Trapped By Mr. CEO

Tell me this is a dream, God. This isn't real, is it?

Savannah Willow Cove seemed to need more time than she had expected to truly comprehend the unfolding events. But how long was it supposed to take? Even after five minutes had passed, Vanny still showed no sign of closing her gaping mouth. Oh dear. Was she waiting for a fly to enter?

No. This couldn't be happening. It couldn't be-

Or maybe it was just what Vanny thought. Because if this was all just a hallucination, why did that smile seem so real?

Could it be that I skipped breakfast a little too much today? Oh dear, Van. I warned you. One bowl of salad and two boiled eggs isn't enough for you. See what it's done to you now? Your body is running out of energy, and as a result, your brain is thinking strange thoughts.

That was the only scapegoat Vanny could find in such a short time. Exactly. Not having enough for breakfast. It was not enough to meet her daily needs. Eventually, she found that her unfocused brain was causing these hallucinations. In the form of a scene that made her heartbeat weaker and weaker inside.

B-But wait a minute.

Vanny swallowed her saliva, realizing that it was not just that charming smile that looked so real in her eyes. There was something else.

For when that tall figure walked, Vanny felt a change in her heart. If earlier this vital organ had seemed unwilling to beat again, now it was quite the opposite. It beat loudly in her chest. In sync with the footsteps of the man approaching her. Getting closer. Closing the gap. And then tilting his face slightly in front of Vanny, who was frozen in her seat.

The handsome face kept an appropriate distance from Vanny. Not too close, but not too far either. In fact, Vanny could vaguely feel the man's warm breath, which made her shiver. Hot and cold sensations, as if she was suffering from malaria.

But that was not all. In the next moment, Vanny found both of the guy's hands landing on the armrest of her chair, and her metabolism system went haywire. She had to do something.

Vanny tried to get some distance by pulling her body away. Unfortunately, the back of the chair did not give her many options. She felt cornered even though there was no corner. She was under pressure even though there was no pressure. For all that existed was a pair of hands, which then bent slightly on the armrest, giving the owner the opportunity to lean towards Vanny.

Two pairs of eyes met. They locked eyes for a few moments, as if trying to read each other's thoughts.

There was silence for a moment, until a few seconds later, Vanny seemed to snap out of her reverie. She regained her composure and quickly raised her defenses.

A masculine scent, reminiscent of wild forests and tall trees, wafted around Vanny, penetrating her senses, and forcing her to quickly hold her breath to preserve her limited sanity.

But it seemed to be too late for Vanny. Because in the next moment she did not just see the smile, she did not just smell the aroma, but she also heard a voice.

"We meet again, Vanny."

At that moment it felt as if life was leaving Vanny's body!

*

"EcoScape Constructors is a domestic construction company. It was founded in 1973 on the idea of William Corbyn. So far, EcoScape Constructors has..."

Vanny shook her head several times, interrupting her own words. Then she cursed.

"I don't care about the history of this company. Uh... the CEO! Yes! Where's the CEO?"

Vanny's hand quickly scrolled the mouse in her right hand. On and on... until her middle finger stopped moving. Just as her eyes caught the name on her laptop screen.

"Ha-Haris..." Vanny read hesitantly. "Corbyn?"

Vanny doubted her eyesight. So, she quickly refreshed the page. Once. Then she looked at the CEO's name column again, but it did not change.

Twice. Vanny tried again. But it still did not change. Until Vanny grimaced and made the strangest sound she had ever heard with her own ears.

But that was not enough. Vanny refreshed the page again and again. Countless times, her index finger pressed the same button. And the result? Nothing changed, of course. What was there was exactly the same as what she had read the first time.

"Oh... my... God."

Hope was just hope. Hope would not become reality. No matter how many times Vanny refreshed the page, the information and the reality would never change. They would not become what she wanted.

Vanny groaned in a desperate voice, as if unable to face the undeniable fact that filled her laptop screen.

"Aaargh!"

Both of Vanny's hands went up and landed on her head with an extremely dramatic and confused expression. Her eyes were still fixed on the list of names.

"I-is this for real? Haris? Haris, who's afraid of spiders, is the CEO?"

