with tears warming her eyes, but tight then Jackson wrapped his arms around her, engulfing her in a fatherly hug and she felt a warmness spreading around her.

"I know its hard, but I am here for you, Sophia,'' he whispered, his words full of empathy.

Sophia looked up at him with a little smile and her eyes glistening, grateful for his presence in her life. In those moments she realised that even though her father was no longer with her, he left someone behind him who would stand for her at every step, guarding her like a father.

"Sophia it's really so good to see you here today, taking over as a CEO, your father has made you capable of taking this responsibility and I know you will ace it with perfection," Jackson patted her head lovingly.

Sophia returned the hug with equal warmth and love. "Yes, Uncle Jack I will definitely do everything in my hand to take our company to more and more heights and I can't tell you how grateful I am for having you here by my side today," She said as they broke the hug.

Jackson smiled, taking his seat. "Sophia, daughter, it's my duty to be here for you,"he told her.

Sophia took her seat and drank a glass of water before answering.

"Thank you, also have you checked up on the market since the company was running without the CEO from the past one week," She asked, discussing business.

"Oh yeah, we are in a good situation, everything is in a perfect hold, and a client has requested an urgent meeting and has matters to look into. Richard has been taking care of that, but you had to look at it yourself after the conference," Jackson informed the situation.

"I got it, I will ask Richard to bring me all the files and I will definitely get to work right after the conference," Sophia said smiling.

"Now let's get ourselves to the conference room, the media must be going nuts over it," Sophia said, chuckling as she stood up on her heels.

Jackson followed her out of his office and they headed towards the main conference room. Sophia was feeling a mix of emotions with every passing step, her heart throbbing around her rib cage.

Jackson noticed the way Sophia's posture stiffed and her nails digging her palms.

"Everything is going to be smooth Sophia, don't panic yourself," Jackson said gently, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

Sophia forced a small smile, trying to calm her racing thoughts. She trusted Jackson with all her heart, but the situation they were in was far from easy.

As they reached their destination, Sophia took a deep breath and prepared herself for what was to come. With Jackson by her side, she knew she could face anything.

As they together walked into the room, ready to confront the challenges that lay ahead. With the support of Jackson and her staff, they knew they could overcome whatever obstacles were thrown their way. And as they faced the unknown together, Sophia felt a sense of peace wash over her, the anxiety and restlessness going away.

Sophia got up on the stage and looked around the room, she could feel the chaos and excitement surrounding the event. Reporters were busy setting up their cameras and microphones, while guests and staff socialised.

Sophia took a deep breath and settled to her seat, straightening her posture, ready to face the crowd. She gestured to her manager to start the event. Richard took control over the podium mic greeting all the journalists and media persons.

As Richard finished addressing the media everyone's eyes settled over Sophia, the media was buzzing with excitement, eager to hear the latest news, with their mics settled in front of her.

She greeted the audience with a soft smile yet eyes blazing with desire of doing the absolute best.

She took a deep breath and spoke confidently, "Thank you all for being her today. As many of you know, my father has passed away. I am deeply saddened by the loss of my father, but it's our time to step up with time. I am absolutely honoured to take over my father's position," She began.

"It's a bittersweet moment for me, but I am determined to honour his legacy and continue to build on the success he has achieved," Sophia spoke. As she spoke, Sophia exuded a sense of confidence and determination in her voice that impressed the journalists and left them with no doubt that she was more than capable of leading the company through these difficult times.

She went on to express her gratitude for the outpouring of support from her employees, clients and the community, and assured everyone about the capabilities she holds.

She went on with explaining about the plans and building up about the future of her clients and company.

The press conference further moved with the media putting forward the questions, Sophia answered back with strong words and grace. By the end of the conference everyone was assured the company was in good condition with Sophia at the helm.

Sophia finished her speech and settled back on her seat. She knew that she had big shoes to fill, but she was ready to take every challenge on her way.

After the closing of the conference, Jackson approached Sophia with a proud smile on his face.

"You did amazing, Sophia. Your father would be so proud of you today, we must be smiling from the heavens," he said, patting her on the head.

Sophia smiled and looked at the clouds from the window, the sun shining brightly indeed her father was smiling.