Lalisa Manoban stared at the towering glass structure in front of her, feeling both a rush of excitement and a distinct twist of dread in her stomach. Kim Industries. It looked more like a high-tech fortress than a place of business. Sleek, modern, and intimidating, just like the woman who owned it.
Taking a deep breath, Lisa squared her shoulders. “Alright, Lisa. You got this,” she muttered to herself. Her reflection in the glass doors flashed a quick grin, and she tried to pump herself up with a little humor. “What’s the worst that could happen? You get fired on your first day? No biggie. I’ve been thrown off worse things than this. Remember that time you tried surfing?”
She pushed through the revolving doors and entered the lobby. Immediately, everything felt cold, from the air-conditioned draft to the way every person in sight seemed to move with precision and purpose. No one lingered, no one slacked. She could almost hear the seconds ticking in the air like currency.
"Man, I hope I don’t have to walk like a robot too,” she whispered under her breath, heading toward the elevator. The receptionist didn’t even glance up.
Lisa reached the elevator and stabbed the button for the top floor—Jennie Kim’s floor. The executive suite. As the doors slid shut, she straightened her blouse one last time, rehearsing her lines in her head. *Hi, Ms. Kim! It’s such an honor to—no, no. Sounds too fake. Okay, maybe just: Morning! Let’s take over the world today!* She snorted, imagining the look on Jennie’s face. That was sure to get her thrown out before lunchtime.
The elevator dinged softly, and she stepped out onto a floor so quiet it might as well have been a library. A very sterile, intimidating library. Jennie Kim’s office loomed at the end of the hallway, behind massive mahogany doors that screamed Do Not Disturb. Lisa took another deep breath.
“Here goes nothing.”
She knocked, then entered before waiting for a response.
Jennie was seated behind her enormous glass desk, tapping at her laptop, not even looking up as Lisa stepped in. The room was just like the woman: minimalist, sleek, and utterly devoid of warmth. Lisa swore it was a few degrees colder in here than the rest of the building.
“Ms. Kim? Good morning!” Lisa said with the most upbeat tone she could muster. “I’m Lalisa Manoban—your new executive assistant. But everyone calls me Lisa, so feel free to—”
“You’re late.” Jennie’s voice cut through the air, precise and clipped.
Lisa blinked. She glanced at the clock on the wall, confirming it was exactly 9:00 AM. “Oh, well, actually I’m right on time—”
“I prefer my team to arrive fifteen minutes early,” Jennie said, still not looking up. “If you want to work here, you’ll be early.”
*Wow,* Lisa thought. *And I thought my dad was a tough boss.*
“Noted,” Lisa replied, trying to keep her smile intact. “Fifteen minutes early from now on.”
Jennie finally glanced up, her sharp brown eyes raking over Lisa with a gaze so cold it could’ve frozen the Arctic. “Good. I have a meeting in ten minutes. Prepare the boardroom.”
Lisa paused. “Um, prepare it how?”
Jennie’s brow lifted slightly, as though the question itself was offensive. “Do I have to spell it out? Set the agenda, make sure the presentations are ready, check that the refreshments are in place, and ensure the AV is working properly. Is that clear enough for you?”
Lisa’s heart dropped into her stomach. “Crystal clear, ma’am.”
Jennie returned her gaze to her screen. “You’re dismissed.”
Lisa scurried out of the office, the heavy doors shutting behind her with a thud. She stood there for a second, letting out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. *Okay, that was intense. But you got this, Lisa. It’s just one meeting. How hard can it be?*
She found the boardroom easily enough and got to work. Fifteen minutes later, the agenda was on every seat, the presentations were pulled up on the main screen, and the coffee station was stocked with exactly what Jennie had listed on a very detailed email. Lisa stood back, admiring her work.
*Not bad for my first day. No disasters yet.*
A second later, the doors swung open and in strode Jennie, flanked by a group of executives in expensive suits. Her gaze swept over the room, and for a brief second, Lisa thought maybe—*maybe*—there was the tiniest glint of approval in her eyes.
But of course, it didn’t last.
“Why is the projector displaying in the wrong format?” Jennie asked sharply, folding her arms.
Lisa’s stomach flipped. “Oh. Uh, that’s the 16:9 setting, which is the standard for presentations.”
Jennie’s expression didn’t change. “We use 4:3 here. Fix it. Now.”
Lisa fumbled with the remote, her hands shaking as she toggled through settings. “Of course, Ms. Kim. No problem.” *How do people even use 4:3 anymore? Is this company stuck in the stone age?* she grumbled internally but kept her face neutral.
Jennie didn’t move, standing there like a stern queen observing a jester struggling to perform. Finally, Lisa managed to switch the settings, and the screen adjusted.
“There. All good!” Lisa said with a nervous laugh, trying to ease the tension.
But Jennie had already turned away, her attention back on the meeting. “Make sure it’s right next time,” was all she said before taking her seat at the head of the table.
As the meeting went on, Lisa stood by the door, a silent observer to Jennie’s command of the room. The CEO was cold, efficient, and terrifyingly brilliant. There was no doubt that Jennie Kim was a force to be reckoned with. Lisa had known she was getting into something tough, but she hadn’t realized just how intense Jennie would be.
At least, she consoled herself, the day couldn’t get any worse.
Just as that thought crossed her mind, one of the executives raised a hand. “Ms. Kim, I believe the agenda is missing the financial projections for Q4.”
Jennie’s eyes sliced toward Lisa, and Lisa’s stomach sank.
*Oh, no. Oh, no, no, no.*
“That wasn’t on the version I received,” Lisa blurted before she could stop herself.
Jennie’s expression could’ve frozen lava. “You should have asked.”
Lisa gave a shaky grin. “Noted.”
Jennie’s eyes narrowed, and for a split second, Lisa could’ve sworn the woman’s lip twitched. Not quite a smile, but something close.
The rest of the meeting passed in a blur of tension, silent glares, and, for Lisa, fervent prayers that she wouldn’t make any more mistakes. By the time it was over, her nerves were shot.
As the executives filed out, Jennie paused in front of Lisa, her icy gaze lingering for just a second longer than necessary. “Fifteen minutes early tomorrow. Don’t forget.”
Lisa managed a tight nod. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
The second Jennie disappeared down the hallway, Lisa let out a groan and sank against the wall. “Yup. Definitely scarier than surfing.”
Continue....😁
YOU ARE READING
Beneath the Ice
HumorLalisa Manoban had her life mapped out: gain real-world business experience before taking over her father's conglomerate. When she lands a job as the personal secretary to Jennie Kim, the sharpest and most feared CEO in the industry, she thinks she'...