Vanny asked herself and could not believe what she saw. Not even after reloading the page several times. Now she rubbed her eyes. But even after her eyes looked red and watery, the name on the screen did not change at all.

"My God. What kind of fate is this? How could I end up working with my ex?"

It was truly a life scenario Vanny had never imagined. When she was forced to get a job as soon as possible for the sake of her survival on earth, the job God gave her was to be her ex-boyfriend's second secretary.

Of course, the horrible image quickly flashed in Vanny's mind. Being a secretary meant being close to the boss. Even if she was lucky-or unlucky, in her case-the position of a secretary required Vanny to follow Haris wherever he went. To various gatherings, meetings, or perhaps business trips. Something most secretaries enjoy. But it was guaranteed not to be pleasant for Vanny.

"I have to be close to Haris? My ex-boyfriend? Because of work?"

Even in her worst nightmares, Vanny had never thought about getting back in touch with her ex. And this time? God not only wrote her destiny to meet and reconnect with Haris, but also made her work with him.

What? Work with an ex-boyfriend?

Vanny shook her head in frustration. She was a mess. She was in shock. And she screamed loudly.

"No!"

*

"Are you not lying?"

"I swear I'm not!"

"Oh my goodness."

"So... what do I do, Es?"

That night, thanks to a day of confusion after discovering that her ex-boyfriend was the CEO of the company where she worked, Vanny took immediate action. She contacted Estella Claire-her best friend. She needed the fastest counselor to help her get out of this bizarre situation.

"Uh..." Estella coughed as she played with her stray curls near her ear. "Are you sure it's Haris? I mean... the name Haris isn't unique, you know. There are a lot of people named Haris."

Vanny rolled her eyes in frustration. She wanted to hit Estella on the head with the chicken bone left on her plate.

Estella chuckled and reached for her glass of lemon iced tea. She took a sip of the almost empty drink through a white plastic straw.

"Okay, okay. Your ex's name is Haris. Fine. But like I said, Van, not only your ex has that name. So many people in this world, maybe even in the hereafter, use the name Haris, I'm sure of it."

Vanny grimaced. This time, both her hands appeared on the table, pushing aside the remains of her dinner plate as she clenched her fingers, trying to contain her frustration.

"Like I said, Es. This is Haris Corbyn. How many people can have the exact same name from beginning to end? How many?"

"Um..."

"Besides, it's his face, Es. His face."

Estella's eyes widened. Vanny's words made her lean towards the girl, her expression becoming curious.

"Why his face?" Estella asked quickly. "He still looks handsome, just like before?"

"Oh, God."

Vanny raised her face to the ceiling, her hands clasped over her chest, her fingers squeezing together. She moaned in frustration.

"He's so damn handsome! Just like my last memory of him when I broke up with him. And let's give him credit for his mature age. He looks incredibly mature and charismatic!"

Estella's mouth silently formed an 'O' shape and she held her breath for a moment. She took a sip of her lemon iced tea, which now contained only clear brown liquid with the lingering scent of lemon.

"Okay," Estella said indifferently. "Now I'm convinced that he really is Haris. Your ex-boyfriend from back then. The one you broke up with on the last day of high school after three months of dating."

Vanny did not know whether to be happy or the opposite. Happy because Estella finally believed what she said, that the CEO at her workplace was the same Haris they knew. Or sad because Estella brought up the past between them?

Ah! Whatever it was, there was only one thing that mattered.

"So... what should I do?"

Estella raised her hand, index finger pointing in the air. "You should..." There was a pause of about two seconds before she continued. "Is it really Haris who's afraid of spiders?"

Vanny grinned again, and this time it was even more dramatic than before. It was so dramatic that she felt like hitting her forehead on the dining room table.

"Yes! That's Haris, my ex-boyfriend who I broke up with on the last day of high school. He's Haris, the guy I broke up with in our third month of dating. He is Haris, the handsome guy who is famously afraid of spiders. And he is Haris, the CEO of EcoScape Constructors!" Vanny exclaimed hysterically.

This time, Vanny could not contain the frustration that was building up inside her. Naturally, this caused the people in the restaurant to turn their heads towards her table.

Estella's eyes widened, shocked to see Vanny releasing her emotions, and she followed suit. She quickly got up from her seat and moved to sit next to Vanny. She immediately covered her mouth and glanced left and right a few times as she awkwardly said,

"I'm sorry. Please forgive us. We missed a discount event yesterday."

