Chapter 7 Trying Harder

Not being given a chance to try doesn't mean losing. Grace didn't want to give up so easily. She might not be able to take the test to become an executive secretary to GM, but she had other ways.

Grace managed to persuade many employees from various divisions to apply for the secretary position. This way Evan would feel overwhelmed doing it all by himself. Thus, he would need help from the HRD in order to sort out the candidates.

Initially, Nita was the one asked to handle this task. Nonetheless, after convincing Mario that she could do better, Grace successfully replace her. Knowing all along what Grace was planning, Nita did not refuse at all.

The registration time window was limited to one day. All the data of the applicants had been collected. According to the requirements proposed by Evan, Grace sorted the applicants. Quite a number of them had to be eliminated in the administrative selection stage.

There were ten candidates out of eighty-seven applicants left. Grace was now walking towards the GM's office to submit the detailed data of them.

"Excuse me, Mr. Williams." Grace poked her head around the door after knocking a few times. "I am bringing you the data of the ten applicants who are eligible to take the selection test."

Evan was taken aback to see who appeared in his room. He couldn't believe it. His way to stop Grace's involvement in the test had failed so easily.

Grace walked over quietly and handed him a folder containing the ten candidates' data. "I have sorted them and these ten are the best. You may check them," she said, feeling content with her work.

"Thank you. You may leave now," Evan said coldly.

Evan's words made Grace cross as two sticks. She did not expect that she would be driven away so quickly. "Are you sure you don't need my help?" she asked in vexation.

"One hundred percent. Please leave this room." Evan reaffirmed his seemingly unwavering request.

Having no reason to stay there, Grace reluctantly turned away. In front of Evan's door, she paused for a moment. "You'll see, Evan. No matter how I'll find out why you're acting like this to me," she promised herself.

Throughout the day, Grace tried to stay focused on her main job even though her head was filled with Evan. The best employee label bestowed on her must not be removed for any reason. She couldn't help but admit that the label was the thing that got her promoted to her current position.

Not to mention these days Grace was in need of more money for her mother's treatment. Her physical condition was getting worse due to congenital heart disease. She didn't want to lose her mom anytime soon.

"'Scuse me." A tall, burly figure appeared next to Grace's desk.

Being aware of her boss' presence, Grace immediately got to her feet. "How can I help you?" she asked.

Mario registered a gentle smile on his face. He handed a blue USB flash drive to his assistant. "Please check some of the data here, okay? I have written the details in a separate document," he said.

Grace frowned. "Oh? Why not just send it via email?" she innocently asked.

Nita, who was paying attention to the interaction between the boss and the assistant, shook her head at Grace's response. She couldn't believe her friend's naivety.

"Hm, well ... There is a problem with my laptop. The internet doesn't work," said Mario, looking for the right answer.

"Oh, I see. You should have asked me to take this flash drive from your room. You don't need to bother bringing it here," continued Grace, still clueless.

This time, Nita let out a little sigh. But realizing that her voice was too loud, she pretended to be commenting on something she was working on.

Mario scratched his temple with his right index finger. "Ah, that's because I happen to be going to Mr. Williams's room, so I brought it here as well." He gave a reasonable answer quickly.

But the so-called Grace, sometimes couldn't control her overly blatant mouth. "I guess, Mr. Williams' room and this office are in different directions. His is to the east, while here is to the west," she said.

Upon hearing her friend's words, Nita immediately nudged Grace from behind.

Innocently, Grace turned and asked Nita, "What's up?"

Nita registered a botox grin. She stood up and said, "Grace will be doing her job soon, sir," so as to break the awkward vibes immediately.

Mario nodded. "Well, thank you," he said.

"Yes, you're welcome. But, uh, Mr. Suganda." Grace stopped Mario from walking away. He then didn't move from his place. "So you're going to Mr. Williams' room, right? Is there anything I can help you with?" She deliberately offered herself, so as to meet Evan again.

Mario was thinking for a moment before he replied, "I don't think so. He just wanted to talk to me about staffing matters. Maybe it's about the candidate for executive secretary."

Although Grace's presence was clearly unnecessary, she couldn't help but look for the slightest opportunity to meet her best friend. "Well, there must be a lot to talk about. Maybe Mr. Williams will give you a lot of assignments and you need to record everything. As an assistant, I can help. You know I'm good at taking notes, right?" she urged.

Mario, who did not know the reason behind her insistence, immediately agreed. He thought there was an opportunity open for him to be close to his assistant. "Then come with me," he said.

Grace was overjoyed. She took her iPad and voice recorder which became two mainstay things when attending any meeting.

"Gosh, Grace. I can tell you're such a battler," whispered Nita in surprise. "Good luck to you."

Grace didn't give an answer to her except for a smile tugged at the corner of her right lips. She straightened her body, as if ready to enter a battlefield, and left the place with Mario.

[ABY]