HIS FIRST LADY(SANDRO MARCOS)

Chapter 43: I Can Handle This Myself

A dog fashion show is unlike anything I've ever experienced before. Armed with a borrowed work camera and my press pass, I step into a large circus tent and am immediately greeted by a parade of dogs in hats, coats, and sparkling outfits.

There's no clear organization to what's happening—it's mostly chaos. But everyone is laughing, drinking, and clearly enjoying themselves. It dawns on me: this event isn't really for the dogs; it's for their owners.

This isn't a contest or anything serious—it's a networking event with adorable dogs for good vibes. Honestly, it's my kind of place.

I feel at ease here. Some of the attendees recognize me from the country club. When I mention I'm now working for the *Harbinger News Company*, they seem genuinely pleased. They eagerly chat with me and offer quotes about the event.

By the end of the evening, I've gathered direct quotes from several prominent figures, including the mayor, who insists I take a picture of him with his dog for the article.

I return to the office with my head held high, proud of the connections I've made, the conversations I've had, and the many pictures I've taken of both dogs and people.

As soon as I arrive, Lila steps out of her office. "Show me your best photo," she says.

I scroll through the camera's gallery and pull up the picture of the mayor with his dog. Lila's face pales as she takes the camera and looks more closely.

"Is this... the mayor?"

"And his dog," I confirm, pointing at the screen.

Lila looks at me with an expression I can't quite read. Like me, she probably didn't expect to see any high-profile individuals at this event. But now, I see a spark of interest in her eyes—this story just got more compelling.

"Get me the article," she says, handing back the camera.

"Yes, ma'am," I reply, setting to work.

I'm nearly finished with the article when I hear Ash voice carrying from Lila's office.

"It doesn't matter that she got a photo with the mayor," Ash says loudly enough for me to hear. "She's still grossly underqualified for this job. You can't just hand her assignments others have earned."

"She did what I asked. She made the story better than it would've been otherwise."

"By sheer luck," Ash retorts. "If you must, give her another test, and she's guaranteed to fail."

I knock on the door. "Excuse me," I say, stepping in. Lila looks slightly embarrassed, but Ash just glares at me. I place the article on Lila's desk. "Here's the hard copy."

I stand there, meeting Lila's gaze before turning to Ash and back again. "For the record, I will excel at any assignment I'm given."

"Confident," Lila remarks.

"Capable," I correct. "And determined to prove it."

Ash huffs in annoyance.

Lila leans back in her chair, placing her elbows on her desk and weaving her fingers together as she studies me. I stand tall, hoping my determination shines through.

After a long pause, Lila sighs. "Rafha, since you're so confident—or capable, as you prefer—I have one last test for you. It's something that's eluded us for quite some time. If you manage to pull it off, you won't just prove yourself to me; the entire company will take notice."

That's exactly what I need! I hold my breath, anticipation tightening my chest.

"There's a man we've been trying to secure an interview with for months, but he keeps turning us down," Lila explains. "We need you to convince him to finally agree."

I'm sure I can do this. I have connections all over the city. If I pull the right strings and call in a few favors, I can make it happen.

"Who is it?" I ask.

"Sandro Marcos," Lila says.

My heart plummets. "Sandro Marcos?" I repeat, wondering if I misheard. Sandro has been on my mind so much lately that I almost think I imagined it.

"The youngest member of Congress?" Lila clarifies. "You've never heard of him?"

"Oh, I've heard of him," I stammer. "We've... met."

"Then it should be no problem for you to convince him," Lila says.

I glance at Ash, expecting her to be annoyed, but instead, she's smirking like she knows something I don't. I bite my tongue, unwilling to confront her in front of Lila.

Maybe she thinks I can't do it. Her lack of faith is clear.

"Out of my office," Lila orders. "I have real work to do."

Ash smirks as she struts out, and I wait a moment before following.

In the main office, Ash heads straight to the cubicles and lets out a loud whistle. All eyes turn to her.

"Everyone, guess what?" Ash announces. "Lila just gave the newbie a new task, and you'll never guess what it is. She has to bring in Sandro Marcos for an interview!"

Some reporters roll their eyes and get back to work, but most join Ash in laughing uproariously.

Despite my self-confidence, the humiliation seeps in. No one enjoys being mocked by a roomful of peers.

But then the door to one of the larger offices opens, and Vincent steps out. "Hey!" he barks.

The laughter dies instantly. A few people visibly pale, and most return to their desks. Ash takes an extra moment, shooting me a venomous glare before she, too, gets back to work.

Gathering my dignity, I walk to my desk and sit down. I'm alone for only a moment before Vincent approaches.

He hesitates as if he's about to place a hand on my shoulder, but then thinks better of it and lets his hand fall to his side. "I didn't bring you here to be heckled, Rafha," he says quietly. "If you're being mistreated, just let me know. I'm the boss. I can fix it."

"Thank you, Mr. Vincent," I reply with a slight shake of my head. "But this is something I can handle myself."

"If you're sure..." Vincent's doubt is clear; he knows I'm not being entirely truthful.

But if I run to the boss over every difficulty, my coworkers will only resent me more. No, the only way to win them over is to prove myself.

And to do that, I need to get Sandro to agree to this interview.