With a thickened face to hide her embarrassment, Estella gave Vanny a meaningful look through her eyes and silently asked her friend to be more self-confident. They were in public, after all.

"If you want to embarrass yourself, don't involve me," Estella whispered as she removed her hand from Vanny's mouth.

Vanny pouted. "This is all your fault. I told you not to doubt me from the beginning. Besides, Es, he's my ex. I can't possibly forget. Seriously, forget your own ex?"

Estella seemed amused. "I don't even remember my ex, by the way."

"That's because you've had exes since the third grade," Vanny said hysterically. "Maybe your exes can make up five soccer teams, Es."

Estella laughed even more when she heard Vanny's comments about her love life. She was not offended at all. On the contrary, she found it funny and finally said,

"It turns out we've been friends for so long, huh, Van?"

Vanny stared in amazement, her eyes wide open and her mouth agape. "You're commenting on the length of our friendship instead of helping me find a solution to get out of this mess? Wow! Good for you, Es."

"Hehehe!" Estella laughed, not feeling the least bit guilty. "When we're in a complicated situation, don't panic. Keep it pleasant. If we panic, our brains get stuck, Van. Uh... that's my life principle as a girl who's had ex-boyfriends since the third grade."

In fact, not only was Vanny not offended by Estella's words, but she also realized that there was some truth to what Estella was saying. Don't panic. When you panic, your brain doesn't work properly.

So Vanny decided to take a long, deep breath. Her reflex caused her to close her eyes for a few moments. And as she exhaled slowly, her heartbeats, which had been irregular all the time, gradually calmed down. They began to beat normally again. Vanny slowly opened her eyes, and the first thing she saw was Estella smiling at her. Ah! It felt like Vanny's attempt to regulate her breathing had been in vain.

"So... you're calm now, right?" Estella asked.

Vanny nodded.

"Okay, in that case," Estella continued, "try to tell me from the beginning. How did the chronology of events unfold? So, I can help you find a solution to this problem."

Vanny was not sure if the full chronology of events would help Estella find a way out. After all, the bottom line was that she had to work with Haris, her ex-boyfriend from high school. My God! Is this possible?

"Okay, then. I'll explain it to you."

Estella nodded. But before Vanny could tell her everything, Estella decided to return to her original seat. That way she did not have to tilt her head to look at Vanny. Sitting face to face was more comfortable for her neck.

"So... as you know, yesterday I tried to apply for a job at EcoScape Constructors as an administrator. And, well... according to the criteria, I wasn't really qualified. They needed someone with "three years' experience as an administrator in a construction company."

This was one of the things that still puzzled Vanny. If every company had such criteria, did that mean that young people had no chance at all? She thought there might be some discrimination.

Meanwhile, Estella just nodded as she listened. Whether she liked it or not, she realized that sometimes companies did not want to take the risk of giving completely inexperienced new employees basic training. So, it was not surprising that such criteria were often included in job postings.

"But when I got to the interview stage... of course my hopes grew again. I mean, if I didn't meet the qualifications, why would they let me pass the initial screening, right?"

"Uh..."

Estella cleared her throat as she reached for her empty glass of lemon iced tea. The glass was now empty, just the melted ice cubes. There was no taste at all, and even the lemon aroma was gone.

"But it turns out that the rejection was there," Vanny continued with a slightly pouty face. She crossed her arms, clearly frustrated at having to remember that day. "I knew for sure that my interview was just a formality. I wasn't even interviewed for ten minutes. And even then, they didn't ask me anything about the job. Instead, I was asked when I planned to get married, what my favorite food was, and all sorts of other questions that had absolutely nothing to do with my qualifications as a candidate."

Estella nodded as she listened to Vanny's long words without interrupting or commenting. She knew that the story didn't end there.

"A week later, I wasn't surprised that I didn't make it. Uh... I mean, as soon as I left the interview room, I could tell I wasn't going to get the job. But..."

Right at the word 'but' Vanny's tone rose, making Estella raise an eyebrow, preparing herself for the next part of the story.

"After the announcement, there was suddenly an email. I checked it and almost had a heart attack, Es."

