A month passed, and everything seemed to be going just fine. Maria worked brilliantly for the Director, who stood radiantly higher and higher. One day, a man from the marketing team injured his leg, and a business partner company sent one of their men to work in his place.

"When did they say he will come?" asked Kilee.

"This morning at 10am," Maria was next to her Director, analyzing her remaining weekly schedule.

The man we were expecting was Paul, but with a great surprise, the company had sent another person to his place.

"Hello, excuse me. I was sent here by Olsen company." The man stood in the reception area with a full smile.

"Oh, you must be Paul," said the receptionist.

"Actually, Paul couldn't be here, so they sent me instead. I'm Ioan," he said, scratching his neck.

"I understand. Let me call the head secretary. Please have a seat in the meantime," said the secretary.

"Of course, thank you," he said, sitting there, a bit nervous. He looked around him; that hall was extravagantly big, with many sofas and coffeè tables.

The tall green plants were in every corner, and we were put in every corner to guarantee privacy.

"Hello, Louise. The Olsen man has arrived, but there is a problem," said the secretary.

"What do you mean?" Louise was confused. "alright i'm coming," she continued.

In just a few minutes, Louise was already in the hall.

"So what is the problem?" said her.

"The man over there is the one the Olsen company sent instead of Paul; his name is Ioan." Both of them looked at him, which made him sweat a bit.

Louise sighed and looked at the receptionist, who let out a smile of comfort and then turned toward that man.

"Good morning. I'm Louise, the head secretary, " she said, looking at the man in front of her who was standing up nervously. "Hello, I'm Ioan from Olsen company." They shake hands.

"Please follow me." They headed up to the office.

At that moment, Maria was working at the Director's desk, unaware that Ioan was introduced to his new environment in her company.

She somehow had a strange feeling. She felt odd, like she had the flu.

"How are you doing?" asked the Director.

Maria sneezed just after Kilee asked her, "Oh, I'm sorry. I think I have the flu," she said in a slow voice with a runny nose.

It was still early morning, and they still had some work to do, but Kilee was preoccupied.

"Let's go back home," said Kilee, putting away the documents. We will take them home and finish over there," they continued.

"All right," said Maria, calmly taking care of her things too.

When they just got out and reached the parking lot, the Director's phone started ringing. It was Louise.

"Hello," answered the Director.

"Hello, I'm sorry to disturb you, but I did not find you in the office." She seemed somehow off.

"Yeah, i'm taking Maria home," she said, looking at her pale expression in the car.

"Is she sick?" asked Louise, concerned.

"Yeah, what's the matter? Has Paul not arrived?" the Director asked again. Things went silent for a minute. "Hello?"

"Actually they sent a replacement for Paul, a man by the name of Ioan," said Louise.

"What?" Hearing Kilee getting on her nerves, Maria, concerned, got out of the car, and Kilee looked back at her.

"Did you forget something Maria?" asked her.

"No, but if you're too busy, I can go alone." That sentence made the Director furrow her eyebrows. 

"Please, get in the car," said the Director, looking at her. Maria had nothing to say anymore and just did as Kilee said.

"Hey Louise, I will take Maria home. Whatever it is, I will deal with it later," just like that, she hung up.

In the meantime, Louise was standing there with the beep beep sound from the end of the call.

"Louise, the marketing team are asking for an explanation." Helena was just approaching her with an annoyed face.

"The Director took Maria home because she's sick. He will be back soon," she said, sighing.

"Oh, poor Maria," said concerned Helena. "well if things are like that let's deal with the troublemakers," continued smiling. That gave Louise grumps on the spine.

In fact, not everyone knew it, but Helena was a badass. She was the CEO's niece and the Director's cousin. She was a secretary because she loved that work and wanted to get higher by working hard like everyone else.

"Yeah, let's sort things somehow," said Louise, sighing again.

The office was in chaos, and just because Portia could not manage the team, she could not manage that position, either.

"What do you mean by Paul being unable to attend?" Portia said, angry, looking at Ioan.

"He had an emergency so they sent me instead," said the man calmly.

"And does that make sense?" she continued, throwing a tantrum in the office. Everyone was exhausted already and just wanted to end the day, but unfortunately for them, it was still morning.

Louise had just returned to the office when everyone looked at her for help; unfortunately, she saw they were too tired to deal with Portia that day.

"If you have a problem with that, just call the Olsen company; do not take that on me," he said, taking his briefcase to get away.

"Sir, Ioan," entered Louise, facing him. "Please, take a bit of patience. The Director will be here any minute," she explained.

Portia was in a fury; that was her office. How could Louise have anything to say there.

"So what?" said her irritated.

"The director said he will handle everything himself," continued Helena, standing next to Louise.

"This is hilarious!" laughed Portia sarcastically. But the secretaries were proper. Even if she was a manager, she did not have the power to go against the Director.

She then took some steps in their direction, and one in front of them put her hands on her shoulders. "This is my office," she continued, turning Helena's words into a joke. She stood there in silence, but her eyes were turning into a rage; in fact, Helena's major was the design, and another reason that made her go for the secretary position was Portia. She hated that snobby woman.

At that moment, the Director who had just entered the office heard everything, and before Helena could answer, he took the lead.

"Who's office is this?" said the Director, instantly freezing everyone. Ioan was confused but somehow felt how cold that office had become when the Director came in.