The sun rose and Evelyn sat on the table and had her breakfast. Since Damien did not come home, the housekeeper did not cook. She left early making an excuse. Evelyn made herself simple porridge as she stared at the large portrait of her and Damien on the opposite wall. It had been three years of their marriage. She still remembered how she had begged his grandfather to marry him. She was in love with him for a decade, but it all faded away with time. Like a fool she had waited for him, believed that her sacrifices would be noticed.
But just like today, Damien never came home at night. He would sleep with every single girl but her.
He went straight to the office, as if the night hadn't happened, as if his wife didn't exist. The penthouse he shared with Evelyn remained untouched, the sheets cold on her side and his.
Evelyn arrived at the Moira Group headquarters at 8:00 a.m. sharp, as always. Her tailored blouse was crisp, her hair tied neatly back, and her face composed. Just another day as Mrs. Damien Albrecht, reduced to Secretary Evelyn.
No one paid her much attention as she stepped into Damien's private floor. She was nothing more than a secretary hired for her body not brains.That's how he preferred it.
He was already seated at his desk, tie loosened slightly, sleeves rolled up as he flipped through files with precise speed. Damien didn't even glance at her.
"You're late," he muttered and Evelyn looked at the watch instinctively.
It wasn't true. She was five minutes early.
"I brought the schedule," she said softly, placing the folder in front of him.
He didn't respond. His focus returned to the blueprint on his desk. It was an ambitious project for a fairytale-themed amusement park on the city's outskirts. It was already drawing attention in business circles. Investors were circling like hawks.
Everyone said Damien was a genius for buying the land when it was worthless and now he would earn millions by this plan.
"Go and bring me a coffee! I am already feeling the headache." The marks on his neck did not go unnoticed by her as she placed the file on the table.
Her gaze only lingered for a second before she stared at the papers in his hands. She was reading it with speed that failed human understanding. She looked at for a long time and that made him frown.
When he turned to look at him, her gaze had returned to the mark on his necks. He frowned instantly.
"What are you looking at? Did you not hear me?" Evelyn looked away and nodded.
He barely gave her tasks beyond organizing papers, making coffee, and confirming meetings. But what he didn't realize was that Evelyn's memory was razor-sharp. Every time she handed him a document, she scanned the details. She had learnt every blueprint, every clause, every contract.
She knew the layout of the park better than his architects. She had memorized the names of the landowners he bullied into selling. She even caught the small inconsistencies in invoices, things he missed because he trusted no one... but ignored her entirely.
She brought him a black coffee and placed it on the table. Then she returned to her small cubicle and started noting down every detail she had read in the file earlier. But when the other secretary leaned, she saw him looking at the latest bags. She snickered in disgust. Evelyn did not react to their whispers. Her fingers moved on the keyboard with precision.
An hour later, Damien walked into the conference room like a storm. Investors, developers, and government consultants all stood the moment he entered.
"This is the layout," he said, tossing a set of diagrams onto the table. "Each section will be themed: fairy tales, folklore, ancient kingdoms. We launch in three phases. I've secured the land at 40% below market price."
There were murmurs of admiration. They all praised him for his farsightedness and risk taking ability. Even if others had doubted about the future usefulness they would have hesitated to take such a big risk.
Evelyn stood at the back, silently. No one acknowledged her, not even Damien. She held a leather folder against her chest and watched as he presented projections. Every number he quoted, she locked into memory. She didn't even blink.
When the meeting ended, Damien lingered by the door as his other secretary, Felicia sidled up to him, laughing a little too loudly, brushing imaginary lint from his sleeve. But she did not let go of his arm after that, she held it softly. Ready to let go any moment he frowns. But he did not.
"I am still smitten by you everytime you work on new projects. I wish I could learn more from you."
Damien offered her a smile, not warm, but not dismissive either. "Do your job properly and you'll get your bonus early."
The woman looked at Evelyn provocatively. But Evelyn remained in the corner with no expression on her face.
Felicia cast her a smirk. "Oh, Evelyn you are still here? You can go make coffee now. Black for Mr. Albrecht, right?"
"Of course," Evelyn said quietly, and left.
She walked calmly to the breakroom, made the coffee, and returned like a ghost.
Damien took the cup without a glance. "You will sit in for the investor call at four and take notes."
"Yes," she said. But she would do far more than that.
Because Damien didn't realize, behind the quiet eyes of the woman he dismissed, there was someone who was already five steps ahead.
And soon, she would stop being a shadow. She would become the storm. She left the room and closed the curtains and door behind her thoughtfully. Soon, the sound of kissing could be heard. Evelyn leaned on the door until they were done, and then she left discreetly. By the time Damien returned, Evelyn was already arranging his files neatly.
"Evelyn, grandfather called, he wanted to meet you."