"Sit down, Miss Derva," the chairman said as soon as I stepped into his office.

"Thank you, sir."

My whole body was trembling. The interview made me nervous, and so did the man standing behind the chairman.

Tall. Handsome. Impossible to look away from.

Liam Willostones.

My heart seized.

The famous son of the chairman and the heir to the Willostones empire. The man who had stolen the hearts of almost every woman in the country.

Mine included.

For years, I had dreamed of him, imagining our wedding day, and now I was finally standing before him again.

It felt like a dream.

The last time I was this close to him was twenty years ago, when he came with his mother to visit the foster home where I lived.

I had been obsessed with him ever since.

And of course, he did not remember me.

To him, I was just a normal employee.

But at that moment I couldn't care less about Liam. My life was falling apart and this job was my only way out.

I was currently homeless, unemployed, and drowning in debt. If it were not for my friend Molly, I would be sleeping in the streets for two months straight.

So yes, I needed this job desperately.

"I know you are probably wondering why a man with an entire HR department would bother conducting this interview personally."

The chairman's cold voice brought me back to reality.

"I am sure you have your reasons, sir," I said with extreme caution. I carefully examined every word before speaking.

"Miss Derva, I do not need an assistant. I don't need someone to organize documents and files. What I need is a woman strong enough to handle my son."

A faint smile on my face vanished.

The email I received yesterday definitely said otherwise. I rested my arms on the desk and met the chairman's gaze.

"Mr. Willostones, with all due respect," I said politely.

"I was asked to come here specifically for an interview for the Executive Assistant position."

Mr. Willostones placed a photograph on the desk.

When I looked at it, I noticed that the man in the picture looked identical to Liam, yet completely different.

He didn't look like a billionaire's son. He looked like a man who had chosen to live a life separate from wealth and luxury.

"He is my son," Mr. Willostones said. "Though I assume you already know that."

And then I remembered.

He was the other son that people were talking about online.

A son who never appeared in family photos.

A son who the chairman never spoke about.

Some believed that the other son never existed.

Honestly, I was one of them until that very moment.

"He is 35 years old, but has no clear motive in his life. He spends all day locked up in the guesthouse, wasting his talent on paintings instead of contributing to the family business," he paused.

"I need someone to keep an eye on him. Someone to make sure he follows the rules. That is why I am hiring you."

I couldn't believe I had worn my finest dress for a life-changing interview, only to discover I was being hired as a babysitter.

"So... you want me to be his warden?"

Mr. Willostones let out a soft laugh. "You could call it that."

My life was in crisis, but I would never lower my standards again. I had been doing that for the past ten years but not this time.

I would rather spend the nights in the streets than throwing away my life again.

I stood and picked my resume from the desk. "It was an honor to meet and talk to you, sir, but I am afraid I can't accept the job."

I turned, ready to leave.

"I am offering you seven thousand dollars a month."

I froze.

My breath caught in my throat.

Seven thousand dollars?

I turned around slowly.

Did I hear that correctly?

"Accommodations, meals, and health insurance included," He paused, his eyes locked on mine.

"Your only responsibility will be Ciro. You won't have to worry about anything else."

With this salary, all my problems would finally come to an end. The job itself wouldn't be a problem for me.

I once worked as a warden at a rich kids' school. I was forced to deal with those spoiled brats for three years straight, right up until I got my last job, which was also a disaster.

With my experience, handling the chairman's son would be as easy as stealing candy from a baby.

But I was done looking after rich kids.

I wanted to build my career this time.

"I spent the last six months observing you, learning every single detail about you. I know you had a rough childhood. I am aware of all the places you have worked. All the sacrifices you made," he paused, looking directly at me.

"I could hire a high-profile professional, but I chose you instead. This matter regards my family. I need someone who I can trust. I know you are the right person for this."

I swallowed hard.

This was the highest-paying job I had ever been offered. It was not exactly what I needed, but at least I would be working for the Willostones. And who knew? Maybe later I would receive an even better job offer.

There was too much to gain from this.

I would be foolish to back out now.

"I'll take the job. Please show me where to sign, sir," I said confidently.

Mr. Willostones gave me a cold smile. Liam slid a contract to me. I read it carefully, making sure I understood the terms.

After I finished signing the contract, Liam moved closer to me as if he was about to clarify an important detail.

"Let me warn you, Ciro is not very easy to deal with. He has a way of manipulating people. Do not let him get into your head," he said.

"Ciro may be many things, but he is no fool. He is very intelligent and knows precisely what he is doing. I am telling you this because I want you to be prepared for what you are going to deal with."

He kept his eyes on me the whole time, making sure that I understood every single word.

"Save the lecture, my boy. I am sure she understands the assignment. All she needs to know is that I do not expect her to fail."

"Go get your things," Liam said as he handed me a key.

"Tomorrow, you will move into the guesthouse. The rest is up to you. You can enter his room any minute. Never knock. Make sure you let him know that you are in charge now."

"Good luck, Tarisa," said Mr. Willostones, standing by the window, enjoying the beautiful view of the city.

"Thank you, sir," I replied calmly, then left quietly.

I only had one thought in my mind: to work as hard as I could to prove that I was worthy of a better position in the Willostones Empire.

But nothing could have prepared me for what came next.