Chapter 1: The New Beginning
Madrid, Spain
Lucia Martinez stepped into the sleek office building, her heels tapping nervously against the polished marble floor. She straightened her simple blazer, glancing around at the modern, high-end decor of Sanchez Enterprises. Her stomach knotted with anxiety. She was the new secretary to one of the most powerful men in Spain—Alejandro Sanchez. This was her first day on the job, and from the start, she could tell she was out of place.
As she walked past her colleagues, she could feel their eyes on her, their whispers barely concealed. She wasn’t like the others. Lucia was clumsy, a bit too shy, and far from the polished professionals who worked here. She’d already heard rumors that she was the least qualified applicant, and no one could quite understand why Alejandro had chosen her for the role. Even her manager, Mr. Cortes, seemed baffled.
“Miss Martinez,” a stern voice broke through her thoughts. Mr. Cortes, Alejandro’s senior assistant, was standing in front of her with a clipboard in hand, his expression as sharp as his well-tailored suit. “Follow me.”
Lucia quickly obeyed, her heart pounding as she trailed after him into the main office area. As they walked, Mr. Cortes eyed her skeptically. “I must say, I don’t know what Mr. Sanchez saw in you. He had applicants with far more experience, yet here you are.”
Lucia swallowed hard but said nothing. What could she say? She didn’t know why she was here either. All she knew was that she needed this job, and she had to prove herself, no matter how out of her depth she felt.
Mr. Cortes led her into the office, where the towering figure of Alejandro Sanchez sat behind a massive desk. His reputation preceded him—a man known for his power, his cold demeanor, and his ruthlessness in business. Lucia could feel the tension in the air as she entered the room.
Alejandro glanced up briefly, his piercing blue eyes locking with hers for a moment. Then, without a word, he turned back to his work.
Mr. Cortes quickly handed her a stack of documents. “You’ll need to organize these files by the end of the day,” he instructed, his tone impatient. “Also, make sure you book Mr. Sanchez’s meeting with the Italian investors for tomorrow, and don’t forget to update the calendar.”
Lucia nodded, trying to keep up with the instructions. “Yes, of course.”
Mr. Cortes raised an eyebrow, clearly doubtful. “You’ve done this sort of thing before, haven’t you?”
“Y-yes,” Lucia stammered, though she knew she wasn’t convincing. Truthfully, this was all overwhelming for her. She’d worked in smaller offices, but nothing like this. As she fumbled with the papers, her nerves got the best of her, and a few files slipped from her grasp, scattering across the floor.
Her heart sank. Great start, Lucia, she thought bitterly.
Mr. Cortes sighed audibly, shaking his head as he bent down to pick up the papers. “This isn’t going to work if you can’t even handle the basics,” he muttered under his breath. He stood up and shot a glance at Alejandro, waiting for him to say something—perhaps to fire her on the spot.
But to her surprise, Alejandro didn’t react with anger. Instead, he calmly rose from his desk, walked over to a bookshelf, and pulled out a slim, leather-bound book. Without a word, he handed it to Lucia.
“Read this,” he said, his voice low but firm. “Learn. You have until the end of the week to get it right.”
Lucia blinked, surprised by the unexpected gesture. She had been bracing herself for the worst, but instead, Alejandro was giving her another chance.
“Thank you, Mr. Sanchez,” she managed to say, clutching the book tightly.
Alejandro’s gaze lingered on her for a moment longer before he returned to his desk, dismissing her with a slight nod. Mr. Cortes, still skeptical, shot her a look of disbelief but said nothing more.
Lucia left the office, her heart racing, and quickly made her way back to her desk. As she sat down, she opened the book Alejandro had given her. It was a detailed guide on office management and professional etiquette—everything she needed to master her role. She exhaled slowly, realizing that this was her lifeline. If she wanted to keep this job, she would have to study hard and prove she could handle the pressure.
The whispers around the office didn’t stop, but Lucia tried her best to ignore them. She wasn’t here to win anyone over—just to survive and succeed. Alejandro Sanchez was a man feared by many, but today, he had shown her an unexpected kindness. And for that, she was determined not to let him—or herself—down.
