I Was Abandoned by My Fiancé and Betrayed by My Best Friend—A Story from Rock Bottom - Chapter 7

The morning after my training period ended, I straightened my back slightly and peered into the mirror.

The jacket that felt ill-fitting on the first day now suited me perfectly.

I could feel the tension leaving my shoulders to an almost laughable degree.

All the necessary duties, conduct, and mindset required of a secretary.

Thanks to what felt like the “Goddess’s Gift,” I absorbed everything with an ease that made my past desperate efforts to learn seem like a lie.

When my training seniors laughed and said, “You’ll fit right in on the job,” even I felt a little embarrassed.

Now, I even had colleagues who naturally invited me to join them for lunch.

When I seemed lost in the document room, Ms. Ohara and other seniors would call out to me.

I breathed a sigh of relief, feeling the company’s atmosphere gradually becoming familiar.

—Finally, even if I’m not quite perfect yet, maybe I’ll be recognized as “a secretary in my own right.”

Holding onto that hope, I stepped through the automatic doors at the entrance once again today.

The sound of my heels echoing on the marble floor held a touch of pride.

Since there was a meeting first thing, I’d come to work a little early.

Assigned an errand to help with preparations, I moved while carrying a large stack of documents.

The moment the elevator doors opened, I hurriedly rushed out.

I was nearly late for the morning meeting and broke into a light jog while still holding the documents when it happened.

—A man appeared right in front of me, and I almost collided with him.

“…Ah!”

“Hey! Watch it!”

My feet stopped at the sound of his low, sharp voice.

Before me stood a tall man, frowning deeply and glaring at me.

It was the first time our eyes met.

Sharp eyes, hair carelessly flowing down to his shoulders.

Though his suit looked expensive, his style was rough, giving off an unapproachable aura.

“S-sorry. I was in a hurry…”

I apologized reflexively.

But his anger didn’t subside.

“…Running inside the company? Are you insane? You’re not a kid anymore. If you’d crashed and scattered these documents everywhere, who’d pick them up?”

His blunt words shot out like arrows.

I got irritated and ended up saying,

“W-what! I said I’m sorry! You don’t have to go that far!”

Seeing my pouting face, he piled on further.

“If you’re going to apologize, don’t do it in the first place. And what’s with that tone? Which department are you from? Your manners are lacking.”

“W-what did you say?!”

“Watch yourself from now on, you total newbie.”

He tossed the words over his shoulder, tucked his documents under his arm, and walked away.

The scent of his cologne and the sharp sound of his footsteps lingered oddly in my ears.

—What’s with that guy… He’s the woooorst!!

Screaming internally, I hurried toward the section chief’s office.

“Ms. Udo. Perfect timing. Just put the documents over there.”

The section chief spoke cheerfully to me while I was still catching my breath.

“Yes.”

I hastily straightened my posture and placed the stack of documents where instructed.

“You remember you’re being officially assigned starting today, right?”

“…Y-yes.”

“I’ll introduce you to the executive you’ll be working with as a secretary.”

I puffed out my chest and nodded.

—Finally, after finishing training, the day I stand at the starting line as a full-fledged secretary.

“We’re confident sending you out. Do your best under him.”

“Yes, thank you.”

I have to believe in myself and do my best—I thought, right at that moment.

On the top of the documents the section chief handed me, a familiar name leaped out.

—Kiryū Naoya.

Kiryū?

That surname belonged to the company president. Everyone in the company knew it.

“…Huh…”

A small sound escaped me, but the section chief didn’t notice and continued talking.

“He’s a sharp guy who became an executive at a young age. I think it’ll be a good experience for you. Do your best.”

“Y…yes.”

Now I felt intimidated.

Me, as secretary to the company’s young master…?

Forget doing my best. I feel like I’m going to break, Chief.

I desperately forced a smile and bowed.

But in my head, a red siren was blaring nonstop.

“Oh, right. This is a photo of Naoya-san.”

When I saw the document the section chief showed me, I felt dizzy.

—Of all people, it’s him!?

—He’s the wooooooorst!!!!!

The moment I left the meeting room, my steps faltered.

While my colleagues around me bustled about as usual, I felt like I’d been left behind in another world.

—No, no, no… Am I really going to be okay?

◆◆◆

A room on the designated executive floor.

I took a deep breath in front of the door, then knocked.

“Come in.”

A low but clear voice.

Suppressing my trembling shoulders and hands, I turned the knob.

“Excuse me.”

The moment I opened the door, I saw a man sitting on the sofa, fiddling with his phone.

