Episode 11

After May retired, Arya assumed full responsibility for managing the contracts and everything else, adapting well to her new role. Occasionally, she encountered issues with Kilam's fiancee, but she always managed to navigate the situations—that is, until an unexpected woman appeared, and Margo wasn't at the reception to warn her. The woman burst in without even knocking, shouting just like Lisa.

"Who are you, where's May, I want to see Kilam right now," demanded the woman, raising her voice.

"Good afternoon! Madam, May has retired, and I am Mr. Pagano's new assistant," Arya responded calmly, although her mind raced for a solution to this new problem.

"You're probably trying to seduce Kilam; it looks like something a woman of your sort would do," the woman sneered at Arya.

"Madam, Mr. Pagano is currently on a trip and won't return until next week. Please, show some respect; this is my workplace," Arya insisted, and the woman stormed out.

Minutes later, Kilam summoned Arya to his office, where she entered with no idea why he might be angry. Upon entering, Kilam bellowed.

"Who told you to send my mistress away?" he demanded as he approached her.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Pagano, but imagine the scene if Miss Lisa arrived—it would be scandalous," Arya stammered, clearly frightened, as Kilam backed her against the door.

"Or is it perhaps that you're jealous of me, Miss Arya?" he teased with a sly smile, but she pushed him away.

"Listen here, Mr. Pagano, I demand respect. I am a professional and will not tolerate this behavior. If I have to endure the disturbances your women cause here, and now your antics, I will tender my resignation," Arya declared before leaving and slamming the door behind her.

After her departure, Kilam returned to his desk, ran his fingers through his hair, leaned back in his chair, and poured a glass of neat whiskey, drinking it down in one gulp. He tried calling her office but got no answer, then rang the reception where Margo picked up. He inquired about Arya, who, according to Margo, had stepped out for coffee as she hadn't had lunch. He asked for the cafe's location, which Margo provided.

Kilam rushed out without his suit jacket and spotted Arya chatting with the building's receptionist. He called out to her, but she ignored him. Approaching her, he called her name again and asked her to accompany him. They walked to a nearby cafe and then to a quiet park.

"I apologize, I was an idiot," he admitted, looking down.

"I'm pretty much being forced to marry Lisa by my father, and Jessica serves as an escape. You were right—if Lisa had caught her here, it would've been a scandal. Thank you for saving me from that, and I beg you, please don’t resign," he implored, now making eye contact.

"Okay, but let’s negotiate a raise. I shouldn’t have to put up with both of them accusing me of trying to take you," she countered firmly.

"Fair enough, I'll increase your salary by 50%, plus a larger annual bonus," he agreed, and they shook hands.

When they returned to the office, they found Lisa waiting, who gave Arya a sour look before Kilam ushered her into his office.

"I get that you dislike me because you wanted my job, but being jealous over his women is madness," Arya told Margo, massaging her temples in frustration.

"Relax, they've only shifted their target to you. Before, I was the one dealing with unexpected outbursts. But I believe it's because you're always with him—and you’re very pretty with a stunning figure," Margo remarked with a laugh.

"Are you kidding? I look good? I’m a mother of twins; my body was ravaged by my little monsters," Arya joked in return.

"Wait, you have kids?" Margo asked, surprised.

"A boy and a girl, turning seven in two months," she replied with a beaming smile.

"Oh my God, you must have pictures—they must be adorable. I've always wanted twins, especially one of each!" exclaimed an excited Margo.

Arya opened the photo album on her phone, revealing her beautiful children, and the two spent a good while admiring and having a great conversation, a significant change since Arya joined the company. She returned to her office to finish typing some documents, while Lisa exited Kilam’s office, glaring at Arya who simply ignored it and refocused on her work.