Chapter 1
At thirty, I decided to resign and put an end to my secret crush that no one ever knew about.
It took me five years to work my way up from assistant to Markus Serrano’s chief secretary and another three to make myself indispensable to him.
And yet, it only took five minutes to write my resignation letter and barely a second to send.
When I handed it to Markus, he frowned slightly, his eyes lingering on my face. “Give me a reason.”
I avoided his gaze and forced what I hoped was a sincere smile. “Mr. Serrano, I’m thirty. It’s about time I got married”
After a pause, I added, “My boyfriend proposed recently.”
It was a harmless little lie—just something to make leaving easier.
Markus tapped his fingers against the desk, one beat after another, a sure sign he was annoyed.
Maybe I should’ve felt relieved. At least he wasn’t completely indifferent to my leaving.
After a long silence, he slid the letter back toward me. “I can approve a marriage leave instead. I hope you’ll reconsider.”
For a moment, I hesitated. A voice in my head kept whispering, “Just say yes. At least you’ll still get to see him.”
But another voice snapped in my head, “Raquel, he’s engaged. It’s wrong to keep chasing someone who belongs to someone else.”
My hand hovered over the letter for a long moment, then pulled back. “This job is too demanding. After marriage, I want to focus more on family.
“I’ll finish all the handovers properly. I’m sorry to disappoint you, Mr. Serrano.”
There wasn’t much left for Markus to argue with. “Understood. Congratulations, by the way,” he said flatly.
As I walked out, he was already back to his work.
To him, I was just another employee. Maybe I stood out for being capable, but still replaceable.
Back at my desk, I sat staring at the potted plant on it, zoning out for once.
Moments like this didn’t come often. My days were always packed, managing tasks and doubling as Markus’s personal assistant.
My phone was always on standby. The second he needed me, I had to show up, one person doing the work of three.
Of course, Markus paid me well. In just a few years, I’d achieved financial freedom.
I didn’t even notice Eva Lawson calling my name until she’d said it several times.
“Hey, Raquel. Mr. Serrano asked me to remind you, that you’re in charge of prepping for tonight’s party.”
It was a welcome party for Chuck Schroeder, back from studying abroad. It was a small, exclusive gathering—Markus’s inner circle.
Young elites from powerful families. Wealthy, picky, and not easy to impress.
Strictly speaking, outsiders weren’t welcome in their circle. But I was the exception.
Someone who could manage every detail, cater to every preference, and keep the evening running without a hitch? That was rare.
When I arrived at the venue, I dove straight into preparations.
Food, drinks, desserts, I double-checked everything. Every guest’s likes and dislikes were noted and addressed.
I was giving out instructions as I went. “Remove all the lilies. Mr. Serrano is allergic.
“Dim the lights a little. Mr. Campbell just had eye surgery.
“And don’t forget the gin and tonic. Mr. Schroeder loves it.”
As the sun dipped below the horizon and the sky darkened, guests began to trickle in.
Ivan Campbell was the first to show up. “Hey, do you know when Markus is getting here?”
I checked my watch and answered carefully, “He’s still in a meeting. Should be about an hour.”
He collapsed onto the couch, looking beat. The dark circles under his eyes said it all.
I had someone lower the volume on the music and then handed him a blanket. “Autumn nights get chilly. They won’t be here for a while. You can have a rest.”
He chuckled, taking the blanket. “You really don’t want to jump ship and work for me instead? I’ll double your salary.”
People like Ivan were always surrounded by those trying to win favor, which made me stand out.
Because I never asked for anything, I could deal with them openly and honestly. And in turn, earned a bit of their respect.
I smiled and replied, “I’ll keep that in mind. If I ever end up with nowhere to go, I hope you’ll take me in, Mr. Campbell.”
