Ella had always been confident, but this time, the stakes were higher than what she could imagine. As she dressed that morning, she took extra care to look her best and professional. Her outfit was sharp, it was a tailored black blazer paired with a white blouse and a pencil skirt that hugged her figure in just the right way. She wore minimal makeup, just enough to bring out her natural beauty without overdoing it, and finished off the look with a pair of sleek black heels. She took a deep breath as she stood in front of the mirror. "You can do this," she told herself, then grabbed her purse and headed out the door.The ride to the Stephenson office building felt longer than usual. Ella's mind raced with the various events that could play out once she arrived. The script that Mr. Michael and Lewis had drilled into her head played on repeat, each line was all important to her assignment.When she arrived at the Stephenson complex, Ella couldn't help but admire the high glass structure
Ella couldn’t contain her excitement as she made her way to Mr. Michael and Lewis’s uncompleted house. The day had gone better than she could have hoped for, and she was eager to share the news. The sun was setting as she approached the usual, run-down building. The orange light of the evening shines on the worn way leading to their door. She knocked twice, and the door swung open almost immediately. Lewis stood there, his expression was with a mixture of hope and anxiety. “So, how did it go?” he asked, his voice betraying the nervousness he tried to hide. He didn't even bother to welcome him.Ella bit her lip, trying to keep a straight face. She wanted to tease them a little. “It was a disaster,” she said, shaking her head slowly. “Harvey… he walked me out without a second thought.”Lewis’s face fell, his shoulders slumped in loss. Mr. Michael, who had been sitting in the corner of the small empty living room, looked up from his newspaper, he was clearly weak, and his already-weather
Ella’s alarm went off at 6:00 AM, jolting her awake from a restless sleep. Today was the day she started her new job at Stephenson & Co. as Harvey’s personal assistant. She was determined to make a good impression, knowing how important it was for the success of Mr. Michael and Lewis’s dream. She quickly freshened up, splashing cold water on her face to nod off the last remnants of sleep. As she looked at herself in the mirror but her reflection in the mirror showed a very determined young woman, who was ready to take on whatever the day threw at her.Ella took her time applying makeup, just to make sure her face looked flawless. She opted for a simple, professional look—just enough to enhance her natural beauty without appearing too flashy. Then, she chose her outfit carefully, so she decided on a sleek black dress that hugged her curves just right and paired with simple black heels.The dress was professional, yet it had a certain charisma that she knew wouldn’t go unnoticed. Ella a
Ella’s first day at the Stephenson Corporation had been a whirlwind, but she had managed to get through it with the confidence and carefulness that had always pushed her. As the days turned into weeks, she found herself settling into her new role with surprising comfort. This was her first time doing a legitimate job, and though it was supposed to be just a means to an end, something unexpected began to happen—Ella started to enjoy the work.Each morning, she would wake up early, dress smartly, and make her way to the office. At first, her routine was foreign to her, but it later became a source of stability that she enjoyed.All the assignments she was assigned by Harvey were challenging, but Ella handled them with diligence that surprised even herself. She had always been resourceful, but she hadn’t realized just how much she could accomplish when she put her mind to something productive.Harvey quickly noticed her dedication. He appreciated the way Ella approached her responsibilit
Lewis sat in his small, empty room, his mind was racing with frustration and anger. He had been pacing back and forth for what felt like hours, trying to come up with a new plan. It felt like his world had crumbled as nothing seemed to be working out for them.Ella’s sudden change of heart had caught them off guard, and now it seemed like the plan he and his father had carefully formulated was crumbling before his eyes. How could she betray them like this? How could she choose to be loyal to Harvey, of all people, after everything they had done for her?Finally, unable to stand being cooped up any longer, Lewis grabbed his jacket and headed outside. He needed fresh air, and perhaps some distance from his thoughts would help him see things more clearly. As he stepped out into the small courtyard of the run-down building they called home, he noticed his father, Mr. Michael, sitting on an old, weather-beaten bench. His father looked just as troubled as Lewis felt, also lost in his own th
Mr. Michael had always prided himself on being a man of action, someone who didn’t wait for things to happen but made them happen. Maybe that was what also led him to the condition he was in now. But as the days went by and he struggled to find a way to reach Dante, he felt that usual feeling of control slipping away. He wouldn't lose Dante too, he was his last hope. The man had the connections and the influence needed to pull off the kind of plan he had in mind. As an insider in Stephenson’s cooperation, it would be that golden opportunity they were seeking. But getting to Dante was proving to be more difficult than he had expected. It wasn’t like the old days when Mr. Michael had clout and a network of people who owed him favors. Now, he was just another man down on his luck, scraping by, hoping to catch a break. His first effort was to try and reach Dante directly, but every attempt was met with a dead end. The phone numbers he had for Dante were either disconnected or went straigh
Harvey Stephenson had always known that the Stephenson Group was in desperate need to grow higher. His father had built the company from the ground up, establishing it as a giant in the industry.However, over the years, the once-respected corporation had begun to falter. Nepotism, corruption, and inefficiency had taken root, trying to tarnish the company’s reputation and hindering its growth. Now, it was up to Harvey to revive the company to its former glory. With the help of Professor Jason, who has always been there for him, and Dante Smith, whom he also trusted and had worked with his father.Harvey decided to restructure the Stephenson Group. It was a daunting job to do but he was willing to set his standards. The growth was necessary for the survival and success of the company.The first thing in Harvey’s plan was to identify and remove the employees who had secured their positions through unlawful means. Dante was believed to be smart and paid attention to details. He helped Ha
Michael sat on the edge of the worn-out bed in the cramped apartment he now called home. Looking very sad and troubled.The peeling paint on the walls and the flickering bulb overhead only helped to remind him of how far he had fallen. He sighed deeply, running a hand through his disheveled hair. His mind was a tangled mess of all his failed plans and hopelessness. Nothing seemed to work anymore. Everything he had once known, every bit of comfort and security, had been stripped away. Those he had brought out from the gutters to help him make money had all been elevated and had moved on with their lives.The door screeched open, and his wife walked in. Her eyes were red from crying, and she looked as though the weight of the world was pressing down on her shoulders. She was once a woman, full of life and style, but now she was a shadow of her former self. Living in poverty had taken its toll on her. She had missed her only daughter too. Life seemed to lose its meaning in her life.Mich