?Chapter 382:


    Hailee blinked, unsure if she’d heard him right. “You… You want me to work for you? As your secretary?”


    “Is that an issue?” Merlin asked coolly, already moving forward as if her answer never mattered in the first ce. “Sure, you did well in the Starry Oil Painting Competition, but painting’s just a side hobby for you. That illustrator gig at the publishing house fell into yourp by chance. If I had to guess, what you really want is a job that actually lines up with your major, right?”


    Hailee mped her lips shut, saying nothing. But silence was admission enough—he’d read her like an open page. Back in high school, she’d aced her SATs and filled out her applications on her own, choosing Ublento University’s Secretarial Studies program as her top pick.


    Back then, she hadn’t known any better. Just a small-town girl from Willow Lane with big dreams and little direction. What had nudged her toward secretarial studies wasn’t practicality or family advice—it was morous Secretaries, a TV drama she’d devoured religiously. The show followed four ambitious women who started as office assistants, battled corporate chaos, and rose to power through sheer grit and grace.


    She’d idolized them—smart, stylish, unstoppable. They made her believe that if she studied hard and stayed the course, she could build a life like theirs: sharp suits, high heels, corner offices. So when it came time to choose a major, she didn’t second-guess. If it hadn’t been for the mess with Boris after graduation, she might’ve already been living that dream. She’d imagined herself at a prestigiouspany, gradually working her way up to be a top-tier executive assistant—just like her on-screen heroes.


    And now, out of nowhere, Merlin was handing her that very dream on a silver tter. This wasn’t just a job—it was her original ambition, resurrected.


    The keley Group wasn’t some run-of-the-mill business. It was a global titan, the kind of ce people spent years trying to get a foot in the door. And her entry? Instant—because Merlin said so.


    Most employees would spend decades climbing the ranks and still never glimpse the man at the top. But she? She’d be stationed right beside him from day one. By all ounts, fate had just handed her a winning ticket. The sheer improbability of it all left her reeling. Her thoughts spun in disarray, too jumbled for rity, let alone a decision.


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    Merlin watched her closely, his voice soft but edged with irony. “What now? Turning this down too? First, I’m not worthy of being your boyfriend… and now, I’m not even qualified to be your boss?”


    Hailee’s head snapped up. She shook it furiously. “No, no! That’s not what I meant at all! It’s just—I’m fresh out of school. I don’t have real-world experience. What if I screw everything up?”


    A small, knowing smile curved Merlin’s lips. “Rx. I’ll make sure someone trains you properly. You don’t need to worry about that. The only thing you should be thinking about is this—are you willing to repay your debt this way?”


    She blinked. It didn’t sound like a demand—it felt like a gift. A rare, golden chanceid before her with deliberate care. And not just any chance. The chance. The dream she’d quietly nurtured for years. The one she never thought would find her again. It was everything she’d once hoped for, served up with impossible timing and irresistible promise. How was she supposed to say no?


    Her heart thundered in her chest, her nerves fluttering wildly. Without thinking, she blurted, “I—I need to ask Elliana.”


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