The Second Marriage Chance

Sarah

“Hi, Ms. Mitchell!” the woman greeted me, her voice tinged with relief and a hint of embarrassment. She was a brunette with intelligent hazel eyes, probably older than me by a couple of years, dressed in a crisp navy blazer and matching pencil skirt. “I’m really sorry. Here’s your identification,” she added, handing me the sleek, laminated card.

“Thank God! You’re here!” I approached her and introduced myself. “I’m Sarah Mitchell. Just call me Sarah.”

” Emily!” We shook hands. I should have waited for you in the lobby to prevent any problems. I’m genuinely sorry for the inconvenience.”

We entered the building together. The three receptionists stood at their posts, avoiding eye contact with Mr. Johnson. The president glanced at me while the three widened their eyes, clearly terrified.

“President Johnson,” I said with a frown as I approached.

“Ms. Mitchell!”

“President Johnson, I believe it’s time to reconsider your staffing choices in this lobby,” I stated.

“M-Ms. Mitchell! Please!” the woman who had me escorted out pleaded “I-I’m renting a space, and I can’t afford to lose my job. I have a family to support. Please find it in your heart to forgive me! I need this job desperately.”

I grimaced, feeling my resolve waver, and then exhaled. “Fine! Write me an apology letter on five sheets of paper-handwritten. I want it on my desk after my meeting!”

I followed Mr. Johnson to the elevator, with Emily close behind. Inside, the older man apologized again.

“The truth is, I don’t give my staff second chances. In my experience, mistakes in business can be costly. I don’t tolerate them. I’m surprised you’re more lenient than me. Don’t let this happen in business, Sarah,” he advised.

“It’s also my fault for letting my annoyance get the best of me. Madam Cornell is my ex-monster-in-law, and she pushed all my buttons earlier. I didn’t keep my cool, and I’m partly to blame. The staff were doing their job. Security is tight, and without my ID, I must have seemed like a crazed intruder!”

Mr. Johnson laughed. Emily, however, remained serious, her eyes darting between us with keen interest.

“It seems you have a deep relationship with Madam Cornell,” he commented.

Very deep, I thought, but I kept that to myself.

“If you don’t mind me inquiring, what brings Madam Cornell here? Is she part of your organization?” I asked.

“No, she’s not. She’s close to one of the investors here, if you know what I mean,” he said with a meaningful smile. I couldn’t ask more because the elevator opened, and he exited first.

Hmmm… does this mean Madam Cornell is cheating?

***

“Good afternoon! I’m Sarah Mitchell, the newest member of the group and probably the youngest,” I announced, introducing myself to everyone at the meeting.

“How old are you, Miss Mitchell?” One man leaned forward.

“I’m turning twenty-three,” I replied.

A ripple of murmurs circulated the room.

“So young…”

“Inexperienced…”

“Her family must be…”

But in this world, age isn’t what matters-money is. They won’t get anything from me because I will manage all my investments.

However, I wasn’t naive. My youth and perceived vulnerability made me a prime target. By the end of the day, I had no less than five suitors! Various sons of various magnates were introduced to me.

I shook my head in disbelief. This was precisely why I guarded my true identity; people’s true colors always come out.

Despite this, I developed a good relationship with Emily over the next few hours.

Later, as I reviewed a three-month financial report from a particular company, Emily exclaimed beside me, “Miss, y-you are that ‘Miss Benner’?” she stammered, her fingers trembling slightly as they gripped the paper I had just signed.

“Yes. Is there a problem?” I asked.

She swallowed before answering, “N-No, nothing at all.”

I ignored her and went back to my work.

The next day, I was busy when Emily handed me the schedule for several meetings I needed to attend the following week.

Soon after, she cleared her throat. “M-Ms. Mitchell, I-I’m resigning as your assistant.”

My eyes widened in surprise. “What do you mean? And Emily, didn’t I tell you to call me Sarah?”

I was more than flustered; I was downright confused. In the demanding world of corporate assistants, Emily was a gem. I hadn’t noticed any issues with her. In fact, she worked well. How could my assistant be resigning on my second day on the job?

“Do I have bad breath?” I asked.

She was speechless. “N-No, Sarah.”

“Oh! Is it because I gave you too much workload? I’m really sorry; I’m still figuring things out. I’ve been focused on decision-making and didn’t notice some things.” I sighed, slumping back in my leather chair.

“That’s not the reason… I… I didn’t know you were Mr. Benner’s sister,” she briefly explained.

Her words hit me like a slap. I stared at her, my mind racing. It wasn’t surprising since hardly anyone knew I was Amir’s sister after our father removed me from our family tree.

“Did you have a relationship with Amir?” I asked.

She turned pale and trembled. Hmmm… my suspicion seems correct.

I smiled widely. Maybe she’s just too embarrassed to admit it to me. If anything, I preferred Emily as Amir’s love interest than Jessica Woods with that woman’s overly enhanced cheeks.

“Look,” I continued, “I’ll give you a substantial bonus if you stay and keep up the great work.” A few thousand dollars was a small price for peace of mind and a trustworthy assistant.

I could tell she was uncomfortable. “Uhm…”

“Please take some time to consider it. I’m willing to let you use my car as well.” It was a reasonable offer, especially considering how much I needed her help.

After a moment of silence, she finally relented, “Fine… I’ll think about it!”

“Thank you!” I replied gratefully.

As I thought about things, my mind wandered to Jane, who was happily working on her project. Designing characters for an app can be challenging, but it’s also rewarding.

Upon returning to Amir’s villa, I met an unexpected visitor-Josh. I recalled assigning him a task, but his sour expression caught me off guard. What could be bothering him?

“After scouring several hospitals and contacting acquaintances of Dr. Smith, I managed to obtain her picture,” Josh informed me. “But it seems Boss Philip is already on the case.”

“Where’s Philip, anyway? I haven’t sensed his presence for days-not that I’m actively seeking him out.” My voice trailed off, and I was aware of how my words might sound.

“He’s taken Madam Cornell on vacation to the same island where Dr. Smith is currently located. I believe he intends to confront the two ladies personally,” Josh explained.

“I still need Dr. Smith’s picture,” I insisted, eager to find out the doctor’s whereabouts.Content rights belong to NôvelDrama.Org.

“Why?” Josh exploded, his composure finally shattering. “So, you can monitor his every move? Or maybe you want to dig into his background, uncover every little secret!” His voice rose with each question. “What the fuck, Sarah?!”

Josh erupted, startling me. His lack of formality, addressing me without my title, made it feel like a stern rebuke from a teacher to a student.

The guards, always watchful, quickly turned towards us. To them, Josh was an unknown individual, possibly a danger to my safety.

“What’s the matter?” I queried. “Why the sudden anger?”

“What did you do with my photo?! The one you snapped at the bar out of nowhere? What did you discover?!” His eyes blazed with anger, but what struck me even more was the hurt etched across his face. His lower lip quivered like he was on the verge of tears.

“At first, it seemed like just a casual request. But now… now I understand. It’s the same reason you want Dr. Smith’s picture, isn’t it? What did you discover about me?!” Despite his towering frame and the raw emotion emanating from him, I didn’t feel physically threatened…

I don’t have a choice but to tell him the truth.