Every Assistant Quit in Weeks—Until She Walked In and Changed the Millionaire CEO’s Life
The Interview and the Trial of Efficiency
The elevator ride felt like ascending to Judgment Day. Olivia watched the floor numbers climb and tried to practice what she’d say.
She’d researched Sebastian Cross extensively. He was 32 years old and had inherited Cross Industries from his father at 25.
He had tripled the company’s value in 7 years. He was known for being brilliant, ruthless, and emotionally unavailable. Business magazines called him a visionary; gossip columns called him an Ice King.
The elevator opened to reveal a workspace that screamed money and power. Everything was sleek and modern, probably costing more than her entire education.
A few employees glanced up from their computers. Their expressions ranged from curious to pitying.
At the far end of the floor, double doors led to what was obviously the main office. Olivia took a deep breath, knocked once, and walked in before she could lose her nerve.
Sebastian Cross was exactly what she’d expected and nothing like she’d imagined. He sat behind a desk that could have doubled as a landing strip.
He wore a suit that probably cost more than her rent. His dark hair was perfect, his posture was perfect, and his expression suggested he’d already decided she was wasting his time.
“You’re late,” he said, without looking up from the document he was reading.
“Traffic was a nightmare, the subway broke down, and my phone died. But I’m here now, and that’s what matters, right?”
Olivia sat down in the chair across from his desk without waiting for an invitation. Sebastian finally looked up.
His gray eyes scanned her appearance with clinical precision.
“Your resume says you have no experience as an executive assistant.”
“That’s correct.”
“No advanced degree in business.”
“Also correct.”
“No references from previous corporate positions.”
“Getting warmer,” Olivia leaned forward slightly.
“But I do have a degree in English literature, three years of managing a chaotic restaurant during the lunch rush, and an impressive ability to solve problems that shouldn’t exist in the first place.”
“Such as?”
“Last week, I convinced a food supplier to deliver emergency ingredients during a snowstorm.”
“I explained that our customers’ happiness directly affected the cosmic balance of the universe. He thought I was crazy, but he delivered the food.”
Sebastian stared at her for a long moment. “You’re not taking this seriously.”
“Mr. Cross, I’m taking this very seriously. I need this job, but I’m not going to pretend to be someone I’m not just to impress you.”
Olivia gestured around the office. “You’ve obviously been through a lot of assistants.”
“Maybe the problem isn’t that they weren’t qualified. Maybe the problem is that they were all trying to be what they thought you wanted, instead of being what you actually needed.”
“And what do I actually need?”
“Someone who isn’t afraid to tell you when you’re being unreasonable. Someone who can think on their feet.”
“Someone who realizes that perfection is the enemy of getting things done,” she paused. “And someone who makes really good coffee.”
For the first time since she’d walked in, Sebastian’s expression shifted slightly. It wasn’t quite a smile, but it wasn’t the stone mask he’d been wearing either.
“The position requires working long hours, managing a complex schedule, dealing with high-stress situations, and maintaining absolute confidentiality.”
“I once organized my college roommate’s wedding in two weeks after the original planner disappeared with the deposit money. I think I can handle your calendar.”
“You’d be representing this company at important meetings and events.”
“I can be professional when the situation calls for it. I just choose not to be professional when it’s not necessary.”
Olivia straightened in her chair. “Mr. Cross, you can hire another perfectly qualified candidate who’ll quit in three weeks when they realize you’re human instead of a business machine.”
“Or, you can take a chance on someone who already knows you’re probably difficult and is okay with that.”
Sebastian closed her file and leaned back in his chair. The silence stretched between them, filled with the distant sounds of the city below and the hum of air conditioning.
“One month trial period,” he said finally. “If you survive that long, we’ll discuss permanent placement.”
“Define survive.”
“Don’t quit, don’t get fired, and don’t drive me completely insane.”
Olivia grinned. “Mr. Cross, I think driving you a little bit insane might be exactly what you need.”
Olivia filled out paperwork in HR. James Mitchell couldn’t help but feel like he was sending a lamb to slaughter.
She seemed nice enough, certainly more spirited than the usual candidates, but Sebastian Cross had broken stronger people than her.
“Can I give you some advice?” James asked as she signed her employment contract.
“Please do.”
“Sebastian isn’t cruel, but he’s demanding in ways that most people can’t handle. He’ll expect you to anticipate his needs, work at his pace, and never show weakness.”
“The last assistant quit because she cried in the bathroom after he criticized her filing system.”
“What was wrong with her filing system?”
“Nothing. It was perfectly organized. But Sebastian reorganizes things when he’s stressed, and he’s always stressed.”
Olivia set down her pen. “Mr. Mitchell, can I ask you something? Why does he go through so many assistants, really?”
“Is he actually impossible to work with, or is there something else going on?”
James considered the question carefully. He’d worked at Cross Industries for 8 years.
