The ceo who never listen to others

The Wenford Corporation headquarters towered over the city, a symbol of power, success, and untouchable authority. The massive glass panels reflected the world below, an impenetrable fortress where only the elite could step inside. And at the very top floor, seated behind a sleek mahogany desk, was the man who ran it all—Ethan Wen.

Ethan Wen, CEO, industry leader, and ruthless businessman, was not known for his patience. He was not known for his kindness, nor for his willingness to engage in trivial conversations. He was, however, known for winning—and that was the only thing that mattered.

So when he glanced at the document in his hands, his sharp brown eyes narrowed in distaste.

"This is a joke, right?"

Across from him, standing with an air of quiet composure, was Noah Reid, his secretary.

Noah was always poised, always polished. His platinum blond hair was neatly styled, his crisp navy-blue suit tailored to perfection. Behind his thin-rimmed glasses, sharp blue eyes watched the CEO with unshaken professionalism.

Noah had worked under Ethan Wen for over a year now, which meant he had long since mastered the art of patience.

"The Diversity and Inclusion Initiative," Noah clarified, glancing at the document Ethan had tossed onto the desk. "It was approved at the last shareholders’ meeting."

Ethan scoffed, leaning back in his chair with a look of annoyance. "Who the hell approved this?"

"You did, sir," Noah said smoothly.

Ethan blinked. "Excuse me?"

Noah kept his expression neutral. "During the meeting last month, you said, and I quote, ‘If it’ll shut them up, fine.’"

Ethan frowned. "I don’t remember that."

"You were reviewing financial reports at the time," Noah supplied helpfully. "I believe you were more focused on the declining projections from our overseas division."

Ethan exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples. "Christ. I must’ve not been paying attention."

"That does seem to be a recurring theme, sir," Noah murmured under his breath.

Ethan’s sharp eyes snapped up. "What was that?"

"Nothing," Noah said smoothly, offering the slightest curve of a smile.

Ethan scowled, picking up the document again. "This is a business, Noah. Not some damn activist group. We don’t need this."

Noah adjusted his glasses. "On the contrary, sir. Studies show that companies with strong diversity and inclusion policies see increased productivity and higher employee satisfaction. It’s not just about social responsibility—it’s about financial performance."

Ethan raised a brow. "Oh? And what study told you that?"

"McKinsey & Company’s latest corporate analysis. They report that companies with diverse leadership teams are 25% more profitable than those without."

Ethan tapped his fingers against the desk, considering him. "You sure know a lot about this."

"It’s my job to be well-informed, sir."

Ethan scoffed. "Sounds personal."

Noah’s smile didn’t waver. "Everything in business is personal, sir. One way or another."

There was a flicker of something in Ethan’s gaze—annoyance, perhaps, or mild intrigue. But the moment passed quickly.

"Either way," Ethan said, waving the document dismissively, "I don’t want a bunch of distractions in my company. As long as this initiative doesn’t interfere with actual work, I don’t care what they do."

Noah’s stomach clenched, but he kept his voice steady. "Of course, sir."

"Good." Ethan reached for another file, already moving on from the conversation as if it had never happened.

But Noah?

Noah wasn’t going to let this go.

Not because he needed Ethan Wen’s approval. No, he had long since abandoned the need for validation from men like him.

But change—real, tangible change—was worth fighting for.

And Ethan Wen, whether he realized it or not, was going to be part of that change.

One step at a time.

One Week Later

Noah knew better than to confront Ethan directly. A man like Ethan Wen wouldn’t change his mind just because someone told him to.

But results?

Results were something Ethan Wen couldn’t ignore.

Noah began working quietly behind the scenes.

He redesigned the hiring process, subtly prioritizing more diverse candidates without making it obvious. He restructured leadership training programs, pairing younger employees with senior executives to foster mentorship. And when the company’s internal newsletter highlighted outstanding employee achievements, Noah made sure that LGBTQ+ employees were subtly featured—not as tokens, but as high-performing, valuable assets to the company.

He was careful. Very careful.

He knew exactly how to present things in a way that Ethan wouldn’t immediately reject.

And slowly, Ethan started to notice.

It started with small things.

One afternoon, Ethan frowned while reading a report. "Since when did our marketing team get this good?"

Noah, standing beside him, replied effortlessly. "Since we promoted Oliver Grant to lead strategist last quarter."

Ethan glanced at him. "Wasn’t he the one with the—ah, never mind."

Noah’s lips twitched. Progress.

Then, a few days later, Ethan attended an executive meeting where one of the newly promoted employees—an openly gay software engineer—delivered an impressive presentation.

Ethan didn’t say anything at the time.

But later, in the elevator, he muttered, "That guy was sharp. We need more people like him."

Noah simply smiled. "I agree, sir."

Step by step. Inch by inch. Ethan Wen was changing.

And he didn’t even realize it.

But there was something Noah hadn’t accounted for.

Something unexpected.

Ethan Wen was starting to notice him, too.

It began subtly.

Ethan, who was usually dismissive of secretaries, started actually listening to Noah’s reports. He started asking for his opinion—not just on schedules, but on company strategy.

And most surprising of all?

He started looking at him differently.

At first, Noah thought he was imagining it. But then came the small pauses—the way Ethan’s gaze would linger a little too long when they spoke, the way his brows furrowed as if trying to figure something out.

And one evening, after a particularly exhausting board meeting, Ethan leaned back in his chair, exhaling sharply.

"You’re a real pain in the ass, you know that?"

Noah didn’t flinch. He simply smiled, adjusting his glasses. "It’s in my job description, sir."

Ethan scoffed—but there was something different in his expression this time. Something almost curious.

Noah knew better than to read too much into it.

After all, Ethan Wen was still Ethan Wen—prejudiced, stubborn, and blind to his own biases.

But even the most immovable walls crack eventually.

And Noah?

He was more than willing to keep pushing.

Because when it finally happened—when Ethan Wen finally changed—Noah was going to make sure it was a change he’d never forget.

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