Sarah tried to concentrate, but the moment she sat in that comfortable, executive fabric chair, her mind went completely blank.
"What should I do first? Shouldn't someone brief me?" she wondered, furrowing her brows in confusion.
She hadn't thought that far ahead when she accepted the job. Sarah had never worked for a large corporation before. After graduating, Keith had asked her to support his work. Starting as an intern, she only thought about helping her boyfriend, without realizing he had been using her talent all along.
"Okay, take a breath," she murmured to herself. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened them again, her mind was still blank.
She turned on her laptop and opened the chat to contact the secretary. "Wait… what is her name?"
Sarah felt ashamed of herself. She hadn't even asked for the secretary's name yet.
She felt like a clueless girl stranded in an office, with no idea what her job description was. When she finally connected to the chat, she didn't even know who she was supposed to message. Earlier, she hadn't wanted to upset Jayden. But now, she hadn't even started working, and she already felt like a disappointment.
Sarah couldn't waste any more time. Instead of messaging online, she decided to find the secretary's office herself. As she stepped into the hallway, she immediately cursed her own carelessness for not asking where the secretary's office was.
"Oh, Sarah, how are you going to survive like this?" she muttered under her breath.
"Excuse me…"
Sarah quickly put on a bright smile when she saw a male associate with glasses walking down the hallway, reading a document.
He stopped and raised his head.
"Do you know where Mr. Lin's secretary's office is?"
"Do you mean Miss Hart?" he asked.
Sarah was slightly stunned, then quickly nodded, while mentally scolding herself for being so careless.
"Yes, her." She smiled wider to hide her nervousness.
The man frowned slightly, then turned and pointed to a room on his left.
"Are you new here?" he asked, still scrutinizing her.
"Yeah… uhm, thank you." Sarah forced a grin, aware of how awkward she looked.
The man watched her walk away without saying anything. Not wanting to draw more attention, Sarah quickly headed toward the secretary's office.
"Excuse me…"
The secretary looked up, visibly startled by Sarah's sudden appearance. But she quickly composed herself and smiled politely.
"Yes, Miss McKaley. What can I do for you?"
Sarah immediately felt relieved. She stepped closer.
"I'm terribly sorry to interrupt you, but I have no idea about my job description. Could you help me with it?"
The secretary looked confused, her brows knitting together slightly. The reaction made Sarah feel awkward.
She stared at Sarah a second longer than necessary, as if trying to process what she had just heard. Her lips still held a polite smile, but something in her eyes shifted, something more assessing, almost doubtful.
"You haven't received any briefing at all? I thought Mr. Lin briefed you last night," she said.
Her tone remained courteous, but there was a faint edge beneath it.
Sarah paused. For a moment, she wondered if Jayden hadn't told anyone about their dinner. But he had said the secretary arranged her pickup. Still, she pushed those thoughts aside and shook her head.
Her smile turned apologetic. "No… uhm, last night Mr. Lin just told me to come directly. I thought I would be guided once I arrived, but…" She trailed off with a small, awkward laugh.
"He didn't come."
Inside, she felt embarrassed. Saying it out loud made her situation sound even worse. The secretary blinked once, then leaned back in her chair.
"I see," she said.
A brief silence followed. Sarah could almost feel the woman evaluating her—her composure, her words, even the way she stood.
"Please, sit," the secretary said, gesturing to the chair in front of her desk.
Relieved, Sarah quickly sat down, clasping her hands on her lap like a student waiting for instructions.
"Thank you so much," she said sincerely.
The secretary turned slightly to her computer, clicking through several files.
"Your position is Executive Designer under Mr. Lin's direct supervision," she began.
Sarah nodded eagerly, trying to absorb every word.
"You'll be responsible for conceptual development, visual direction, and design execution for high-priority projects. Most of your tasks will come directly from Mr. Lin or through me," the secretary continued in a steady, professional tone.
Sarah blinked, focusing hard despite the growing nervousness in her chest. The role felt too big for her. She had expected to start as a junior staff member, but Jayden had placed her in a top position instead.
"High-priority projects?" Sarah repeated softly.
"Yes," the secretary replied without looking at her. "Mr. Lin does not assign that title lightly."
Sarah chose not to dwell on it. Instead, her heart fluttered with a mix of excitement and anxiety. This was a real opportunity.
"I'll do my best," she said, her voice bright with determination.
The secretary paused briefly before continuing.
"You'll need to coordinate with multiple departments, marketing, product development, and branding. Deadlines are strict. Communication must be efficient."
Sarah nodded again, perhaps a little too quickly.
"I understand."
In truth, she didn't fully understand. Her mind was overwhelmed, yet she didn't even know where to begin. Still, she didn't want to seem incapable. She maintained her smile while trying to absorb everything.
The secretary finally turned to face her. Her gaze lingered, as if searching for something.
"You've never worked in a corporate environment before, have you?" she asked, her tone slightly sceptical.
Sarah let out an awkward smile. "Not really. I mean… I've worked before, but not in a company like this."
"I see."
The secretary folded her hands neatly on the desk.
"Well, you'll need to adapt quickly," she said. "This environment is demanding."
Her words carried a subtle pressure, as if she doubted Sarah's capability, and Sarah could feel it. Still, she nodded with a polite smile.
"I will. Thank you for explaining everything to me."
Her sincerity was genuine and warm, almost hopeful. But the secretary only gave a small nod in return.
In her mind, however, a very different thought was forming. The position of Executive Designer was not something just anyone could handle. It was far beyond what this girl seemed capable of. She didn't even know her own job description.
A faint crease appeared between the secretary's brows. Mr. Lin must have had his reasons, though it wasn't convincing. To her, Sarah looked inexperienced. Not someone suited for such a critical role. Still, she said nothing. Professionally, she would do her duty, but personally, she was far from impressed.
Meanwhile, Sarah sat there feeling unexpectedly at ease. Despite the awkward start, she thought the secretary was kind and patient. The clear explanations made her feel supported.
Maybe they could even become friends. The thought made her smile faintly.
"Is there anything else I should know?" Sarah asked, tilting her head slightly.
The secretary blinked, as if snapping out of her thoughts.
"For now, familiarize yourself with the current projects. I'll send you the files," she replied.
"Okay! Thank you so much."
Sarah stood and bowed her head slightly in gratitude. The secretary watched her, her expression now neutral and distant.
As Sarah turned to leave, the secretary added, "Don't hesitate to ask if you need clarification."
Sarah beamed. "I will!"
With that, she stepped out of the room, feeling much lighter than before.
Once the door closed, the secretary let out a quiet breath. Her eyes drifted back to her computer screen. Minimised behind several documents was a photo—a candid shot of Jayden Lin.
He stood by a window, his expression distant yet striking. For a moment, the secretary stared at it.
Her gaze softened. "Why would you bring in a new girl… when I'm here?" she murmured, though it was unclear what she truly meant.
She quickly clicked away, hiding the image as if it had never been there.
Outside, Sarah walked back to her office with small, careful steps. Her mind was still processing everything. The position overwhelmed her, but it also excited her.
"I can do this," she whispered.
She spent the next few hours reviewing the files Miss Hart had sent. She took notes, marked questions, and tried her best to understand everything.
Once she finished, she returned to the secretary's office to ask about the parts she didn't understand. The secretary allowed her to ask freely, and Sarah took the chance.
Later, as she returned to her own office, Sarah paused just before entering. Something caught her attention.
Earlier, the secretary's door hadn't fully closed. Through the small gap, Sarah had unintentionally glimpsed her computer screen. At the time, she hadn't thought much of it.
She blinked.
Wasn't that Mr. Lin?