—The very same man who’d yelled at me this morning.

“…Um, I’m Udo Miharu, assigned as your secretary. I look forward to working with you starting today.”

Seeing me bow deeply, his fingers stopped, and he placed his phone on the table.

His widened eyes narrowed immediately, holding a sharp light.

“What! It was you?!”

His voice sounded half-dismayed, half-laughing.

Under his gaze, which seemed to recall our encounter in front of the elevator, my spine instantly turned cold.

“…!”

What’s with the “you”!?

No honorifics or anything!?

While mentally retorting, I quickly stood beside the desk with a professional smile.

He stared at me wide-eyed, then looked as if he’d drawn the short straw.

“Section Chief Kawamoto proudly said to expect great things but this is trouble. I’ll have to file a complaint.”

“W-what did you say?!”

—I accidentally said it out loud…

But even if it’s about me, I won’t let you badmouth the section chief.

“That’s rude! The section chief didn’t do anything wrong!”

He reacted to my words.

“Well… you’re right. I admit it was rude. I’ll keep it from Kawamoto-san.”

“Good that you understand.”

My attitude made him show a bit of anger.

“But who do you think you are? What’s your position here?”

—Gah! I messed up.

“M-my apologies… I spoke out of turn.”

“Good that you understand. I’m Kiryū Naoya. I’m an executive in the sales division. As you heard earlier, introduce yourself to me again.”

It was like a switch flipped in him. He straightened up and gave me instructions.

“Y-yes! I’m Udo Miharu. Starting today, I’ll be assisting you with daily tasks as your secretary. Pleased to meet you.”

Though it was frustrating, I bowed deeply to him.

“Hoh, you can do it when you try. I see, Kawamoto-san’s judgment might not be wrong after all.”

He seemed to grasp something from my brief self-introduction.

I felt his voice soften slightly.

After that, we exchanged business cards, and he gave me a concise rundown of my duties.

—And so, my work as a secretary began.

“Now, regarding the schedule from here on.”

“Leave it there. I’ll look at it later.”

“Y-yes…”

As I placed the documents I was about to hand over on the table, he murmured while holding his phone, “I’d like some coffee.”

His words were neither a command nor a request, and I froze for a moment.

“…U-um, is canned coffee alright?”

“Black.”

He answered without even looking.

“Understood!”

—I get it, black… black… your heart is black too!!

Suppressing my inner scream, I headed to the break room.

When I returned and set down the coffee, he finally placed his phone on the desk and looked at me expressionlessly.

“So? What’s your experience as a secretary?”

“I-I just finished a week of training…!”

“What a newbie?”

Light entered his eyes, and he rested his chin on his hand, pondering something.

“S-sorry!”

“Don’t apologize, I just asked.”

His words made me freeze again.

—If you’re not angry, then fix your tone!!

“Well… just do things at your own pace.”

Saying that, he took a sip of coffee.

His tone seemed to carry a slight softness, and I breathed a sigh of relief.

—Anyway, my very first secretarial duties in life started like this.

◆◆◆

“You’ll attend the board meeting with me today. It’s your first day, so start by getting a feel for the company’s atmosphere.”

When Kiryū-san told me that, my heart nearly leaped out of my chest.

—A board meeting? Isn’t that too hard for the first day?!

“U-understood. I’ll help with preparations.”

Though flustered, I steadily assisted Kiryū-san with his preparations.

The designated meeting room was spacious, with bright lighting like a hotel banquet hall.

Surrounding the round table were the executives who ran the company.

Each had a secretary seated beside them.

The weight of the overall atmosphere made my feet freeze.

Walking slightly behind Kiryū-san, I took my assigned seat and straightened my posture as if holding my breath.

The murmuring quieted, and the heavy door opened.

In that moment, the atmosphere in the meeting room transformed completely.

Everyone’s gaze focused on one point.

An elderly woman dressed in an elegant white kimono, her back perfectly straight, entered slowly.

Her mere presence made the space seem like another world.

Somehow, I felt an indescribable sense of discomfort.

“Before we begin today’s agenda—”

A clear voice resonated throughout the meeting room, and I unconsciously widened my eyes.

—Huh, that voice…?

When she turned toward us, my chest heaved violently.

A gentle smile, a familiar profile.

—Ayano-san…!?

“Sh-sh-she’s the chaaaaairperson!!!!”

Shocked more than I’d been all day, I felt a light concussion and my consciousness faded.

I vaguely remember Kiryū-san noticing and supporting me.

The next time I regained consciousness, I was on a bed in the infirmary.