21: (Myth Land)
21: (Myth Land)
"First, my private office is right next to mine. You will be its sole occupant. It is soundproofed, so you won't hear me, and I won't hear you. You are to answer all my calls, screen my emails, manage my calendar, and schedule all meetings. Okani will provide you with the necessary security access and passwords."
Callie nodded, jotting down notes.
"Second, you are my personal assistant, not just my secretary. You will coordinate my travel, ensure my meals are on time, and manage any personal errands I may require. Efficiency and discretion are mandatory."
"Understood," Callie said.
"Third, this is the most important part of your current assignment," Grayson said, finally leaning back in his chair, his blue eyes intense. He picked up a thick, leather-bound folder. "This is the file for the Myth Lands Project. It is a massive land acquisition deal, and it's time-sensitive and highly confidential. It contains sensitive financial data and proprietary acquisition strategies."
He slid the folder across the smooth desk surface until it stopped right in front of her.
"Your task for the rest of today is to review this entire document, cross-reference the site surveys, and compile a concise, three-page summary of the most significant legal and financial risks involved. I expect it on my desk by 5:00 PM."
Callie's brows shot up. She knew just enough about corporate work to realise this was a monumental task for a first-day secretary. It was detailed analytical work, the kind usually reserved for analysts or lawyers.
"That's a heavy assignment for a first day, Boss," she stated honestly, trying to gauge if he was being malicious or genuinely testing her capabilities.
"You're right, Ms. Callie. It is," he conceded easily. "But you asked to be paid for working for one year as my secretary, and you told me you're a hard worker. I need to know if you can handle the pressure. Your summary will tell me if you have the intelligence and work ethic required for this contract."
He paused, a challenging glint in his eyes.
"Consider this your first major test. Fail, and I'll have to rethink your position here. I need a secretary I can trust with critical projects."
Callie felt a familiar surge of competitive fire. She looked at the daunting file, then back at his smug face.
She smiled—a wide, confident, utterly genuine smile that surprised even herself.
"Challenge accepted, Boss," she said, her voice ringing with certainty. She picked up the heavy file, gripping it tightly. "You'll have your summary by 5:00 PM. And I promise you, I won't fail."
She rose and walked towards her new office door with a confident stride, leaving Grayson Wolfe staring after her, the faintest hint of a thoughtful frown on his face.
___
The office was quiet, save for the frantic clack-clack-clack of Callie's keyboard. Four hours had passed in a blur of jargon, land deeds, and financial projections. Callie had ripped through the Myth Lands Project file, meticulously cross-referencing figures and flagging potential legal loopholes.
Grayson hadn't just given her busywork; he'd given her a legitimate, high-stakes analysis, clearly designed to be impossible to complete in a single afternoon. He wanted her to fail, or at least deliver a weak, half-baked product.
'He really thinks I'm some flighty country girl who can be easily dismissed,' she thought, pouring her last ounce of concentration into the final paragraph.
She formatted the document sharply: three pages, exactly, summarising the core findings under clear headings.
● Financial Risk Summary: Highlighting the aggressive projections based on optimistic zoning approvals.
● Legal Exposure: Pointing out a pending environmental lawsuit in an adjacent county that could set a dangerous precedent.
● Mitigation Strategy: Recommending a staggered acquisition plan and a reserve fund to address the environmental risk.
She printed the report, the toner still warm against her fingertips, and reviewed the final draft. It was concise, professional, and devastatingly accurate. It was the kind of work a seasoned consultant would charge thousands for.
At exactly 4:58 PM, Callie knocked once on Grayson's door.
"Come in," his deep voice commanded.
Grayson was on a call, leaning back in his chair, gazing out at the setting sun illuminating the city skyline. He glanced at her, raised an eyebrow in acknowledgement, and continued his conversation, gesturing for her to wait.
Callie stood silently, using the two minutes to regain her composure and smooth her skirt.
At 5:00 PM precisely, Grayson ended his call. He hung up the receiver and looked directly at Callie, his arms folded across his chest. He was clearly expecting her to confess that the task was too difficult, or perhaps to ask for an extension.
"Well, Ms. Callie?" he asked, his tone laced with polite scepticism. "Did you manage to make any progress on the Myth Land file?"
Callie walked up to his desk and placed the three crisp, stapled pages directly in front of him.
