CHAPTER FIVE

ALEXANDER STONE

I meticulously examined Isabella's file. I paused at each page, focusing on the details that were of my interest. As I went further, my face transformed from a grimace to an interested one from time to time.

A knock interrupted my curiosity.

"Come in," I said calmly. The door swung open as Mr. Davies walked into the room with Isabella in tow. Mr Davies ambled to the front of my desk, playing with a pen, and he had a rather frustrated look on his face. Isabella is standing behind him with an anxious look on her face shifting from one foot to another.

"I thought I told you to handle this?" My words were sharp as a needle, poking through the tension in the room.

"S-sir, I understand that the circumstances under which you met Miss Isabella was not a good one, but hiring a competent secretary has been a hard nut to crack so far. That's why I suggest a three-month trial period of her tenancy; it will give you time to assess her capabilities first hand." He ended his last statement almost like a whisper. I knew he was struggling so hard to sound confident and convincing.

I raised an eyebrow, looking at Isabella's reaction as Mr Davies spoke. Her eyes flickered anxiously around the room as she did not want to look directly into my eyes. I was able to see the uncertainty in her face, but it was succeeded by a glimmer of determination.

"Three months?" I repeated, incredulous. "That's a bit over generous when you consider the situation."

Isabella squirmed uneasily and rubbed her hands together. "I understand your doubts, sir," she said quietly and took a slight quaver in her voice. "But I swear to you, I am so good at my job and I am more than willing to prove myself to you."

I leaned back on my chair crossing my arms and watched her. Indeed, I did not have the best impression of my first meeting with Isabella, and she was hardly suitable for that position.

"You have one month to show me what you can do," I finally added, my voice thick with equal amounts of disbelief and interest. There was a sudden quietness in the room as my words hung heavy. It was not just a challenge; it was a test of redemption.

"My expectations are high," I continued, voice steady and resolute. "You have been given a chance to show what you can do."

Gravely I said, "Once you leave this room, you are set on a path that will challenge your strength of character, your determination, and adaptability.

"I know, sir," she replied steadily. "And I am ready to show myself."

"Very well," I said, a faint smile tugging at my lips. "Consider this your second chance but if by the end of this one-month trial period you fail to convince me to hire you permanently then that's on you.

"Thank you, sir," Isabella said with a tone of gratitude.

I spoke coldly, "No need to thank me, you are on probation, remember." I was ready to push her beyond her limits and punish her for her insolence when we first met.

I signaled "Mr. Davies" to come forward.

"Sir," he answered while advancing forward.

"Escort Miss Isabella to the HR department for proper procedures and then bring her back as she has a lot of work to do."

As Isabella and Mr. Davies left the room, I watched them go with a sense of curiosity. Would Isabella be able to demonstrate herself? Would she wither under my standards?

A couple of hours later, I walked into Isabella's office. As I neared her desk, I noticed that she was deeply absorbed in her job, typing with commitment on her computer. I coughed to get her attention.

She was frightened and she lifted her head from her work and got out of her chair so fast.

"Mr. Stone, can I do something for you?" she inquired hesitating slightly as she spoke.

I nodded, maintaining a neutral expression. "We have a business trip tomorrow morning, and I initially planned on handling everything myself. However, now that you are now my secretary, I assume you will handle the booking."

Isabella's eyes widened in surprise.

"Handle the arrangements for the business trip? Me?" she stammered, shocked with the unexpected surge of responsibility.

I nodded again with just a hint of irony in my voice. "Yes, Isabella. This is a test for you. Prove to me that you can withstand the pressures, the challenges, the demands of this role."

Determination glinting in her eyes, she took a deep breath. "I won't disappoint you, sir. I'll ensure everything is handled conveniently."

"Good," I answered, a slight smile appearing on my face. "Organize the required flight, hotel, and transport as we will be departing early tomorrow."

Her face revealed that she was both nervous and excited as she nodded.

"Do not worry about it, Mr. Stone. Leave it to me."

She, in turn, started working, making phone calls, booking flights and accommodation, and ensuring that everything would work for our trip.

We met at the airport the following morning, prepared for our business trip. As we boarded the plane, Isabella looked both nervous and determined. We took our seats and once the plane started taking off, we began discussing the details of the meeting that would be occurring shortly and the objectives we wanted to achieve.

Upon reaching our destination, we checked in the hotel. However, when we approached the counter in check-in, we were greeted with a sort of puzzled shake of the head by a particular receptionist who informed us that there had been an oversight in the reservations of the rooms. But there was one room left available for both of us to share

"Oh, I… um, I'm sorry, Mr. Stone, I didn't think about this trouble," she stuttered, flustered with shame.

"I thought you said you were good at your job but got confused with a simple hotel reservation," I scolded her.

She said in almost a whisper, looking at the ground and avoiding my eyes, "I'm…I'm so sorry, sir. It won't happen again."

I flashed my credit card at her, satisfied with how I made her feel.

"Good luck finding another room because I can't bear for you to share a room with me."

She tried to protest, "But sir, the receptionist just said there isn't any available room."

I responded lightly, "Then go find a motel or something."

"Please sir, I don't know my way around here, this is my first time here," she tried pleading.

"Isabella, I can only hear excuses. Fix yourself up but be here at 7 a.m. to help prepare for the meeting."

"Yes, sir," she whispered, almost inaudibly."

As I walked away, a tiny part of me did feel a little guilty for being so unkind. But I soon dismissed it, reminding myself that all of it was part of the test. Isabella had something to prove, and if she couldn't even make a simple hotel reservation, then how could she be trusted with anything more important?