Chapter 1

Valerie's POV.

My heart raced as I woke up to the sound of my alarm blasting right next to my ear. I immediately hit the snooze button, intending to get five more minutes... but then realization sunk in.

Today was Monday, my first day at work. I’d be working for the Martinez Corporate group. I'd just graduated last Friday and I had to go straight into a new job. I was lucky enough to be selected by the Martinez Corporate group; they sponsored a very select number of students with their studies, but there were some strings attached.

They paid for the tuition in full at the prestigious university and in return, after graduating we worked two years for them. For someone like me, that was just a win-win situation. My degree was paid for and straight afterward I’d have a job.

Nervousness filled my stomach as I swung my legs over the edge of the bed. I took a few deep breaths and reminded myself of the years of hard work and dedication that it took to get here. It was now my time and shine and I couldn’t—shouldn’t—shy away.

I stepped into the icy cascade of the shower, enduring the biting cold water that was the norm in my apartment. Given my efforts to keep my bills low, warm water was an occasional luxury I couldn't complain about. Determined, I finished my shower and proceeded to brush my teeth, steeling myself for the day ahead.

As I stood in front of the mirror, my once unruly blond curls were now tamed into a sleek ponytail, the shorter strands behaving for now. I knew all too well that once the wind got ahold of them, they would inevitably rebel and dance in every direction.

Ready to get dressed, I faced a sartorial dilemma: a pantsuit or a dress. Ultimately, I opted for the dress—a daring red bodycon with collars and intricate silver details that perfectly complemented my chosen jewelry. I was well aware that red was a bold choice, but I wanted to make a lasting impression. Standing before the mirror, my gaze traveled from the sleek black heels up to meet my own eyes, a silent affirmation passing between us. A small, satisfied smile played on my red lips as I gathered my thoughts and made my way to the parking lot.

Knowing my old, faithful companion Betty, a beat-up car that had seen better days, might decide to act up, I left earlier than necessary. I stuffed cereal bars in my purse for any emergency snacking needs later — right then I couldn't even think about food. The Martinez Corporate Group wasn't a considerable distance away, but I couldn't risk being late due to unreliable transportation. Especially not on the first day.

As I stepped into the office belonging to the Martinez Corporate Group, I was immediately captivated by its grant-funded, amazing, and luxurious ambiance. The grandeur of the space was evident as I gazed up at the high ceilings and basked in the natural light flooding through expansive windows. Polished marble floors and tasteful artwork adorned the walls, creating an atmosphere of sophistication and inspiration. Every detail, from the state-of-the-art meeting rooms to the opulent furnishings, reflected the commitment to excellence that defined this company.

This was the place where many dreams took flight, and here I was, standing right in the heart of it all. As I entered, a friendly woman behind the front desk flashed me a warm smile, and I approached her slowly.

"Good morning," she greeted with a gentle smile on her lips.

"Good morning, I'm Valerie Reynolds," I replied, drawing closer to her and returning the smile.

She checked her computer screen, a slight frown appearing on her face. Then, she glanced up at me. "Oh, Miss Reynolds, you're early. Come with me," she said, getting up and pushing her glossy black hair over her shoulder. She took the lead, guiding me through the building.

We arrived at an office on the top floor. Unlike the other offices we passed, this one had a simple and unadorned appearance. It seemed as if the occupant had never bothered to personalize it to their liking.

"He'll be here shortly. Good luck, Miss Reynolds," she said with a swift smile before leaving me alone in the office.

"Thank you. Have a great day," I responded, watching her exit the room.

As I turned around, I noticed a man entering through the other door. Towering at least 6'3", he was dressed in a finely tailored black and white suit that showcased his well-toned physique. His face sported a five o'clock shadow, and his dark auburn hair was meticulously styled to the side. However, it was his striking pale green eyes that captivated me the most. True to his name, he was Oliver.

A woman followed right behind him; she was tall and even more so in those gorgeous red heels. She was dressed in a pantsuit, one similar to what I wanted to wear this morning, only hers seemed more expensive and she was much bolder than I was when I wore pantsuits.

"I'm Oliver Martinez. And you are?" he inquired, raising an eyebrow. I knew exactly who he was—the youngest member of the influential Martinez family, the newly appointed CEO, and the person I was supposed to work for. I tried researching as much as possible to be prepared but all I found was that he was a stunning man many lusted after but when it came down to his work ethic, I could only find so little that it wasn’t enough to prepare me for what to expect.

