CHAPTER 11❤️

CHAPTER 11: OF ALL THE PEOPLE

MARYANN'S POV

The sun had barely risen when I stepped out of the bus, my heart pounding like tribal drums inside

my chest. I glanced at my wristwatch, 7:35 AM. Just enough time to make it to work before the official start at eight.

Today was the day.

The day everything changed. The first page of a new chapter.

I dressed in a crisp white blouse tucked into a pair of high-waisted navy pants, with my hair pulled

neatly into a bun, I walked into ECV-TECH Towers like I belonged there. And yet, deep down, wasn't so sure.

I took the elevator to the HR floor as instructed. Mr. Harris was already waiting, this time in a slightly more relaxed grey blazer and holding a slim tablet.

"Right on time again," he said, with the faintest nod of approval. "Follow me. Time to meet the man you'll be assisting." Said Mr. Harris.

I smiled politely, though my palms were sweating. The butterflies in my stomach were doing cartwheels.

I followed Mr. Harris through the long glass hallway, passing bustling teams and modern workspaces that buzzed with quiet productivity.

"I won't lie," he said casually as they walked, "you'll have to keep up with Mr. Henry. He's brilliant but fast-paced. Very private too. Doesn't tolerate gossip or

sloppiness." He explained.

I nodded, gripping my bag tighter. I wasn't here to gossip or be sloppy. I am here to work, to make a mark. I said.

As we neared the corner office at the end of the hallway, my nerves spiked.

The door was slightly ajar, and I could hear a deep male voice on the phone, firm yet smooth. There was something oddly familiar about it, but I was too focused on

keeping my composure to pay it much mind.

Mr. Harris knocked once, then pushed the door open.

"Mr. Henry?" he called. "Your new personal assistant is here." He said.

Henry turned around in his chair slowly, still holding his phone to his ear. "Give me one minute," he said to the caller, then ended the call. He rose from behind his wide oak

desk.

Immediately I froze.

No.

"It couldn't be", I said to myself.

I blinked, almost comically, trying to make sense of the person standing in front of me.

There he was, tall, handsome, immaculately dressed in a tailored black suit. The same guy from Mr.

Jonadab's party.

The guy I have spent half the evening secretly watching, secretly admiring, from across the room.

The stranger with quiet confidence and a gentle smile that hadn't left my mind since that night.

"Henry". "my boss". "my new boss". I said silently.

My stomach flipped. my thoughts scattered. In a second, I could feel the heat rushing to my cheeks.

I opened my mouth to say something, anything, but nothing came out. I chuckled nervously, then quickly coughed to cover it.

What kind of joke was fate trying to play here? I imagined.

Meanwhile, Henry looked just as stunned.

-------------------------------------------

He recognized me instantly. The same woman who had caught his attention at the party. The same

woman he had tried, unsuccessfully, to find after that night. There was something about my presence that had lingered with him long after the music faded.

And now I was standing in front of him, looking utterly shocked.

And slightly… odd.

"Mr. Henry," Mr. Harris said, unaware of the silent electricity passing between us two.

"This is Maryann. She'll be serving as your personal assistant starting today." Said Mr. Harris.

"Maryann," Henry echoed slowly, still trying to collect himself. He stepped forward and offered

his hand.

"Pleasure to meet you, I suppose." Said Henry.

I blinked. Again?

"Did he remember my face from the party," I said silently.

 I quickly straightened up, cleared my throat, and grasped his hand, forcing the most professional version of herself to the front.

"Yes. It's an honor, sir," I said, steadying my tone and offering a small, polite smile.

"I'm looking forward to working with you." I said finally.

But my voice cracked slightly at the end.

Henry raised a brow but said nothing. He turned to Mr. Harris.

"Thanks, Harris. I'll take it from here." Said Henry.

Mr. Harris nodded and left, oblivious to the quiet storm brewing behind him.

As the door clicked shut, a heavy silence settled in the room.

I looked anywhere but at him, the window, the bookshelf, the sleek black coffee maker in the corner. Anything.

Henry, on the other hand, folded his arms and leaned against his desk.

"I thought I recognized you," he said finally, breaking the silence.

I glanced at him, feigning innocence. "Recognized me?" I said.

"Yes," he said, watching me closely. "You were at Mr. Jonadab's party. Weren't you?" he asked.

I sighed, the game up.

"Yeah," I said, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear.

"I was there. You were too. Small world." He said.

"Very small," he said again. His lips curved into a half-smile.

"You were the girl with those kids, constantly holding hands and talking with them for almost the whole night". He said, quiet observant.

My eyes widened slightly. "You noticed all that?" I asked.

"I notice more than I let on." He said.

My breath hitched.

This was not how first days at work were supposed to go. I had mentally prepared for stress,

spreadsheets, and maybe some mild awkwardness, not this level of... intensity.

I quickly pulled myself together.

"Well, I suppose that makes this easier," I said, my voice firmer now, more in control.

"Since we're no longer strangers, I hope we can establish a good working relationship." I said.

Henry chuckled. "Professional." He said.

"I'll do my best, sir," "That's why I'm here." I said.

He nodded, straightening. "Good. I need someone who can handle confidentiality, pressure, and last-minute changes without panicking." He explained.

"I'm capable of all that," I replied, standing tall. "Just tell me what you need." I said boldly.

Henry paused, surprised by the sudden shift in my demeanor. Just moments ago, I had been blushing and stammering.

Now I looked like I had run boardrooms for years. Maybe I was just nervous earlier. It was, after all, my first day.

"Alright," he said, walking toward a side cabinet and pulling out a tablet. "Let's begin with your orientation. Your desk is right outside my office. You'll have access to my calendar, call logs, email threads, anything I need filtered before I get to it." He explained.

I nodded, listening intently, taking notes on the notepad I brought.

"I'll have you manage meeting schedules, prepare briefs before presentations, and coordinate

travel plans. Sometimes I'll need you to sit in on high-level discussions. Keep your ears open but your mouth shut in those meetings. Understood?" he said.

"Understood," I replied.

Henry hesitated for a moment, then added, "Also, don't be alarmed by my silence sometimes. I prefer

quiet when I work." He explained.

"I can be invisible," I said with a soft smile.

He smirked. "Good. But don't disappear when I need you." He said.

"I'll be right where you need me." I said softly.

Our eyes met again,briefly, and something passed between us, a flicker of tension that wasn't entirely professional.

Henry cleared his throat and looked away. "Let's get started, then." He said.

I took that as mycue to head to my new desk. As I stepped out of the office, I exhaled deeply,placing a hand over my heart.

"What just happened? I asked myself.

"Am I seriously going to be working with the man who had unknowingly fueled my thoughts for weeks? And did he remember me that well? Had he been watching me at the party,

too?" I asked myself.

This is going to be interesting. No, correction.

This was going to be hell if I wasn't careful.

But I made a silent promise to myself right then and there, I would not let feelings, past, present,or potential, ruin this opportunity. I said to my self.

I came here to work. To build a future. I said.

If Henry happened to be a part of that equation... well, I'd handle it like the professional I now

had to be.