Chapter 162: Become My Personal Secretary
"Forgery?"
Cecelia blinked in surprise before quickly shaking her head.
"President Hale, my Master’s degree in Finance is from Prinston University. You can verify it through the National Higher Education Student Information System, the NHESIS. There’s no way I’d fake my academic credentials."
Luca rested his chin on one hand and looked at her with a thoughtful expression.
"Then that must mean your credentials are fake."
"..."
For a second, Cecelia simply stared at him.
The words didn’t even register at first.
Then she realized he was teasing her.
Seeing the usually composed twenty-nine-year-old secretary flustered like this was unexpectedly entertaining.
Of course, it wasn’t only because of her reaction.
She was undeniably beautiful. Her mature charm, graceful posture, and elegant figure gave her an effortless confidence that was difficult to ignore. Unlike the youthful innocence Naomi carried or Vivienne’s captivating allure, Cecelia possessed the refined elegance of a successful professional woman.
After letting her squirm for another second, Luca finally smiled.
"Relax."
"I’m just kidding."
A quiet sigh escaped her lips.
She pressed a hand against her chest as her heartbeat slowly settled.
"You really scared me, Mr. Hale."
Luca pulled out a chair and sat down behind the desk. Resting his elbows on the polished wood, he interlocked his fingers and lightly touched them to the bridge of his nose.
For a brief moment, the room fell silent.
When he looked up again, the amusement had disappeared from his face.
His expression had turned unexpectedly serious.
"Secretary Cecelia."
"I have something I’d like you to think about."
The sudden change in tone made her straighten instinctively.
"Of course, Mr. Hale."
"What is it?"
"I’ve been watching your work ever since I took over the company."
"You’ve handled yourself well."
"You’re organized, efficient, and you know how to keep your composure under pressure."
He paused before continuing.
"So I’d like you to become my personal secretary."
The words landed like thunder.
"His... personal secretary?"
Her beautiful eyes widened.
For several long seconds she simply stood there, frozen.
She searched Luca’s face, almost expecting him to laugh and reveal it was another joke.
But he didn’t.
He looked completely serious.
Only then did the meaning finally sink in.
A wave of emotions surged through her chest so quickly that she almost forgot to breathe.
This wasn’t just a promotion.
It meant entering Luca’s inner circle.
It meant becoming the person responsible for coordinating his daily affairs across Hale-Viv Conglomerate and every company connected to him.
Few positions carried more trust than that.
The excitement nearly overwhelmed her.
She took a slow breath before bowing respectfully.
"Mr. Hale..."
"Thank you."
"Thank you for believing in me."
"I accept."
Her voice was firm despite the emotion in her eyes.
She had worked incredibly hard to reach where she was today.
As a graduate of Prinston University with a master’s degree in finance, she had always believed she had the ability to reach the highest levels of corporate management.
The difficult part wasn’t capability.
It was opportunity.
She had originally expected to spend years climbing through the ranks before eventually becoming an executive assistant.
Instead...
Luca had personally offered her a position that countless people could only dream about.
Seeing her sincere expression, he nodded with satisfaction.
"Good."
"I think you’ll do well."
She smiled for what felt like the first time that day.
Then, just as she thought the conversation had ended, Luca spoke again.
"One more thing."
His tone was much more casual now.
"Are you seeing anyone?"
The question caught her completely off guard.
"...Dating?"
She blinked.
"No."
"I’m single."
A puzzled look spread across her face.
"Does... does that have something to do with the job?"
As soon as the words left her mouth, her thoughts began racing.
’Is he worried I’ll get married?’
’Or have children?’
’Does he think that would affect my work?’
The more she thought about it, the more convinced she became that she’d figured out his concern.
She hurried to reassure him.
"President Hale, please don’t worry."
"My personal life will never interfere with my work."
"I can guarantee that."
Luca couldn’t help smiling.
She had misunderstood him completely.
"That’s not what I meant."
She stopped talking.
"Huh?"
He leaned back comfortably in his chair.
"What I meant..."
"I like you."
The room suddenly became very quiet.
"I’d like you to consider becoming my woman."
There wasn’t the slightest trace of hesitation in his voice.
He spoke so naturally that it almost sounded like he was discussing the weather.
Luca had never liked playing elaborate games.
He knew exactly why he found Cecelia attractive.
She was intelligent.
Reliable.
Beautiful.
He wanted her beside him, both professionally and personally.
There was no point pretending otherwise.
He wasn’t going to hide behind flowery speeches or false nobility.
He simply told her the truth.
Besides...
She was widowed and living alone.
If she was willing, he could offer her a place in his life.
Maybe not all of it.
But a place nonetheless.
"..."
Cecelia’s lips parted.
No sound came out.
Her entire mind went blank.
She stared at him as if she’d forgotten how to blink.
"Mr... Mr. Hale..."
"You..."
"I..."
Seeing how overwhelmed she looked, Luca calmly finished the sentence for her.
"I’m serious."
The certainty in his voice left no room for misunderstanding.
Heat instantly rushed to Cecelia’s cheeks.
Although she had been widowed for years, hearing such straightforward words from a man she deeply respected completely shattered her composure.
She couldn’t bring herself to meet his eyes anymore.
Instead, she lowered her head.
Her fingers unconsciously began twisting the hem of her jacket.
She looked less like a capable executive secretary now and more like a nervous student being called into the principal’s office.
"Mr. Hale..."
"I..."
Words failed her.
Every sentence she tried to form disappeared before reaching her lips.
Seeing her panic, Luca chuckled softly.
"You don’t have to answer today."
"Go home."
"Think about it."
"When you’ve made up your mind..."
"You can come tell me."
He paused before adding with a faint smile,
"And if the answer is no..."
"You don’t have to force yourself to say anything."
The atmosphere relaxed ever so slightly.
Cecelia nodded repeatedly.
"Yes..."
"I understand."
She took another steadying breath before remembering why she’d originally come upstairs.
"Oh..."
"I still have documents to deliver to Captain Rico."
"If there’s nothing else..."
"I’ll excuse myself."
"Go ahead."
She bowed politely.
"Thank you, President Hale."
Then she turned around almost too quickly and hurried toward the door.
The moment it closed behind her, Luca let out a quiet laugh.
’Did I really scare her that much?’
...
Outside the office...
Cecelia didn’t get very far.
She stopped just beside the closed door and leaned against the wall.
The strength seemed to leave her legs all at once.
Slowly, she slid down until she was sitting on the floor.
She covered her face with one hand as her breathing grew uneven.
Today had been an emotional whirlwind.
First, she’d been promoted to personal secretary.
Then...
He’d confessed.
No.
It wasn’t exactly a confession.
It was even more direct than that.
He had simply looked her in the eyes and asked her to become his woman.
Those words refused to leave her mind.
’I like you.’
’Become my woman.’
They echoed over and over again.
She buried her face in her hands.
"My goodness..."
"He’s so straightforward..."
A helpless smile slowly appeared despite herself.
"And..."
"He’s incredibly handsome."
The words slipped out before she realized she’d spoken them aloud.
"Wah!"
Her eyes widened.
She immediately covered her mouth and glanced nervously down the hallway.
Thankfully...
No one seemed to have heard.
Her face burned even hotter.
After sitting there for another minute, she finally gathered herself, smoothed out the wrinkles in her suit, and stood back up.
Taking one last look at the president’s office door, she gently pressed a hand against her still-racing heart.
’I need to calm down.’
’I really need to think about this...’
With those thoughts swirling through her mind, she adjusted her glasses, straightened her posture, and slowly walked down the hallway to find Captain Rico, though the warmth lingering on her cheeks refused to fade.