He had seen Sebastian transform from a grieving son trying to fill his father’s shoes into the controlled, isolated man he was today.
“Sebastian Cross is brilliant, successful, and completely alone,” he said finally.
“He keeps people at a distance because it’s safer than letting them close enough to disappoint him. Most assistants try to fix that or take it personally when they can’t.”
“The few who might have lasted long enough to understand him get scared off by his mother.”
“His mother?”
“Victoria Cross. She runs Sebastian’s personal life like a military operation.”
“Any woman who gets too close to her son gets the full investigation and intimidation treatment. She’s convinced that romance is a distraction from business success.”
Olivia laughed. “She sounds delightful.”
“She’s terrifying. But if you can survive both Sebastian and Victoria, you might actually make it here.”
As Olivia left the building that evening, she felt a mixture of excitement and terror. She’d gotten the job, but she’d also signed up for what might be the most challenging month of her life.
Sebastian Cross was clearly a man with walls built so high they probably had their own weather system. But Olivia had always been good at climbing walls.
At the same time, 42 floors above, Sebastian stood at his window again, watching the evening traffic begin to build. For the first time in months, he was actually curious about what tomorrow would bring.
Olivia Rivers was unlike any assistant he’d ever hired. She was chaotic, unpredictable, and completely unimpressed by his reputation.
This meant she was either exactly what he needed or about to make his life significantly more complicated. Possibly both.
Olivia arrived at Cross Industries the next morning at exactly 8:00. She was carrying two coffee cups and what appeared to be a small potted plant.
The security guard, who’d been briefed about the new assistant, watched with interest as she juggled her items while trying to badge into the elevator.
“Need help?” he offered.
“I’ve got it under control,” Olivia said, just as the plant slipped from her arms. Soil scattered across the marble lobby floor. “Okay, maybe I don’t have it under control.”
By the time she reached the 42nd floor, Olivia had managed to save the plant, though her white blouse now sported several brown stains.
The reception area buzzed with quiet activity as employees arrived for the day. Several heads turned to watch her approach Sebastian’s office.
Their expressions suggested they were witnessing the beginning of a very short employment.
Sebastian’s assistant desk sat directly outside his office like a command center. It was pristine, organized, and completely intimidating.
Olivia sat down her coffee and the rescued plant, then surveyed her new domain.
There were three computer monitors, a phone system that looked like it could launch rockets, and enough filing systems to organize a small country.
“You’re early,” Sebastian’s voice came from behind her.
Olivia turned to find him emerging from his office, already dressed in another perfectly tailored suit.
His dark hair was styled precisely, and he carried himself with a kind of confidence that came from never having to wonder if he belonged somewhere.
“I figured if I was going to make mistakes, I might as well make them efficiently,” she said, gesturing to the coffee cups. “I brought you proper coffee this time. Black. No sugar. No joy.”
Sebastian accepted the cup and took a cautious sip. His expression didn’t change, but he didn’t make the face he’d made yesterday either.
“Better,” he admitted.
“Progress.” Olivia moved the plant to a corner of her desk.
“I also brought a peace offering. Meet Photosynthesis Phil. He’s very good at converting carbon dioxide into oxygen, which I thought might be useful given how much you seem to hold your breath around people.”
“You named your plant Photosynthesis Phil?”
“I name everything. It makes life more interesting.”
Olivia sat down at her desk and immediately started exploring the computer system.
“My car is named Gertrude, my coffee maker is Fernando, and my cat is officially Whiskers but answers to Chairman Meow.”
Sebastian stared at her for a moment, clearly trying to process this information.
“Your schedule for today,” he said finally, placing a folder on her desk.
“I have meetings every hour from 9:00 to 6:00, a conference call with Tokyo at 7:00, and dinner with potential investors at 8:30.”
Olivia opened the folder and scanned the contents. “When do you eat lunch?”
“I don’t.”
“When do you take breaks?”
“Don’t.”
“When do you go to the bathroom?”
Sebastian’s jaw tightened slightly. “I manage.”
“Mr. Cross, you’re not a machine. You need food, water, and occasional biological functions to remain a functional human being.”
Olivia pulled out a pen and started making notes in the margins of his schedule.
“I’m adding a 30-minute lunch break and two 15-minute buffer periods for basic human maintenance.”
“That’s not necessary.”
“It’s absolutely necessary. A CEO who passes out from low blood sugar or has a medical emergency during a board meeting is not projecting the image of control you’re going for.”
Before Sebastian could argue, his phone rang. Olivia answered it smoothly.
“Sebastian Cross’s office, this is Olivia. How can I help you?”
She listened for a moment, then put the call on hold.
“Diana Chen from Chen Holdings wants to speak with you. She says it’s urgent regarding the Morrison contract.”
Sebastian’s expression darkened. “Tell her I’m unavailable.”
“She says she’ll keep calling until you pick up.”
“Then take the phone off the hook.”
Olivia studied his face, noting the tension around his eyes. “Personal or professional conflict?”
