If You Are Suited for the Villain's Secretary - Chapter 46

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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If the Villain’s Secretary Suits Me
Chapter 46
5. I Didn’t See This Coming
The Cassis Harbor Project finally broke ground several days ago, and it was a resounding success.
Which meant everyone at La Mare had been swamped without a moment’s rest,
“Secretary, please save me…. I’ve lost count of how many cups of coffee I’ve made….”
“Please save me too, Luther…. I’ve emptied five ink bottles just writing meeting minutes and reports this morning….”
As a result, Luther and I were working our wrists to the bone—him making coffee, me transcribing meeting minutes.
Luther joked that he’d become the world’s first casualty of carpal tunnel syndrome at this rate.
But I couldn’t bring myself to complain,
“At least you and I managed to leave late at night, but The Director seems to still be in the office.”
“It does seem that way. I can see the Merchant Guild from the company residence. But I haven’t seen the lights off since he returned from Cassis ten days ago. Not even on weekend nights.”
“Stop, that’s too scary…!”
First, because Aden, The Director, was far busier than we were.
Second, because—
“I’m going to finish the report now.”
“Huh? Already? There’s still forty minutes left in lunch break?”
“Yes. When I thought about last month’s salary in my account, strength suddenly flooded into my wrist tendons. It’s strange.”
“…Is that actually okay?”
“Of course. I’ll get up and get to it.”
“Yeah, I’ll stay lying down a bit longer….”
I’d received proper financial therapy.
I’d received my first paycheck not long ago.
Luther had hinted that there would be a bonus for the Walton incident and the Cassis Harbor project, which made me secretly excited, but I’d tried to keep my expectations in check.
‘Even if Aden doesn’t skimp on salaries, hoping for 30% would be… unrealistic, right? Besides, that would be too shameless. It’s already double what other places pay.’
It wasn’t even a quarterly or year-end bonus—I’d only been employed for a month.
I’d be happy with just 15%, which would still be close to a million gold!
When I opened the envelope, I nearly screamed shamelessly.
[18,000,000 Gold]
It wasn’t 30%. It was 300%—eighteen million gold in performance bonus alone.
And that was separate from my base salary. Staring blankly at the statement, I desperately wanted to pretend I hadn’t seen it….
‘Could it be a mistake? Maybe they added an extra zero when entering the percentage.’
In the end, I couldn’t ignore my conscience and requested a meeting with Aden, but he spoke without even looking at me.
“Iliana Grecia’s performance bonus for this month is eighteen million gold. If that’s your only reason for requesting this meeting, you’re dismissed.”
“Yes, sir.”
Combined with the money I’d been saving from side work, my account now held a staggering twenty-six million gold.
Or rather, it had.
‘I transferred it immediately to pay off my debt. I only kept a million gold.’
For the first time, I’d paid back not just interest, but principal—twenty million gold!
Yet the reason I was grinding my wrist tendons even during lunch break wasn’t solely gratitude for the performance bonus.
I glanced quietly at The Director’s office door, which was firmly shut.
Ten days ago, when I’d boarded the train with Aden—a man whose sleep schedule remained a mystery—came flooding back to me.
***
After receiving the contract from Julius Noel.
Since Aden preferred to skip unnecessary formalities, I’d parted ways with the Branch 3 staff early at the branch entrance.
So logically, there shouldn’t have been any familiar faces at the train station to see me off. Yet someone utterly unexpected was standing there.
“Looks like you’re heading out now?”
It was Julius Noel, accompanied by a contingent of bodyguards.
Julius approached with a hearty laugh, and surprisingly, he addressed me rather than Aden.
“I spent all that time staring at that Scottish fellow’s face—or whatever his name is—that I never got a good look at yours, and that’s a real shame! But I heard you were leaving for the Capital City today, so I thought I’d stop by and pay my respects. After all, you’re the greatest contributor to my 10 billion gold!”
Julius, who had eagerly extended his hand for a handshake, then whispered with theatrical secrecy.
“And you even saved my life!”
“Well, if I may be frank, for your safety, it might be better to emphasize the ’10 billion gold’ part less loudly than the ‘life’ part.”
“Don’t worry! I’ve hired plenty of capable bodyguards!”
