Finding the Secretary

Inigo leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling as Ava's words echoed in his mind.

"You need a secretary to communicate with us so you can just focus on developing the game."

She wasn't wrong. The workload was already ridiculous, and while the core team was competent, they needed someone to handle schedules, meetings, reports, and interdepartmental communication.

A secretary wasn't just about fetching coffee and answering calls—it was about making sure everything ran smoothly.

But then Ava had added, "And since it's obvious that you have a taste for beautiful women, I suggest that you find another one like us."

That part was ridiculous. He hadn't intentionally hired an all-female team.

It was a coincidence. A weird, statistical anomaly.

…Right?

Either way, he needed to get to work.

Inigo pulled up his laptop and crafted the job listing:

Position: Executive Secretary

Company: Flashpoint Studios, Inc.

Location: Makati, Philippines

Job Type: Full-time

Salary: ₱80,000 - ₱120,000 per month

Description: Seeking an efficient, highly organized individual to serve as the Executive Secretary for Flashpoint Studios. Must have experience in administrative work, scheduling, email correspondence, and professional communication. A background in the gaming industry is a plus but not required. Must be adaptable, proactive, and able to handle a fast-paced environment.

After ensuring everything was in order, he submitted the listing across multiple job platforms.

Then, he waited.

It didn't take long.

Within an hour, applications flooded in.

2:00 PM.

Inigo scrolled through the resumes. As expected, there were a lot of generic applicants—corporate secretaries, former executive assistants, and even a few personal assistants from high-profile business figures.

Most of them had professional experience, but…

None of them stood out.

Then, something caught his eye.

Applicant: Celeste Moreau

Nationality: French-Filipino

Experience: Former Assistant for a major European game publisher. Fluent in English, French, and Tagalog. Strong background in administrative work and corporate structuring.

Cover Letter:

"I believe efficiency is an art form. A great secretary is not just an assistant, but a force multiplier—ensuring that a company runs seamlessly. With my experience in game development environments and my passion for organization, I know I can bring structure and support to Flashpoint Studios."

No profile picture.

Another anonymous one?

Her credentials were insanely impressive. She had worked with major publishers in Europe, meaning she understood the gaming industry. That alone put her above the others.

With a few quick clicks, he sent her an interview invite for the following morning.

May 26, 2011.

At precisely 9:00 AM, the conference room door opened.

And Inigo immediately understood why she hadn't uploaded a profile picture.

She was stunning.

Celeste Moreau looked like she had walked out of a high-end fashion shoot.

She had short, blonde bob cut hair, framing her delicate yet striking face. Her piercing gray-blue eyes held a quiet confidence, and her lips curled into a polite but knowing smile. She was dressed in a fitted beige turtleneck beneath a stylish trench coat, with a gold pendant necklace resting above her collarbone.

For a brief moment, Inigo forgot how to speak.

Celeste tilted her head slightly.

"You must be Mr. Borja," she said in a smooth, accented voice. Her tone was calm, professional, and yet subtly playful.

Inigo snapped out of it.

"Yes, uh… Please, have a seat," he gestured toward the chair.

She sat down gracefully, crossing her legs and folding her hands over her lap.

"I appreciate the opportunity, Mr. Borja," she said, her eyes sharp. "But before we begin, I must admit something..."

He tensed. "What is it?"

Celeste's lips curled into a slight smirk. "I applied out of pure curiosity. I wanted to see if the rumors were true."

Inigo frowned. "What rumors?"

Her fingers tapped against the armrest of her chair. "That the creator of Flappy Bird and Furious Birds was a mysterious young man who single-handedly took over the mobile gaming industry. Some say you're a genius recluse, others think you're a team of developers pretending to be one person."

Inigo exhaled, rubbing his temples. "Let me guess… You didn't expect me to be… well, me?"

Celeste gave a soft chuckle. "You're certainly not what I expected."

"But now that you've met me?" he asked.

Her eyes glimmered with interest. "Now? I think you're fascinating."

Inigo cleared his throat, trying to regain control of the interview.

"Right. Let's focus on the job. Tell me why I should hire you."

Celeste leaned forward slightly, locking eyes with him.

"As I said in my application, a great secretary is a force multiplier. You are an incredibly talented developer, Mr. Borja, but I imagine your time is being wasted on administrative tasks, emails, scheduling, and logistics. I can take all of that off your hands."

She gestured around. "Your team needs coordination. Your business needs structure. And frankly? You need someone who can handle everything efficiently, without adding more chaos to your life."

Inigo processed her words.

She was right.

"You're overqualified for this role," he said. "Why work for me?"

Her expression turned unreadable. "Because I see potential. Flashpoint Studios is in its infancy, but it could become a global powerhouse. I want to be part of that… and I want to see what you're truly capable of."

For some reason, the way she said it sent a chill down his spine.

Was she testing him?

After a moment of silence, he made his decision.

"You're hired."

Celeste's lips parted slightly in amusement. "So quick?"

"I don't waste time," he said, mirroring her earlier words.

She stood up, extending a gloved hand. "Then I look forward to working with you… boss."

As he shook her hand, he couldn't shake the feeling that he had just hired someone far more dangerous than he realized.

And yet…

He wasn't sure if that was a bad thing.