chapter 1

The sun hit half my face like it was personally offended I was still alive.

I groaned, rolled over like a burrito of failure, and stared at the clock.

“OH MY GOSH!?! I’M LATE!!”

Cue the chaos.

I launched myself out of bed, washed my face in 2.5 seconds (RIP left eyebrow), yanked on something that didn’t smell like laundry regret, and bolted downstairs.

Halfway down, bam. My ankle kissed the floor. Loudly.

“OW—OW—ow.”

Mom didn’t even blink. “Can’t you be careful for once?!”

She shoved a piece of fruit in my mouth like she was feeding a farm animal. “And you’re LATE AGAIN!”

“Mffph—bye, Mom!” I shouted with a mouthful and an aching foot, stumbling out the door like I’d been thrown from life itself.

“LILYYYY!!”

Raven. My chaos twin and unlicensed Uber driver.

“Where you limping to? A modeling gig for disasters?”

“Work!” I gasped.

“Get in, you mess.”

She drove like she was auditioning for Fast & Furious: Friendship Edition. I prayed to every god, real or imaginary.

She even handed me a banana from her bag. “Eat this before your stomach growls in front of your boss again.”

I love her. But also—rude and true.

Then: NOVE. A sleek designer company with standards way too high for someone who regularly eats cereal for dinner and styles her hair with hope.

I burst in like a dramatic entrance was gonna save my job.

“Come in,” said Ducky, the CEO. Translation: You’re dead.

After a meeting that felt longer than my student loan debt, he said, “Everyone may leave... except Lily.”

Oh no. Ohhh no.

I sat down like I was bracing for impact. “Sir, I—”

“Late. Again. You’re either allergic to clocks, or cursed.”

“I’m really sorry. I—”

“No. Instead of firing you, you’re being moved. You’ll assist someone. New department.”

I wanted to scream. Cry. Maybe run. But I couldn’t.

Because I needed this job.

---

And just like that, the humor in my chest died a little.

I needed this job more than sleep, more than pride.

Because back home, three younger siblings were waiting for me to pay their school fees.

Because my dad—my strong, stubborn, unbreakable dad—was lying in a hospital bed after the accident, and the bills didn’t stop just because life did.

Because the nights I cried into my pillow, I didn’t cry for love or loneliness—I cried because I didn’t know if we’d make it to next month.

Because the world doesn’t pause for people like me.

So no. I couldn’t lose this job. Not even if it meant swallowing every bit of my ego.

---

Ducky led me to a new department and pushed open a door.

And there he was.

Black suit. Sharp jaw. Dangerous dimples. The kind of man who makes women trip over flat floors.

He looked up.

“So… you’re my new assistant?”

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