"Why, why, why?"

"Basically, the email was more or less an apology because I didn't meet the qualifications for the admin position. But since the company is going through a massive expansion and there's a bit of chaos up there..." Vanny deliberately raised her index finger to emphasize her words. "...so, the company needed a second secretary for the CEO. And looking at my work record so far, it seemed like I would be a good fit. That's how it went."

Upon hearing Vanny's words, Estella raised her eyebrows in surprise. Frankly, she found it a bit strange. Did such things happen in the working world? Uh... Estella was not sure if she had ever come across something like that. Strange, but fascinating.

"So did you accept it?"

"Of course!" Vanny exclaimed. "I'm not as picky as you, you know."

Estella could not help but smile at Vanny's words. But she did not say anything. It was more important for her to know the rest of Vanny's job search story. Besides, since they lived in different places and Estella had been busy with overtime at the boutique lately, they hardly had time to spend together. They could not even chat on WhatsApp lately.

"I had another interview. And well... this interview felt completely different. I was asked all kinds of things. I was interviewed for maybe an hour. So, when I walked out of that room, I had high hopes. Hoping that I had passed."

"And you did pass."

Vanny nodded at Estella's words. "No beating around the bush, I signed the contract right away. And... disaster struck the next day."

Estella's eyes remained fixed on Vanny. She could see how her friend's face immediately turned pale, as if she had no strength left. Even though she had already devoured two chicken drumsticks.

Uh... she wasn't going to order a third meal, was she?

Estella pushed the possibility aside. Because in the next moment, the sound of Vanny's deep breathing caught her attention again. The girl continued her story with a single word.

"And?"

"Then... because I had to start working, I came in the next day. I met Mrs. Astoria Belle, the first secretary there. Uh... she's about forty years old. I talked to her for a little while, and then I was told to go to the CEO's office."

Once there, Vanny dramatically closed her eyes. Honestly, if she did not have to recount the chronological sequence of events, she would not want to remember it at all. It was totally confusing, embarrassing, and oh! it made Vanny's stomach churn.

For after a few seconds had passed, Estella clearly noticed the change in Vanny's face. What had appeared as frustration was now slowly changing. With both hands raised and landing on her head, the girl's ten fingers squeezed her dark brown wavy hair. Accompanied by a painful groan, she could not hold back any longer.

"I saw Haris sitting at the table, Es. It was Haris. Dressed like a CEO, just like in the movies. And he looked incredibly macho. So much so that I felt like I was going to faint right there."

Estella set down her empty glass of lemon iced tea, which was now completely devoid of liquid. There was only one slice of lemon left, and Estella had not even thought about squeezing it.

"I-I ... when I walked into the room it was like I wasn't stepping on the earth anymore. I felt like I was floating, Es. Like I was in a vacuum and time had stopped."

"Okay. I'm pretty sure this is like a real movie."

Vanny gave Estella an annoyed look. "Don't make fun of me now, Es. It's not the right time."

Estella quickly covered her mouth to keep her laughter from bursting out at any moment. It seemed that Vanny was entering a bad mood.

"And when I finally sat down in the chair, oh God."

Vanny dramatically closed her eyes. Her grip on her hair immediately loosened. She looked as if she had suddenly lost all her strength.

"I felt like I was in a judgment seat," Vanny whimpered. "Like I was facing a punishment from the past."

Estella took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

"And was it really Haris?"

Vanny opened her eyes and nodded at Estella's question, a pitiful expression on her face. In Estella's eyes, she looked extremely sad, like a drenched puppy in desperate need of rescue.

"It was indeed Haris. And even if I somehow lost my memory or whatever you call it, his words at that moment explained everything. That he was indeed Haris. My ex-boyfriend from the past."

Vanny's words were more than enough to ignite Estella's curiosity in her chest. So she leaned forward slightly, tilted her head down, and asked her friend in a soft voice.

"What did he say?"

For a moment, Vanny took a deep breath as she looked at the helpless Estella. Then she answered the question with an unforgettable memory.

"We meet again, Vanny."

Estella gaped. For a few moments she stared at Vanny without a word escaping her lips. And when she finally spoke, the word was...

"Shit!"

Vanny knew. "It was really Haris."

