Ms. Kim wants me!

CHAPTER 2

LISA'S POV

"Ms. Kim is ready to see you now," the lady at the desk informed me politely, and I quickly nodded.

Clutching my notebook tightly against my chest, I walked toward the big double doors at the end of the hall. My heart was pounding so loud it almost drowned out my footsteps.

I paused in front of the doors, took a deep breath to steady myself, and finally raised my hand to knock.

The doors creaked open, and I slowly stepped inside. The room was massive, with tall glass windows stretching from the floor all the way to the ceiling, letting in golden rays of afternoon light.

Ms. Kim stood by the window, her arms crossed over her chest, her back facing me. She looked so composed, almost intimidating, like a queen surveying her empire.

The doors closed behind me with a loud thud, making me flinch slightly, but she didn't move. She didn't even turn around. I cleared my throat softly, my cough breaking the silence of the room.

That was when I heard her sigh, low and controlled. She finally turned to face me.

When her eyes landed on me, her mouth parted just a little, as if she was caught off guard.

For a brief moment, she stared at me like I was something rare, like a jewel she hadn't expected to find.

I gave her a small, shy smile.

She was beautiful. Even more stunning in person than in the photos I had seen online. She wore a perfectly tailored suit, her posture strong and elegant, and yet all I could focus on was how effortlessly amazing she looked.

"Take a seat, and let's get this over with," she said sternly, her tone sharp and professional.

I quickly walked over and sat down in front of her large wooden desk. She took her seat as well, her sharp eyes studying me carefully. Under her gaze, I felt my cheeks burn, and I immediately looked down, fiddling with the edge of my notebook.

"Ok, so...my name is Lisa Manoban. I'm here for a school project," I managed to say, my voice a little shaky.

She smirked, the corner of her lips curving upward ever so slightly.

"Ok... let's get started," I continued, opening my notebook.

I could feel her eyes on me again, her stare was intense, almost like she was reading me rather than waiting for questions.

I forced myself to focus. "What makes you so successful?" I asked, lifting my eyes just enough to meet hers.

"I work very hard and pay attention to my work," she replied, her voice calm yet commanding.

And just like that, I fell in love with her voice. It was rich, smooth, and carried an accent that made every word sound elegant.

I wrote down her answer quickly, but my thoughts lingered on the sound of her speaking.

One by one, I asked her the questions I had prepared, scribbling notes as she answered.

Thirty minutes passed in what felt like five. I had learned so much from her, about discipline, determination, and what it really takes to reach success.

Yet, more than her words, it was her presence that kept me captivated. She carried herself with so much confidence, and I couldn't help but admire her.

She stood up at one point, walking around her desk until she was right in front of me. The space between us suddenly felt much smaller, and my heart hammered in my chest.

She stared at me, her sharp eyes softening for just a moment.

I looked down shyly, gripping my pen tighter.

"Ok... that's all the questions. Thank you for your time," I whispered nervously as I began packing up my things.

But before I could stand, her voice stopped me.

"What about you?" she asked.

I froze, looking up at her in confusion. "Me?"

"I want to know more about you," she added, her tone quieter this time, almost curious.

I hesitated, then slowly sank back into my chair.

Before I could say anything, there was a knock on the door. "Ms. Kim, the time limit is up. You have a meeting," the assistant called through the door.

I immediately shot up from my chair and bowed apologetically. "Oh! I'm sorry, I didn't know!"

"Cancel the meeting," Ms. Kim said sternly without even looking at the door.

The assistant hesitated for a second but then nodded and quietly closed the door again.

Ms. Kim walked over and sat down beside me, crossing her legs gracefully. Her sudden closeness made me sit up straighter, my hands nervously clutching my notebook.

"Tell me," she said, her eyes locking onto mine.

"Why did you choose me for this project?" I smiled softly, feeling my nerves ease just a little.

"Well... you're the most successful CEO in the whole world. Honestly, it's an honor to even be here, sitting in front of you." She studied me for a moment, then gave a small nod.

"Do you have a job? We have an excellent internship program here," she continued, her tone suddenly shifting into something almost... personal.

I hesitated, then smiled. "Yes, I do have a job. I work at Barnes and Noble bookstore."

She tilted her head slightly, then nodded again. "Do you want an internship here?"

Her words caught me completely off guard. My eyes widened slightly, but then I nodded quickly.

"Good," she said matter of factly.

"You'll work for me starting this Monday. Every Monday through Friday at 4 p.m."

My jaw almost dropped, but I managed to whisper, "Thank you..."

She leaned back in her chair, her expression softening just a little. "What's your favorite food?"

The question startled me, and I couldn't help but giggle.

"Cookies," I admitted, cheeks heating up.

She smiled, actually smiled. "Not food, but it will work."

I smiled back, laughing quietly, and she let out a small giggle too. The sound surprised me, it was warm, playful, so different from the cold CEO image I had in my head.

"It's getting late... I should probably go," I said finally, standing up reluctantly. She stood up too, as if unwilling to let the moment end.

We walked together toward the elevator. The hallway was quiet, just the two of us, and when

I stepped inside the elevator, I turned to look at her one last time.

She looked at me too, her eyes soft yet unreadable.

"Ms. Kim," I said, offering her one last smile.

"Lisa," she replied simply, her voice low and steady.

And then, the elevator doors slid closed between us.