"The requested summary is complete, Boss," she stated, her posture impeccable. "Three pages, concise risk assessment, and recommended mitigation strategies. You can find the key points on environmental litigation exposure outlined on page two."
Grayson stared at the report, then slowly lifted his eyes to meet hers. His face was a mask of professional neutrality, but Callie saw the momentary flicker of surprise deep within his blue gaze.
He picked up the report, his thumb running over the top edge of the paper, and began to read.
The silence that followed was agonising. Callie watched him—the slight furrow of his brow as he processed the legal notes, the subtle nod of his head as he absorbed the financial projections. She could practically hear the gears turning in his highly analytical brain.
He read the first page, flipped to the second, and then the third. He didn't skim; he devoured every word.
When he was finished, he placed the report down slowly, aligning the edges perfectly with the edge of his desk. He took a long, steadying breath.
"You pointed out the environmental litigation issue in Warren County," he said, his voice quiet, devoid of the challenging edge it usually held. "We had our in-house legal team review this file for a week, and they missed that specific precedent. How did you catch it?"
"You tasked me with cross-referencing the site surveys," Callie explained coolly. "The surveys mentioned the proximity to the Myth Land tributary. I cross-referenced the state's environmental public records database for any active or resolved cases related to watershed usage within a fifty-mile radius. The Warren County case came up. It's a very specific, obscure piece of water rights law, but it could halt our acquisition process long enough for our competitor to step in."
Grayson leaned back, his gaze fixed on her. The surprise was gone, replaced by a deep, calculating interest. The look felt less like an appraisal and more like a detailed examination of a valuable, unexpected asset.
"That's… impressive, Ms. Callie," he admitted, the reluctant respect evident in his tone. "This is genuinely good work. Better than some of the legal drafts I've received this week."
Callie allowed herself a small, triumphant smile. "Thank you, Boss. Does that mean I've passed the first test?"
Grayson didn't answer directly. He picked up his phone.
"Okani, send out the updated calendar immediately. Cancel the 9:00 AM meeting with the Larson group tomorrow. And notify the legal department—tell them to hold off on the Myth Lands motion until they review my new secretary's summary. Yes, my secretary. Just do it." He hung up.
He looked back at Callie. "Consider your position confirmed, Ms. Callie. Now, since you've demonstrated your capabilities, I will give you your second assignment."
Callie mentally braced herself, expecting another impossible document to analyse.
Grayson pushed himself away from the desk, stood up, and walked around the periphery of the room, stopping directly in front of her. His blue eyes bore into hers, the intense focus back in full force.
"We have a highly important charity gala tonight," he announced, his voice low. "It requires the attendance of a devoted couple, recently married and deeply in love. The entire extended family will be there. You need to look perfect, act the part of the smitten bride, and give the performance of your life. Get ready, wife."
He was testing her commitment to the contract, challenging her to cross the professional line and dive back into the personal sham.
Callie was momentarily surprised by the shift from work to their personal lives. But, to her, everything was only work and performance when it came to Grayson.
"Of course, Grayson. Your family will see just how smitten I am by you," Callie replied, a professional smile on her beautiful face.
She was about to leave when Grasyon called her, halting her steps.
"Callie?" He called quietly.
"Yes, boss? Do you need anything?" She asked calmly, turning to face him once again.
Grayson stared at her face, he searched for any sign of deception or lies, but found none.
'She must really be good at lying,' He thought.
He was a human lie detector, yet he was finding it hard to detect Callie's lies.
"You're done for the day. Pack up and follow me out to the car," he instructed.
"Yes, boss," Callie answered and turned.
"And, Callie?" Grayson balled again, watching her hesitate before she faced him again.
"Yes, boss?" Callie answered, her voice smooth and patient, but she was silently screaming and pulling at her hair mentally.
She knew Grayson was trying to irritate her and he was succeeding alright, but she was never going to let him see it.
"For tonight... I pick what you wear," He stated, his eyes challenging her to object.
Callie gave him a small smile, "That's already exciting me, Grayson. I can't wait. See in the car, boss." She said and walked out of the office before he called her back again.
Grayson stood there, staring at the door, his eyes narrowing, "You thought you've passed the test... the main one is going up soon, dear wife, and the day after, until I discover your motive." He spoke quietly to himself, smirking as he walked out of his office.
Tonight was going to be an interstellar night, the night he unveiled Callie's true colours.