*

Time continued to tick. Now the watch on Vanny's wrist showed almost ten o'clock at night. My goodness. How could eating fried chicken take almost three hours? Tsk. Hopefully Vanny and Estella would not get kicked out of the restaurant.

"So... that's the chronology," Vanny finished her explanation of the complete sequence of events, as Estella had requested earlier. "Now, what do you think I should do?"

"Um..."

Estella cleared her throat rhythmically. This time, her throat clearing took longer than her usual quick ones, making Vanny feel anxious as he waited for her answer.

"Before I ask anything else..."

"Yes?"

"You really don't want to see Haris again?"

Vanny's shoulders slumped. She nodded weakly. "Yes."

"Uh... okay then. In that case, why don't you just quit your job? Problem solved, right?"

Vanny grinned. Of course, that did not mean she had not considered that option. In fact, she had been thinking about it ever since she left the towering Bumi Pertiwi building.

"But I need a job, Es."

Estella glanced over and nodded. "Aah! You're right. You do need a job. Sorry, I forgot."

"That's what makes me hesitate, Es. I need a job, but do I have to work with my ex-boyfriend?" Vanny shook her head and closed her eyes, as if rejecting the future scenario that might unfold. "No. No. I just don't want that to happen. What will the world say?"

Estella scratched her head. She was confused, too, to be honest. She felt sorry for Vanny, but at the same time there was something strange about it. In Estella's opinion, the likelihood of exes meeting as boss and employee was very low. In fact, it was more likely to roll a one on a fifty-sided dice.

"Now it's up to you, Van. If you want to quit the job, at least you can look for another one. And... as for financial matters, um..." Estella paused for a moment, weighing her words. She seemed to consider carefully what to say. "I'm sure you still have enough savings to survive until you die. Besides, come on! You don't really need to work, Van. Your life is already secured."

Vanny let out a long sigh. Her eyes blinked slowly, as if she had no energy left. It seemed that this time she knew that there was only one way to go.

"I think... I really should resign."

*

Okay. Income can be sought, but one's mental well-being should come first.

Vanny had made up her mind. Because her thoughts and Estella's thoughts led her to the same decision: to quit her job.

So that Monday morning, Vanny took a quick and enthusiastic shower. She picked out a nice work outfit and made sure her makeup was flawless. If she was going to meet her ex-boyfriend, she had to look her best.

Oh! Vanny had not even thought about giving Haris a chance to say something like this:

"Since we broke up, you've let yourself go like this? Like a stray kitten."

Vanny shook her head once, trying to banish the image of Haris possibly mocking her if her appearance was miserable. At the very least, she needed to look like a modern career woman-neat and radiating unparalleled intelligence.

After confirming that her appearance was neat, wearing a combination of a pink blouse and a black knee-length skirt, along with seven-inch heels, Vanny moved away from the large mirror by her closet door. She grabbed her work bag and left her apartment.

Taking a taxi, it did not take long for Vanny to arrive right in front of the EcoScape Constructors office. She got off and entered through the office gate, exchanging friendly greetings with the security guard stationed there.

On her way to a special elevator that would take her directly to the floor where she was supposed to work, Vanny took a deep breath. Honestly, even though she had prepared herself mentally and physically all night, she still felt nervous now. Look! Her hands were even sweating cold.

"Oh! Calm down, Van. Why are you so nervous?" she scolded herself.

Vanny cursed herself and took another deep breath just as the elevator doors opened in front of her. She stepped inside. And for some reason her legs, supported by the pointed heels, felt wobbly. Perhaps it was because she was too nervous.

What was certain was that Vanny felt her steps were unsteady. She stumbled and prepared to embarrass herself with an awkward fall. But strong hands caught her around the waist and quickly pulled her back.

Vanny's body seemed to float in the strong grip. A small, muffled scream remained in her throat. And when her hands landed on that broad chest, she breathed a sigh of relief. She had not started her day with an embarrassing incident. Thank goodness.

Vanny lifted her head, expressing her gratitude amidst her still heavy breathing.

"Tha-"

The words of thanks vanished into the air. Just as she saw whose strong hands had caught her.

Vanny paled. Her mouth opened in a shocked expression that she could not hold back. She could not believe what she saw.

