005

"I didn't know—when I slept off, when did you return?" Jane asked Diego. It felt weird, but after a month of knowing him, that familiarity was something she could cling to. Diego laughed. "You were really tired, I must say. Well, I wanted to address something important," he said.

What could he have to say to her… Jane wondered, before Diego continued, "Tomorrow I will be going back to the Orlov empire—not my own personal company—and as you know, it's a big name. Definitely, I will be holding a press conference. I know it's too soon, but get ready to step out of your comfort zone. Be prepared for questions, unless you want to change your name."

That was uncalled for, but Jane didn't think she wanted to change her name just because she didn't want people to find out she was alive. In fact, she wanted them to know that Daniel was playing a pity party; she wanted them to know that the wife he claimed died was very much alive. So, she turned to Diego. "No, I don't want to change my name. The last time I spoke publicly was when I was 18, when my parents were still alive and the company was running well. I have at least a little idea, but I will appreciate your guidance."

Diego nodded. "Alright, I will send you the documents through email, and if there's anything you don't understand, come to me and I will brief you. But for now, I don't want you to stress yourself." He stretched out his hand, and Jane passed him her phone. He saved his number and email on it. "Anytime you need me and I'm not home, reach me—I will always respond."

After Diego left her alone to admire the beauty of the study room, Jane found herself wondering aloud, This man is mysterious. I can't help but want to know him more—I'm curious. As she murmured to herself, she turned and saw Dante standing there in shock, staring at her.

"Who are you talking to, miss?" he asked.

Jane waved him off. "Ignore me, don't mind me—you can continue your business." Embarrassed, she returned to her room, waiting for the next day to come.

---

The next day, Jane woke up extremely late, meeting missed calls from both Diego and Dante. "Damn, I'm late," she thought. Rushing into the shower, she emerged, dressed quickly, took her vitamins, and dashed downstairs in a helter-skelter manner.

"Good morning," she greeted all the staff as she ran through the corridor. Suddenly, someone nearly made her fall by cutting her off. "Careful not to trip—where are you running to, princess?" It was Diego.

"I thought you already left—that's why I was running. I was so shocked when I saw your missed call. What's up? I don't know what to do," she replied.

Diego simply stated, "Have you forgotten I'm an Orlov? I'm the CEO here—I fix the schedule and make space for everyone so I can go to work whenever I want. And for you, I am looking for a female driver, and Dante will be your assistant."

Jane didn't understand, so she asked, "What about you? Who will be your assistant?"

He looked at her and said, "You, of course. Or are you forgetting something?"

True enough, she had literally forgotten—she never expected it would be like this. Before she could say something else, Diego smirked and added, "Curiosity kills a cat."

Their conversation was interrupted when Rose announced, "Breakfast is served, young master and miss… come to the dining!" She turned her back and left. These were all things Jane was still getting used to. Back at Daniel's, she used to do almost everything herself, but here, it was different. So, both she and Diego headed to the dining hall and ate breakfast.

Before leaving, when they reached the office hall, a crowd of media was already waiting. They walked past them and went straight to the office. The look on everyone's face was intimidating—Jane knew Diego wasn't nice to everyone. He was a ruthless CEO who didn't joke around. The employees reorganized themselves and greeted them.

"Meet Jane Stadlar, my new assistant—and vice… I won't be here, but she will be. Anything you need, come to her and she will sort things out. She will be handling these branches, so treat her right," Diego announced before turning to leave.

As Diego walked away, Jane felt the weight of several eyes on her. She could already sense the judgment lingering in the air. Whispers began to ripple through the office, hushed yet loud enough for her to know she was the subject of discussion.

One employee, a woman with striking red hair and sharp eyes, stood with her arms crossed, staring at Jane with clear disdain. Her name was Sylvia Hart, the head of PR, and she had worked tirelessly to earn Diego's trust—only for some unknown woman to walk in and be handed a high-ranking position.

"She's just another pretty face," Sylvia scoffed, rolling her eyes.

A group of employees huddled near the receptionist's desk, exchanging glances.

"I don't get it," one of them, a younger woman named Claire, whispered. "Who is she? How did she get this job? Mr. Orlov never lets just anyone get this close to him."

"I heard she's his wife," a male employee muttered, lowering his voice.

"Wife?, but he didn't address her as that" Another worker gasped.

Sylvia let out a bitter chuckle. "Wife or not, she has no idea what she's getting into. Running a company like this isn't some rich housewife's hobby, and she doesn't know about what happening yet."

"But she must be important to Mr. Orlov if he's trusting her with so much responsibility," Claire pointed out hesitantly.

Sylvia narrowed her eyes at Jane, who was now reviewing documents at her desk, completely unaware of the hostility directed toward her. "We'll see how long she lasts."

Meanwhile, Jane was oblivious to their words, but she could feel the tension in the air. She knew not everyone would welcome her presence, but she wasn't here to be liked—she was here to prove herself.