“Bodyguards aside, the advertisement has already made it common knowledge throughout the Empire that you possess 10 billion gold. Going forward, I’d recommend using an alias.”
“You really are a clever one! But there’s no need to worry, because….”
“Secretary.”
Julius, who had been laughing heartily, faltered.
Aden had appeared at some point.
“It’s ‘secretary,’ not ‘young lady.’ Please use the correct title.”
“Huh?”
“A pleasure to meet you. I am Aden, Director of La Marr.”
Aden introduced himself in a tone that conveyed anything but pleasure, and with a smooth motion, he took the hand that Julius had been shaking mine with and released it.
“Ah, so you’re the distinguished young man behind this clever secretary! Delighted!”
However, Julius seemed to possess a remarkable talent for letting everyone’s words go in one ear and out the other.
Judging by how he treated Aden the same way, he was certainly consistent in his disregard.
“Anyway, Victor and I are planning to travel by cruise! We’re renting an entire cruise ship!”
It actually seemed like a rather sound solution.
Julius had chosen the most luxurious and secure fortress to protect his 10 billion gold—one that floated on water.
After all, fewer people would target him on the open sea than on land. Except, of course, for Victor Noel, who was likely drooling over the 10 billion gold right beside him.
“I see. You two have become quite close rather quickly. To think you’re already planning to travel together after just one day.”
“Well, at least I’ve found someone to give me a proper funeral. I won’t have to worry about dying alone anymore.”
‘Oh?’
I’d been speaking indirectly, but hearing Julius’s wry laugh, it became clear that this wasn’t a one-sided exploitation—it was a mutually beneficial arrangement.
Perhaps that was fortunate. So I simply smiled back at him without adding anything further.
“Anyway, secretary, give me your business card!”
“I can certainly provide one, but why? Do you have business for La Marr?”
“Not that! Do you like jewelry? What about accessories? I want to send you something as thanks for your help!”
This grandfather was going to cause real trouble!
Before Aden could open his mouth, I quickly moved to intercept.
“I do like jewelry myself, but that would be a rebate. If I take money under the table, I’ll be fired from La Mare, so I’ll just accept your goodwill.”
“Huh? Really? I should have asked more carefully. Is there any way you could pretend you didn’t hear that, young Director?”
“There isn’t.”
“Darn.”
“Still, let me give you my business card. Never send anything, but contact me if you have work to entrust or something you’d like to find.”
I handed Julius my business card and received his contact information before we were about to part ways.
He approached me with a slightly awkward tone.
“Um, he asked me to tell the secretary that Victor is sorry.”
“Pardon?”
“He said he didn’t know. When he was told to introduce his nephew, he thought that was it, but he never imagined it would go that far, or that such means would be used. But he says that not knowing doesn’t make it okay, so he wants to apologize.”
I felt Aden’s gaze and turned my head—our eyes met. He gave a light gesture toward the platform.
It seemed to mean that since it was one-sided and not a direct apology, I didn’t have to listen further if it was uncomfortable.
He was someone who believed that ignorance was also a sin and had gone around apologizing directly to partner companies, so it was understandable to view this kind of message as mere face-saving.
But I gave him a slight smile. At least to me, Victor Noel’s apology held value.
“He said seeing his face would only upset you more, so he asked me to relay it instead. As an adult, I’ll apologize along with him.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“Then take care! I’ll be in touch!”
It was the first apology I’d heard from someone involved in this affair.
Randolph, Tessa, and Jack weren’t the type to apologize, so I’d already given up on hearing from them.
They’d face judgment in court anyway, so it didn’t matter. I didn’t need to hear apologies from people like that.
But now that I’d heard one, I felt a knot inside me loosen just a little.
As I watched Julius’s retreating figure for a moment, I bowed my head slightly to Aden.
“I’m sorry for the delay. I apologize—”
“You’re quite generous. Miss Iliana Grecia.”
…Should I apologize for being generous?
I was about to open my mouth in confusion.
“Unlike how strict you are with yourself.”
“…”
“If that time was necessary for you, it was neither a delay nor a waste. You don’t need to apologize. Let’s go.”
A man who counted time in minutes spoke those words.
Perhaps that’s why, despite his usual indifferent tone, his words sounded quite tender.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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