"Ha-Haris?"

The name stuttered from Vanny's lips. And she found Haris furrowing his brow. A mischievous grin appeared on his face.

Vanny snapped back to reality. "M-Mr. Corbyn."

The sly smile turned into a mischievous one. Haris cleared his throat, then looked down, focusing on Vanny's hands, which were still on his chest.

"How long are you going to hug me?"

The formal tone of Haris' words shook Vanny's consciousness. Especially with the implied question he asked. She felt nervous, uncomfortable, and withdrew immediately.

"Uh!" Haris cleared his throat. "You arrived very early. It seems you're quite enthusiastic about your work."

Vanny felt her face freeze. It was like being stung by hundreds of bees, making it incredibly difficult for her to respond.

"Maybe... just the opposite," she managed to say.

"What do you mean?"

Vanny took a deep breath and forced a half-hearted smile. "It's nothing, sir. Um... thanks for earlier."

At least Vanny still had a conscience as a human being. When someone helped you, expressing gratitude was an absolute must. Even if the person who helped her was the last person she wanted to see.

Haris nodded with an expression that made Vanny suddenly feel like the fried chicken she had eaten earlier was swimming in her stomach. Nauseous. But she did not want to throw up her source of energy.

"You're welcome," Haris said. He raised his left hand and gave it a little flick to adjust his suit. He glanced at his watch. "Well, have a nice day at work. Ask Mrs. Belle about your duties."

Vanny did not say anything. She just nodded once. Just as Haris entered the elevator and left her alone. She immediately took a deep breath and quickly took in as much air as possible.

"Oh, God," Vanny whispered, wiping her forehead, which was already covered in drops of sweat. "Did I really make the right decision to quit here? Can you imagine, Van? You only talked to him for a few minutes and your internal combustion level increased tenfold. If you're around him all day, you might burn up from the inside again."

Vanny shivered. Seriously. She had not expected meeting an ex-boyfriend to be so terrifying.

"Oh, God. Thank God I only have one ex. How's Estella, whose exes could populate an entire neighborhood?"

Successfully calming the uncomfortable palpitations that had been tormenting her chest, Vanny resumed her steps. She turned and walked down a long corridor. From a distance she could see Astoria sitting behind her secretary's desk. She arrived and greeted the woman.

"Good morning, Ma'am."

Astoria raised her face, smiling from behind her thin-framed glasses. The greeting was warm and friendly.

"Good morning, Vanny. You look very nice today."

Vanny blinked. She smiled, but could not help being curious.

"Is my appearance a bit excessive, Ma'am?" she asked in a low voice.

Astoria laughed slightly and shook her head. "Not excessive at all. And... that's how a secretary should look. Neat and beautiful. A secretary represents the company and the CEO."

Vanny nodded as she listened to Astoria's explanation. To be honest, she found proof in Astoria's words. Judging by her appearance, Astoria might have been over thirty-five years old, but she still looked no less stylish and classy than the younger employees. She was fashionable and carried herself with grace.

"Don't just stand there staring. Come and sit down. I've already outlined all the tasks you need to do."

Snap out of her brief reverie, Vanny was now confused. Wasn't she there that morning to express her intention to quit this job? And now she was going to start training with Astoria? Oh, the irony.

Astoria instructed Vanny to sit at a desk next to hers. Literally, the desks were connected. She handed Vanny an agenda book.

"I've listed all the tasks you need to do in here. Actually, Mr. Corbyn is looking for a second secretary because I can't leave the office all the time."

Vanny accepted the agenda book, her eyes looking innocent as she looked at Astoria. "Why is that, Ma'am?"

A smile appeared on Astoria's face as she stroked her calf and answered the question casually. "I was in an accident a few months ago. My condition has mostly recovered, but my legs often hurt when I walk too much."

Vanny's expression changed abruptly, she felt uncomfortable. "I'm so sorry, Ma'am. I didn't know you had an accident."

"It's okay," Astoria shook her head. "It's just one of life's challenges. That's why Mr. Corbyn needs a second secretary, especially since the company is expanding significantly. Mr. Corbyn needs a partner to..."

Ugh!

