Chapter 64: The new secretary

Words : 1279 Updated : Sep 17th, 2025

Chapter 64: The new secretary Augustine couldn’t sleep. He tossed and turned in bed, regret gnawing at him. In a moment of anger, he had done something completely out of character—he had forcefully kissed Anne. He flipped on his back. Staring at the ceiling, he pressed his fingers against his forehead. ’Should I go and apologize to her?’ he wondered to himself. ’Why should you apologize?’ a voice in his head countered. ’She had no business talking to Denis in the first place.’ Although remorse tugged at him, doubts still clouded his mind. He had expected Anne to keep her distance from Denis, yet she had continued speaking with him on the phone. That had made him lose control. ’Does she still have feelings for Denis?’ The thought unsettled him. ’Is she the type of woman who wavers between two men?’ As soon as the question arose, he dismissed it. "No," he murmured, running a hand through his hair with a deep sigh. "Anne isn’t like that. She knows exactly what she wants. She’d never go back to a scumbag like Denis." Taking a deep breath, he tried to calm himself. "I’ll talk to her tomorrow." The Next Morning... A shrill ringtone jolted him awake. Fumbling for his phone, he answered groggily. "What’s wrong? Why are you calling so early?" "The client finalized their decision," Gustave said excitedly. "They’re awarding the project to us. The meeting is set for nine." "Really?" Augustine squinted at the clock on the nightstand. The glowing red numbers read 8:00 AM. "Damn, it’s already eight?" He bolted upright. He had assumed it was still early, but now he was running late. "I’ll be there on time." Tossing his phone onto the bed, he rushed into the bathroom. After a quick shower, he changed into fresh clothes, preparing to leave. Just as he picked up his phone again, another call from Gustave came through. Pressing the device to his ear, he strode out of his room. But he suddenly stopped. Anne emerged from the kitchen, and their eyes met. A moment of silence hung between them. "You’re leaving?" Anne finally spoke hesitantly. "Aren’t you going to have breakfast?" Augustine hesitated, momentary regret flashing across his face. He wanted to stay a little longer—to talk to her, to make things right. But the meeting was crucial. "I’m running late," he said apologetically. Forcing a small smile, he added, "I’ll try to come back early." Without waiting for a response, he turned and headed for the door, continuing his call. Anne remained in place, her gaze following his departing form. Her heart sank as he disappeared from her line of sight. "He just left..." she murmured in a daze, her throat heavy with emotions. Disappointment laced with pain crashed over her in waves. She had woken up early, made breakfast, and planned to clear the air between them. But he hadn’t even paused to ask if she had slept well. "Is he still upset with me?" she wondered. Her phone chimed, snapping her out of her thoughts. She unlocked the screen and saw a message from Audrey. ’How are you? How is your father? You haven’t replied to any of my messages.’ Anne let out a weary sigh. She had been so preoccupied with her own worries that she hadn’t even checked her phone, completely unaware that Audrey had been trying to reach her. ’Everything has been sorted out. I’ll fill you in when we meet,’ she quickly texted back. Audrey’s response came almost instantly. ’That’s good to hear. By the way, I’ll be out of town for a few days—I’m going on vacation.’ A smiley emoji accompanied the message, followed by a photo of Audrey beaming happily. Seeing her friend’s bright smile, Anne couldn’t help but smile as well. She walked over to the living room and sank into the sofa, typing: ’Is this a trip organized by the hotel? Or are you going with someone special?’ Audrey’s reply was short but intriguing. ’Yes, with someone special.’ Anne’s curiosity deepened. She had heard about Audrey’s boyfriend but had never actually seen him. Audrey had never openly spoken about him. ’Who is this mystery guy? Your boyfriend?’ ’I’ll introduce him to you when the time is right. Gotta go now. Bye...’ Anne set her phone aside, a slight frown forming on her face. Her own past with Denis flashed through her mind—the secrecy, the heartbreak, the betrayal. She wouldn’t wish the same pain on Audrey. "Why is Audrey being so secretive about her boyfriend? I hope she is not in trouble." ~~~~~~~~~ After the successful meeting, Augustine finally arrived at the company, speaking to Gustave in a hushed tone as he made his way to his office. "Good morning, sir." A woman stepped forward with a bright smile, extending her hand. "I’m Lorie, your new secretary." Augustine halted, his gaze shifting from her outstretched hand to her face before glancing at Gustave with a blank expression. "The HR department hired a new secretary for you," Gustave explained. Augustine’s displeasure was immediate. He had planned to ask Anne if she would consider joining Starlite Corp. as his secretary, but now the position had already been filled. His features hardened in frustration. "Why wasn’t I informed about this?" he grumbled. Gustave stiffened, momentarily caught off guard. His boss had never shown interest in the hiring process before—this was the first time he had reacted this way. He hesitated, searching for the right words. Lorie, sensing the tension, flushed with embarrassment and withdrew her hand. "The HR department issued a notice about the position internally, and the interviews were held this morning. I was selected," she explained with a hopeful smile, trying to capture Augustine’s attention. But he barely acknowledged her, his scowl deepening. He could tell from her demeanor that she had ulterior motives—her eagerness to impress him was obvious. Without another word, he walked into his office, with Gustave following closely behind. Lorie tried to step in after them, but the door shut in her face. Frustration flickered across Lorie’s features. She stomped her foot, her lips twisting in irritation. She had gone to great lengths to secure this position, even sleeping with the HR manager to ensure her selection. She had dressed carefully, applying just the right amount of makeup to enhance her looks, expecting to catch Augustine’s eye. But instead of interest, she was met with cold indifference. Still, she wasn’t about to admit defeat. A slow, confident smile crept onto her face. "Some men are just harder to get. But he’ll fall for my charm sooner or later," she muttered, convinced she could sway him with her beauty. Inside the office... Augustine’s irritation was unmistakable as he snapped, "I don’t want that woman as my secretary. Transfer her to another department. I’ll ask Anne first if she is willing to take the position. If she refuses, then I’ll decide who to hire—but not her." Gustave hesitated, weighing his response. After a brief pause, he carefully suggested, "Since HR already hired her, removing her on the first day may not reflect well. If you bring Madam Anne in as your secretary, people might say you’re being biased toward hiring your wife." Augustine’s sharp gaze softened slightly as he considered Gustave’s words. "If you truly want Madam Anne in the company, why not offer her the head position for the new project?" Gustave proposed. "She was already involved in it while working at the Beaumont Group." Augustine’s frown eased, his irritation giving way to approval. "That’s a good idea. I’ll discuss it with her."

Chapter 64: The new secretary

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