"I'm Valerie Reynolds. Nice to meet you," I responded kindly, following his gesture as he indicated a chair.

“I’m Nicole Jameson, part of the HR team,” the woman introduced herself shortly and sat down next to Oliver.

"You're one of the sponsored individuals?" Oliver asked as we both settled into our seats. He reached for a folder bearing my name and briefly skimmed its contents then passed it to Nicole.

"Yes, that's correct," I confirmed, feeling a wave of nervousness welling up inside me. I couldn't help but worry that I would embarrass myself in some way.

"Well, we have a role for you — you'll be working as my assistant," Oliver declared and focused his attention on me. I was momentarily entranced by his smooth voice, almost missing the significance of his words.

His assistant?

"Oh, um, pardon me? I think there might be a mistake," I ventured, trying to be as polite as possible. "My major is in international business," I informed him, assuming that he had overlooked that part of the folder. Perhaps he had mistaken me for another one of their sponsored students. I looked over at Nicole, hoping she would point that out to him as well.

“We are well aware of that, but as of right now we don’t exactly have open spots for that,” Nicole explained in a soft and genuine tone. "This one needs to be filled urgently."

"But—"

"Does your contract specify a specific role?" Oliver interjected, his tone slightly harsh, causing me to question if I had said something wrong.

"No," I replied.

"Good. You'll be my assistant. I am in dire need of one, and you are obligated to the terms of the contract," Oliver decided without hesitation.

“What he means to say is that given the contract you do have to work two years for us and right now being his assistant is the only available spot. It doesn’t require much experience,” Nicole said, looking over at Oliver for a moment then turned back to me and flashed me a quick smile.

"But, sir," I began, only to be ignored.

"We’ll be flying back to New York on Wednesday so have everything prepared for the move," Oliver instructed, his attention already turning to his computer as he began typing.

"Move? You want me to relocate?" I asked, feeling a tinge of panic. This was getting out of control. Nowhere in the documents did it mention that I would have to move cities. With Martinez Corporate Group present in almost every state, I never anticipated the need to uproot my life.

“Since you’ll be his assistant it will be necessary. He resides in New York so you will be joining us at the headquarters,” Nicole added.

"I don't have a place to stay and—"

“Don’t worry Valerie, HR will help you sort that out. I read that you don’t have a family so it will be just you moving, correct?”

The mention of having no family made me wince a little. It was reality but still stung from time to time.

"I don’t,” I confirmed. “I understand," I murmured. While there wasn't much keeping me in Massachusetts, it had come to feel like home over the past four years, something I'd been longing for. The thought of letting that familiarity slip away unnerved me. I had moved around a lot in my life, but I could never quite get used to it.

"You don't seem thrilled, Valeria," Oliver attempted to say in a gentle tone, but the way he pronounced my name only made me want to roll my eyes.

"It's Valerie," I corrected him, then shrugged. "It's just that I thought I'd be pursuing my major."

"Well, you're not. Here's your first business tip: you can't always get what you want, so be ready to adjust to what you get." Oliver's eyes bore into mine. "I don't expect you to fetch coffee or handle the dry cleaning. However, I do expect you to complete the tasks assigned to you daily. In fact, here are today's," he said, handing me a tablet displaying the list of duties he expected me to fulfill.

I looked over at Nicole and she just took a deep breath, the look on her face apologetic.

"Yes, Mr. Martinez," I replied as I read through each task. It wasn't particularly challenging; it just wasn't what I had envisioned.

"Any issues?" he inquired.

"I suppose not," I hummed.

"Good. Legally, you can't leave unless you can repay the tuition costs," he reminded me, as if I needed the reminder. When I signed that sponsorship contract, I knew there would be strings attached, but I didn't anticipate dealing with the devil himself.

"That won't be necessary, Mr. Martinez." I forced a smile onto my face, knowing it was as insincere as his demeanor.

"Excellent. You can sit in there today and tomorrow," he gestured to an empty desk on the other side of the glass wall.

"Great, I'll start scheduling your meetings then," I replied, heading towards my designated workspace.

“Actually, can you come with me? We have contracts to make in order regarding your insurance and such,” Nicole said as she got up. I looked over at Oliver, he was about to protest but when Nicole looked at him he clenched his jaw and turned his gaze back to the computer.

Oh, Mr. Oliver Martinez, a striking face concealing an insufferable boss. Brace yourself, Valerie, for the next two years sounded like a headache-worthy, self-control-challenging journey.