“Both. She wants me to handle it.”
“You don’t know anything about the Morrison contract.”
“No, but I know how to handle persistent people who won’t take no for an answer.”
Olivia picked up the phone. “Ms. Chen, Mr. Cross is in back-to-back meetings all day, but I’d be happy to schedule a call for tomorrow morning. What time works best for you?”
She listened to the response, made some notes, and then spoke again.
“Perfect. I have you down for 10:30 tomorrow. I’ll send a calendar invitation with the dial-in information. Have a wonderful day.”
Sebastian watched this exchange with something approaching amazement. “She agreed to wait until tomorrow?”
“People just want to feel heard. She was calling because she was frustrated, not because it was actually urgent.”
Olivia made a note in his calendar. “Plus, I may have implied that you were in meetings with Japanese investors, which made her feel less personally slighted.”
“You lied.”
“I creatively interpreted your schedule. You do have a call with Tokyo tonight, so technically you are dealing with Japanese business interests today.”
At 11:30, just as Olivia was getting comfortable with the phone system, alarms started going off throughout the building.
They weren’t fire alarms, but something electronic and insistent. “What’s happening?” Olivia asked, as employees began looking around nervously.
Sebastian emerged from his office, phone pressed to his ear. “System breach in the data center. Someone’s trying to hack our client database.”
His face was grim. “Get Robert Sterling on the line immediately. If they accessed his company’s information, we need to warn him before this goes public.”
Olivia had never heard of Robert Sterling, but she could tell from Sebastian’s tone that this was serious.
She started dialing while Sebastian continued his conversation with what sounded like the IT department.
“Mr. Sterling’s office, please hold,” came the response.
“This is Olivia Rivers calling from Cross Industries for Sebastian Cross. We have an urgent security matter to discuss with Mr. Sterling immediately.”
“Mr. Sterling is in a board meeting.”
“Then you need to get him out of that board meeting. We’re talking about a potential data breach that could affect his company’s confidential information.”
There was a pause, then, “Please hold.”
Two minutes later, Robert Sterling’s voice came on the line. “Sebastian, what’s this about a data breach?”
Olivia gestured to Sebastian, who took the phone.
“Robert, we’ve detected unauthorized access attempts on our system. Your company’s data may have been compromised.”
“We’re implementing security protocols now, but you need to alert your IT department immediately.”
While Sebastian handled the call, Olivia noticed something odd. The alarms had stopped, but employees were still clustered around their computers, whispering.
She got up and approached the nearest group. “What’s everyone looking at?”
“The breach,” said a woman from accounting. “But look at this. The hacker left a message.”
Olivia peered at the computer screen. In place of the normal login screen was a message: “Your security is weak. This was just a demonstration. Expect contact soon. A friend.”
“That’s not a typical hacker message,” Olivia murmured. “It’s too polite.”
She hurried back to Sebastian’s desk just as he was finishing his call with Robert Sterling.
“The breach was contained,” he told her. “It says nothing was actually stolen, but someone definitely got inside our system.”
“Sebastian, I think you need to see the message they left.”
When Sebastian saw the screen, his expression grew even darker. “This wasn’t random. Someone specifically targeted us, and they wanted us to know it.”
“Any idea who?”
Before Sebastian could answer, Olivia’s phone rang. She answered automatically. “Sebastian Cross’s office, this is Olivia.”
“Is this the new assistant?” The voice was female, smooth, and carried the kind of authority that made people stand up straighter.
“Yes. May I ask who’s calling?”
“This is Victoria Cross, Sebastian’s mother. I need to speak with my son immediately.”
Olivia looked at Sebastian, who was shaking his head vigorously while making slashing motions across his throat.
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Cross, but Sebastian is dealing with a security emergency right now. I’ll have him call you back.”
“Young lady, I don’t know who you are, but when Sebastian’s mother calls, he takes the call.”
“I understand, Mrs. Cross, and I’m sure Sebastian would love to speak with you.”
“However, he’s currently on a conference call with our security team and several clients regarding a data breach.”
“I know he wouldn’t want to give you divided attention during an important conversation.”
There was a long pause. “A data breach?”
“It’s being handled, but it requires his full focus right now. What time would be convenient for him to call you back?”
Another pause, then, “Have him call me at 4:00. And young lady?”
“Yes, Mrs. Cross?”
“We’ll be meeting very soon.”
The line went dead. Olivia looked at Sebastian, who appeared to be somewhere between impressed and terrified.
“She wants you to call her at 4:00,” Olivia reported.
“How did you do that?”
“Do what?”
“Get my mother to accept a call back. She doesn’t accept call backs.”
“I treated her with respect but didn’t let her steamroll the conversation. Plus, I gave her information that made her feel important rather than dismissed.”
Sebastian stared at Olivia like she’d just performed magic. “You’ve been here one day.”
“Sometimes an outside perspective helps.”
