My jet-black hair was combed to perfection, matched with an all-black formal outfit. Just enough natural makeup to look polished without drawing attention.
That's me. Valerie Kessler. That name has been buried for a long time.
Now? I'm Emily Hart, the soon-to-be secretary of Rhys Tech's CEO.
~~~~~
"Miss Hart, please head inside. Good luck."
A tall man with blond hair called out to me.
I smiled, catching the nametag pinned on his chest 'Sebastian Reyes' and gave him a small nod before turning to the door.
I opened it slowly. A man, tall, must've been at least 187 cm, stood with his back to me.
Sunlight poured in from the massive windows, so blinding that his face was just a dark silhouette.
On the glass desk before him sat a sleek black nameplate: Leonardo Rhys.
My main enemy.
"Have a seat, Miss Hart," he said while pouring himself a cup of coffee. Clearly, just for himself.
I sat upright, offering the faintest smile. My eyes stayed fixed on my soon-to-be boss, still absorbed in his little coffee ritual.
His shirt sleeves were rolled up haphazardly, and the dark circles under his eyes were painfully obvious like he hadn't slept in centuries.
The creak of the chair snapped me back, he was already sitting across from me, eyes weighing me like a blade.
"You've been watching me?" he asked with a small laugh.
I quickly lowered my head, feigning innocence. "Sorry, sir. It's just… you look tired." My voice softened, polite, almost shy.
"Well, that's exactly why I need a secretary ASAP." He sipped his steaming black coffee.
"I've reviewed your application. I have to admit, you're quite competent. Let's cut to the chase. Why do you want to work at Rhys Tech?" He set his cup down and locked his gaze on me.
"I've always seen Rhys Tech as a classy, innovative, and progressive company. I want to be part of a team that doesn't just build fast, but also responds swiftly to challenges."
Leonardo gave a slow nod, as if satisfied with my fabricated answer.
"You know, I liked you from the start. But there's just one thing I need to make sure of…" He raked his hand through his hair.
"What is it?" I asked, curious.
Leaning slightly closer, Leonardo's voice dropped. "You do realize this job isn't exactly safe, right? People disappear… sometimes for good?"
My eyes narrowed. Why would he ask something like that…?
"What do you mean, Mr. Rhys?"
"Well, it's just that my former secretary has been missing for over a month. Either she ran away with all the information she had… or she was killed by someone." His stare remained sharp, unblinking.
"Or…" he added casually, "she killed herself."
"Why would she go that far?" I prodded.
Leaning back against his sofa, Leonardo exhaled. "Just a theory. So, think you can handle it?"
I kept my face unreadable, though the thought burned in me: Clearly, he knows something. But if he thinks I can't handle myself, he's wrong. The only one who'll end up dead here, Leonardo… is you.
With a steady, confident gaze, I answered, "I don't go down that easily."
Leonardo studied me in silence. His lips parted as if to say something, then shut again. He stood, retrieved a file from his desk, and placed it in front of me.
"This is your contract. I need you to follow orders, report everything to me, and above all become the one person I can trust the most."
I took the file, flipping through each page carefully, when suddenly his fingertip tapped the desk, snapping my head up.
"Loyalty," he repeated, voice calm but sharp.
"Can you be that person for me?" he asked, arms now crossed.
Loyalty? Seriously? Is he hiring a secretary… or a life partner?
Still, brushing aside my inner mockery, I gave him my brightest smile.
"Of course. I'm a very loyal person, sir."
~~~~~
The muffled chaos of the underground bled into me the moment I shed the stiff blazer and heels. Now it was back to sneakers and street air.
The hallway trembled with the rumble of shouts and cheers, each echo crashing against the walls. My foot splashed into a puddle of blood, the metallic stench rising sharp into my nose.
"Val!"
A voice cut sharp and clear through the chaos.
I turned toward it. "What's up? You're not getting in the ring, Max?"
"Check this out." Max tilted his head, showing me the stitches above his left ear.
I winced at the sight. My eyes wandered around. "Where's Juno?"
"Back at base. Work stuff, you know." Max lit up a cigarette, smoke curling lazily as I nodded, my gaze locked on the two men trading blows in the ring.
"Right! So… how'd the interview go? Did you get in?"
"Hell yeah! Thanks to Juno and all her genius writing about Emily Hart," I said with a sly, almost wicked laugh.
"Insane, right? She's the best at this kind of thing," Max replied. Before I could respond, a pair of arms wrapped tightly around me from behind.
"Val, I heard you actually made it into Rhys Tech." Suddenly Juno tightened her arms around me, whispering, "Looks like fate's finally giving you the chance to take Leonardo down."
"Yes, and it's all thanks to you, Jun. I start training tomorrow. For three days, I'll be working super closely with Leo, so… please don't reach out to me unless I contact you first." I pulled away gently, cupping her adorable face in my hands.
"Got it!" my two friends shouted in unison, raising their hands in a mock salute.
The walk home that night felt unbearably heavy. Not because of the vodka I'd had, not even because of the sight of ten bloodied men scattered across Green Alley.
But because I had to go back home.
The place reeked of death, its silence loud enough to choke me.
I stepped inside, carefully setting my shoes on the rack, because if I didn't, my father would've scolded me all night long. If he's still here.
My eyes landed on a folder sitting atop a stack of boxes. The label read: "Embezzlement Scheme: Rhys Tech."
And God knows something that filthy could only be orchestrated by their CEO, Leonardo Rhys.
My father had died trying to take this case to court.
When you strip everything else away, the truth is simple. Leonardo Rhys murdered my father. Thomas Kessler.
"Just wait, Leonardo. You'll die in my hands."