Henry Murphy was a man of discriminating taste, always in search of the perfect employee to join his exclusive inner circle. But when an urgent need for a secretary arises, he finds himself settling for someone he would not normally consider - a plain and unremarkable assistant named Ella. Ella, on the other hand, is thrilled to have landed such a prestigious job, even if it means undergoing a dramatic transformation to meet Henry's exacting standards. She eagerly submits to a facelift, emerging from the procedure a stunning beauty with the power to turn heads and stop traffic. As Ella settles into her new role, she quickly realizes that Henry's interest in her goes beyond the professional. His thoughts shift from the boardroom to the bedroom, and he begins to pursue her with a relentless intensity that she finds both thrilling and unsettling. Despite her growing feelings for Henry, Ella is determined not to become just another notch on the billionaire's bedpost. Her convent upbringing has left her with a strong sense of morality, and she refuses to be reduced to the role of a mere mistress. As the tension between them builds, Ella begins to suspect that there may be more to Henry's playboy lifestyle than meets the eye. Is he really content to live a life of hedonistic pleasure, or is there something deeper driving his behavior? The closer they become, the more uncertain Ella becomes about her own desires. Should she risk everything for a man who has made it clear that he will never marry? And even if she does, can she trust that Henry's feelings for her are genuine, or will she be just another conquest in his endless quest for pleasure?
Chapter 1 I
On this particular May morning, the air was frigid and biting, causing goosebumps to rise on Danielle Brown's skin. She had just returned to Cork from a skiing trip to Landonas with her companions, and as she disembarked from the plane, she was struck by the stark contrast in temperature between the two locations.
Despite her disbelief that she would need her warm apparel in the subtropical city of Cork, even in the winter, she was grateful for her foresight as she had to endure the freezing climate in Belanad while boarding her flight. Wrapped in a scarf and a ski jacket, she had braved the elements, eager to return to her cozy abode.
As she arrived at her petite terrace house in Sanchez, she was greeted by the sight of her boss, John Macbeth, waiting for her on the doorstep. Despite the cold, he was beaming with excitement, his chubby physique and ginger hair making him stand out against the snowy backdrop of the day. As she approached him, he enveloped her in a warm embrace, making her feel instantly at home.
John Macbeth was the mastermind behind Macbeth Interpreting Services, a highly respected interpreting firm that employed Danielle as one of their top interpreters.
"Thank goodness! Your neighbor was unsure of when you were expected home. Ella, I need you," he uttered with fervor, following it up with "I really need you."
Ella, who was aware of John's joyous marriage, extricated herself from his grip and spoke in a solemn tone. "I'm still on holiday, John, so-"
He interjected, "I know, but I'll make it up, I promise!"
Exhaling, Ella, who worked as an interpreter for John, had come to understand his impulsive nature. "What emergency does this time have?" she inquired.
He denied, "I wouldn't call it an emergency, definitely not. Would you describe Murphy Minerals as anything other than a complete coup?"
"John, I don't know anything about Murphy Minerals or what you're talking about!" Ella exclaimed.
John gave a tongue click and expounded, "It is a significant, high-profile mining company that is expanding into Italy. Well," he said with a dismissive hand wave, "They are about to begin negotiations with an Italian consortium in Cork, but one of their Italian interpreters has become ill and needs to be replaced. Very quickly," he appended.
Ella overburdened her roller suitcase by dropping her tote bag onto it. "On-site interpretation?" she queried.
John pondered. "Look, I know you've only done phone and document work for me, Ella, but you're pretty good at it!"
With her hands resting on her hips, Ella said, "If this is about mining, are we also referring to technical terms?"
John gave her a sharp glance as he contemplated, "I wish we were," before continuing, "No. They need you for the social events. They wanted to ensure that you would be at ease in formal social settings," he hesitated.
Observing his pained expression, Ella jested, "So you told them I don't eat my peas with my knife" and burst out laughing.
"I informed them that you have a background in diplomacy. That seemed to reassure them," he replied stiffly.
John had been running the international division of Murphy Minerals for over a decade, and he prided himself on having a team of professionals that represented the company in the best light. That's why when he first met Ella, he was impressed with her qualifications and linguistic abilities. Her resume boasted a Master's degree in Linguistics, and she was fluent in four languages, including Italian. It was clear that she was the ideal candidate for the Italian client's project that he had been working on for months.
However, he couldn't help but feel uneasy about her attire. He knew that Murphy Minerals' clients expected a certain level of professionalism, and he wasn't sure if Ella's casual style would be up to par. He had seen her on several occasions, and her outfits were always the same: jeans, a blouse, and a scarf. He wondered if she even owned a suit or a dress.
He jerked his chin to stop himself from thinking about it since he was running out of time, and getting the job was the most important thing.
"Ella, hop in the car. We have a twenty-minute interview scheduled with Murphy," he instructed.
She focused on him, surprised. "John, are you kidding? I just got back to my house. I need to take a shower and change, but I'm not even sure I want to go!"
He walked across the street and said, "Ella...," then opened the passenger door of his car and asked, "Please."
"No, John, wait. Did you commit me to an interview with Murphy Minerals when you weren't even sure I would be home today?" She asked incredulously.
"I know it sounds... well, a little bit," he blinked.
She tiredly told him, "It sounds exactly like you, John Macbeth."
Chapter 1 I
10/03/2023
Chapter 2 II
10/03/2023
Chapter 3 III
10/03/2023
Chapter 4 IV
10/03/2023
Chapter 5 V
10/03/2023
Chapter 6 VI
10/03/2023
Chapter 7 VII
10/03/2023
Chapter 8 VIII
10/03/2023
Chapter 9 IX
10/03/2023
Chapter 10 X
11/03/2023
Chapter 11 XI
11/03/2023
Chapter 12 XII
11/03/2023
Chapter 13 XIII
11/03/2023
Chapter 14 XIV
11/03/2023
Chapter 15 XV
11/03/2023
Chapter 16 XVI
11/03/2023
Chapter 17 XVII
11/03/2023
Chapter 18 XVIII
11/03/2023
Chapter 19 XIX
11/03/2023
Chapter 20 XX
16/03/2023
Chapter 21 XXII
16/03/2023
Chapter 22 XXII
16/03/2023
Chapter 23 XXIII
16/03/2023
Chapter 24 XXIV
17/03/2023
Chapter 25 XXV
17/03/2023
Chapter 26 XXVI
17/03/2023
Chapter 27 XXVIII
17/03/2023
Chapter 28 XXVIII
17/03/2023
Chapter 29 XXIX
17/03/2023
Chapter 30 XXX
17/03/2023
Chapter 31 XXXI
17/03/2023
Chapter 32 XXXII
17/03/2023
Chapter 33 XXXIII
17/03/2023
Chapter 34 XXXIV
17/03/2023
Chapter 35 XXV
17/03/2023
Chapter 36 XXXVI
17/03/2023
Chapter 37 XXXVII
17/03/2023
Chapter 38 XXXVIII
17/03/2023
Chapter 39 XXXIX
17/03/2023
Chapter 40 XL
17/03/2023
Other books by Na'chi Yoon
More