Prologue: "He was chaos she couldn't understand… yet couldn't ignore."
Zaden asked Lara to return to her seat and attend the ceremony. Jeylin watched them closely, jealousy clearly visible in her eyes as the three of them walked back and took their seats. Murmurs spread across the hall, people whispering about the new girl and how Zaden seemed unusually interested in her.
As the ceremony came to an end and people began leaving, Lara politely asked Zaden for permission to leave. He refused and told her to wait, saying he wanted to introduce her to his cousins. He called all four of them over, they were eager to meet her while Lara stood there hesitantly. Jeylin stood nearby with clear attitude. Conrad greeted her enthusiastically and introduced himself, followed by the others, Lara smiled politely and shook their hands. Zaden then introduced her proudly as the most outstanding and knowledgeable personal assistant he had selected.
Simon felt genuinely impressed that Zaden had chosen talent over ego.
But Zaden added with a smirk that she lacked manners and needed to be taught properly—in his way.
Lara stood still, her thoughts tangled, unable to understand which side of him was real.
She thanked him for the opportunity, her voice calm despite everything, and quickly said goodbye to everyone before leaving in a hurry, unable to bear the awkwardness.
Zaden watched her leave and laughed, clearly amused that he had teased her in front of everyone.
Simon frowned slightly and said he had just felt proud of him, but then he insulted her about her manners, adding that even after being insulted, she remained calm and polite, calling her kind and sweet.
Jeylin immediately snapped back, asking why he was praising that girl already.
Zaden replied that she only stayed calm because others were present, saying if it were just the two of them, she would have argued back, just like she did earlier in the canteen.
Simon responded that not everyone would pamper him like Jeylin, making Conrad laugh loudly.
Zaden looked at Jeylin with clear disgust and walked away toward his car.
Jeylin's expression fell, her emotions turning into sadness as everyone left for home. Later, she complained to her mother, saying Zaden kept praising Lara and even Simon had called her kind and sweet, frustration building inside her as she threw things around the room.
That night, everyone fell asleep—
Except Lara.
She sat on the couch, the TV playing in front of her, but her mind wasn't there. Her fingers tightened slightly around the remote as her thoughts spiraled.
"He choked me… just because I didn't inform him… who even does that?" she whispered under her breath, her voice shaking. "And how did he even find my house…? I never told him… no one knows that place…"
She leaned back slowly, staring at the ceiling.
"He gave me money… insulted me… humiliated me… then stood in front of everyone and praised me like I'm something important…" a bitter smile formed on her lips. "Saved me from the guards… held my hand in front of everyone… made me sit in the VIP row like I belong there…"
Her expression slowly hardened.
"And then again… liar… mannerless…" she muttered, her eyes slightly tearing up. "What exactly am I to him?"
She closed her eyes for a second, exhaling deeply.
"Is he even normal…? Or is something seriously wrong with him…?" her voice dropped to a whisper. "One moment he looks like he could destroy me… the next… he looks like…" she stopped, shaking her head quickly. "No… no, this is not right."
Her grip tightened.
"I can't understand him… and that's dangerous… very dangerous…" she said firmly to herself. "I need to stay away from him… no matter what… for my own safety."
She slowly got up and walked toward her room, her mind still restless.
The next morning at the office, everyone was congratulating Zaden. It was already past ten, and Lara hadn't arrived yet. His irritation started building, his thoughts immediately assuming she might have avoided coming again. He called her number, but the phone rang inside his cabin.
A knock followed.
He allowed entry.
Lara walked in.
He cut the call and asked why she was late on her first day. She simply replied that it was due to traffic. He dismissed it as just another excuse, clearly annoyed, while she stood silently with her head lowered.
He then instructed her to go through all his weekly meetings and duties and prepare a structured plan on her tablet. He explained that as his personal assistant, she must handle all his legal formalities and keep him informed about everything happening inside the company. She agreed and left to meet the manager and Sam for further details.
As she walked through the office, employees stared, whispering about her beauty and how she had suddenly become so close to Zaden, many feeling jealous that she had secured the position of personal assistant so quickly. Lara overheard some of it, already feeling frustrated and emotionally drained.
She entered the manager's cabin and asked about the company structure, shares, and responsibilities. The manager explained everything calmly, focusing on her training.
Sam entered with curiosity shining in his eyes, introducing himself casually before leaning slightly forward, his tone shifting. He asked where she lived, Lara answered briefly. He then asked about her family, who she lived with, what her parents did, whether she had siblings. Lara paused, her fingers tightening slightly around her tablet.
She gave a small smile, avoiding his eyes, and answered only about her studies and that she lived in Oshmir Hills.
Sam didn't stop.
He leaned back, studying her carefully, and asked again, this time more directly, saying it was unusual for someone like her to come from such a place, questioning why she avoided talking about her family.
Lara's expression remained calm, but her voice turned slightly firmer as she said that her personal life had nothing to do with her work and she would prefer to keep it that way.
The room went silent for a second.
The manager immediately stepped in, changing the topic and continuing her training, while Sam exchanged a glance with him, clearly sensing that she was hiding something.
Later, Sam returned to his department and began spreading gossip, saying Lara's background seemed suspicious because she avoided talking about her family.
Soon, Zaden called for Lara. She entered his cabin, and he informed her about an upcoming business project involving meetings with investors and shareholders from another company. He told her they would be leaving together for the meeting.
She agreed, picked up her bag and tablet, and followed him out.
As they walked out together, all eyes turned toward them.