Chapter 21.New Secretary
Logan’s POV.
“Can someone please tell me what’s going on with the recruitment for my new secretary?” I demanded, my frustration evident in the firm tone of my voice.
As the head of a formidable Mafia organization, I led a double life, skillfully balancing the intricate web of criminal operations with my legitimate business affairs. It was a delicate dance that required precision and efficiency, and my trusted partners, Alex and Ryder, were invaluable in helping me maintain order and stability in both worlds. However, the absence of my capable secretary, who was currently on maternity leave, was posing a significant challenge.
The HR department, unfortunately, seemed to be dragging their feet in finding a suitable replacement. The role of my secretary was crucial, acting as the gatekeeper to my time and resources. With my jam-packed schedule and numerous responsibilities, I couldn’t spare a moment to personally oversee the search for a competent candidate. My frustration was mounting as the days went by without a satisfactory resolution.
To exacerbate matters, the previous hires had fallen short of my expectations. After Lena, who had been a stellar secretary, the office struggled to find someone who could match her level of competence. They tried to fill her shoes with another candidate, but the poor fit led to a hasty resignation. My demanding nature and insistence on perfection made it challenging for just anyone to step into the role and manage my affairs with the required finesse.
In the interim, the administrative team had arranged a temporary solution, with a girl from their ranks handling some of the responsibilities. However, it was a makeshift arrangement, and it wasn’t a sustainable solution for my complex and demanding business needs.
However, being a successful businessman came with its challenges, and I required a dedicated full-time secretary to keep everything running smoothly. I needed someone capable, efficient, and loyal, someone who could seamlessly coordinate my appointments, manage my communications, and ensure the smooth functioning of my operations.
“Sir, we conducted interviews and shortlisted a few candidates. I found a girl who is most suitable for the position, but she had a condition. She requested to join after two days. I agreed, considering it better than losing a suitable candidate,” Roma, my HR head, explained to me.
As Roma spoke, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of annoyance and frustration. What an arrogant girl she must be, I thought to myself, clenching my teeth. Placing conditions before the HR of the prestigious Mancini Group as if she were doing us a favor. Any other person would have eagerly accepted the offer and joined immediately, but here was this candidate making demands.
With a forced smile, I tried to contain my irritation and asked, “And who will handle the role until she joins?”
“Maria will take care of it, just as she has been doing since Lena left,” Roma replied.
A wave of exasperation washed over me, and I rolled my eyes in exasperation. Maria was nowhere near as efficient as Lena, and her handling of the role had caused nothing but chaos. My perfectly organized schedule had been disrupted, and I couldn’t stand living in such disorder.
“I’m well aware of that, and it’s driving me crazy,” I muttered under my breath, a touch of bitterness seeping into my words.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g
I preferred my life to be perfectly orchestrated, every piece in its rightful place. This unexpected delay and Maria’s less-than-ideal performance were pushing my patience to its limits.
“You may leave,” I instructed Roma, my voice tinged with resignation. Closing my eyes momentarily, I ran my hand through my hair, attempting to collect my thoughts. I knew I had no choice but to endure this mess until Monday when the new candidate finally decided to grace us with her presence. Patience was never my strong suit, but in this situation, it seemed I had no other option but to wait.
Suddenly, my phone began to buzz. I saw that it was Alex calling, and instantly, my mood brightened. Only my friends could bring me joy in such a stressful situation.
I answered the call, unable to contain my grin as I spoke, “Alex, how are you doing, man?”
“All good. I’m in Rome. I was thinking you and Ryder could join me here,” he replied.
“Wait, are you in Rome for your honeymoon?” I asked, curiosity piqued.
“Uh… yeah,” he hesitated, and I could envision him rubbing his neck.
“As far as I know, you didn’t want to go on a honeymoon with your wife. What made you change your mind?” I inquired, adopting a mocking tone, well aware of who might have influenced his sudden change of heart.
“You know, Logan, how my father can be. He wouldn’t spare me if I didn’t obey him and come on this honeymoon,” he claimed, but I sensed he was being dishonest.
“Alright, I’ll believe you. So when will you be back?” I inquired, hearing a faint voice in the background calling out Alex’s name. It sounded like a girl’s voice. Who could she be? Was she his wife? Now that would be interesting.
“Yeah, I’ll be back in 10 days. I miss both of you,” he replied, and I chuckled.
“It seems like you have some fascinating company, or rather, a beautiful company. You won’t be missing us,” I laughed again.
“Shut up, you jerk,” he snapped, whispering over the phone.
“Now you’re afraid to speak in front of her. Well done, buddy. Best of luck on your honeymoon,” I taunted, knowing I had teased him enough. I also knew he cared for Ryder and me.
Suddenly, a name popped into my mind: Mia. I yearned to see her again and searched for an excuse. Last time, it was challenging to persuade her to have lunch with me. This time, I needed to come up with a convincing excuse to see her more often. I wanted to know her, and I wanted her to know me. There was something about her that set her apart from other girls, and it only drew me closer.
I shook my head and sighed, remembering that I would have to manage without an official secretary until Monday.
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“Maria, why didn’t you reschedule my appointment with Ronald and his group? I have a meeting at the same time with Richard’s Enterprises,” I scolded my temporary secretary in frustration.
“I’m sorry, boss. I’m currently working on rescheduling it. Please give me some more time,” Maria replied, wiping the beads of sweat from her forehead.
“Get it done as soon as possible, Maria. You don’t seem to understand how important it is for my reputation,” I exclaimed, slamming my palm on the desk, causing her to flinch. I was seething with rage and frustration.
“Can someone tell me when my new secretary will be joining? I was told she would be here on Monday. Why the hell hasn’t she arrived yet?” I inquired, flipping open a file to sign some documents.
“She has arrived, boss. However, she was busy completing the necessary paperwork for the HR department. Once she’s done with the formalities, she’ll be here to assist you,” Maria responded in a trembling voice, seemingly intimidated by my anger.
“You may leave now,” I stated, not bothering to lift my gaze from the file in front of me.
The door opened and closed, followed by the distinct sound of heels clicking on the floor. It pierced through my concentration, causing me to wince.
“Now… what? I explicitly told you not to disturb me,” I barked, still focused on my work.
“Mr. Mancini, I am your new secretary. Mia Rossi,” a voice spoke up, accompanied by the mention of a name. Startled, my eyes shot up to find a smiling Mia standing before me, her eyes filled with fear. It dawned on me that my outburst may have frightened her on her very first day.
A wide grin involuntarily spread across my face. I pushed my chair back and rose to my feet, making my way around the desk to stand in front of her.
“Mia?” I called her name, almost disbelieving my own eyes.
“Um, yes, Mr. Mancini?” she replied hesitantly.
“You… I mean, you’re my new secretary?” I shook my head, astounded by the stroke of luck that allowed me to have her by my side all day, a woman who had occupied my thoughts every single minute.