Vanny coughed spontaneously, interrupting Astoria, who promptly offered her a glass of water that happened to be nearby. Panting and gasping, Vanny tried to calm her cough by swallowing the water several times. With a horrified look on her face, she asked.

"Mr. Corbyn needs a partner, Ma'am?"

Astoria nodded confidently. "Yes, Mr. Corbyn needs a partner."

This answer made Vanny's eyes widen. In fact, she widened them so much that Astoria was afraid her eyeballs would pop out of their sockets.

"Does that mean..." Vanny struggled to swallow a lump of saliva that felt like it was stuck in her throat. "...I'm going to be Mr. Corbyn' partner?"

Blinking several times, Astoria nodded again, causing Vanny to suddenly become hysterical.

"Oh my God! What does all this mean? I applied for an administrative position, but now I'm supposed to be the second secretary. And now you're telling me that I have to be his partner? What? A partner? Oh my God! No, no, no, no! I don't want to marry him, please! I don't want to."

Not only was she babbling hysterically, but Vanny kept squeezing her hands. She looked so panicked that it made Astoria furrow her brow.

"Who are you going to marry, Van?" Astoria asked, her confusion enveloping her. Vanny turned to her and grimaced.

"You said Mr. Corbyn was looking for a partner," Vanny said. "Isn't that right?"

"Yes," Astoria nodded stiffly. "A partner for office events. One of the secretary's duties is... that."

Vanny's eyes widened. For a second. Two seconds. Three seconds.

Then Vanny's hand shot up into the air, pointing at who knows what. She looked like a robot that had suddenly been rebooted.

"Oh, right. So, Mr. Corbyn has scheduled events, right? Um... what's my job?"

Astoria joined in with a confused expression. Meanwhile, Vanny immediately opened the agenda book she had placed on the table and started reading the writings inside.

"Th-the first task... making sure Mr. Corbyn looks presentable. Check his daily, weekly, monthly and yearly schedules. Make sure Mr. Corbyn has lunch. Prepare tea in the morning, coffee at noon, and latte in the evening. If Mr. Corbyn can't come, go to his house immediately and help him with his work.

Reading the notes in the agenda, Vanny repeatedly cursed herself in silence.

Embarrassing. Embarrassing. You're really embarrassing, Van. Oh, my goodness! Where can you hide your face? In a pot, perhaps? How could you ever think that you would be asked to be Haris' life partner? Aaargh!

Now look at this. Mrs. Belle is looking at you with such a strange expression. Just like when she met Superman selling underwear in mall.

Because that was probably more or less how Astoria felt at that moment. Her forehead was still wrinkled, even though they had left the discussion about a partner a few minutes ago. Now she suddenly broke into a smile as she realized the misunderstanding Vanny had had earlier.

But Astoria was really mature. She did not make fun of Vanny. Instead, she gave Vanny a chance to escape the embarrassing situation. She allowed Vanny to read her to-do list. And it... was really important. Something Vanny had to do.

"Accompany Mr. Corbyn to every event he attends, whether it's a holiday or not. Accompany Mr. Corbyn on business trips, including helping him choose the right clothes during the trip. Ensuring Mr. Corbyn' health during business trips, including observing some of his dietary restrictions. I..."

Vanny's words suddenly stopped in the middle. Her eyes blinked as she tilted her head to the side and looked at her list of tasks in the agenda. She was not sure, but something was making her brain work.

Um... why does it feel like there's something strange about this job list?

Vanny was not sure, but she definitely felt it. She turned to Astoria.

"Is this my job, Ma'am.?"

Astoria nodded. "Yes. As I said, I have limitations when it comes to travel. Also... when Mr. Corbyn is away, there are pros and cons to bringing or leaving me in the office. Mr. Corbyn needs to be accompanied, but the office can't be left unattended."

What Astoria said was true.

"Therefore... you must accompany Mr. Corbyn wherever he goes."

Astoria's conclusion caused the agenda book to slip from Vanny's hand. Dramatically and accompanied by a choking sound that made Astoria shudder.

"In that case, it's like I'm really becoming a companion."

"Yes, a companion indeed."

Vanny was frustrated. If she did not remember where she was right now, she would want to scream.

Oh God. Why do I have to go everywhere with Haris? Seriously! Aaah! I don't want to go anywhere with my ex!

*