Sweet For You, Ruthless For Others
Chapter 45: The Opportunity

Chapter 45: The Opportunity

Her office was ready now. She glanced toward the room, curiosity mixed with apprehension.

"My office,"

She wanted to see it—wanted to step into the space that was now hers, even if it had started off as a cleaning task forced upon her.

Taking a steadying breath, Hermia made her way toward the freshly cleared room.

Hermia stepped into her new office and paused, taking in the space with quiet awe.

The room was small, but it had a charm of its own—a simple rectangular layout with white walls that made it feel bright and welcoming.

A single window framed one side of the room, offering a glimpse of the city beyond.

The soft afternoon light filtered in, casting a gentle glow across the wooden floor and the modest furnishings.

The desk stood at the center, a sturdy piece with slight scuffs on its edges—signs of age rather than wear. It had clearly been unused for a long time, much like the office itself.

She walked to it, running her fingers across its surface. It was clean now, polished by the janitors, but there was something about its vintage feel that appealed to her.

On the desk sat her work laptop, placed neatly alongside a small stack of papers.

A simple office chair completed the setup, its fabric a muted gray.

The shelves on one side of the room were empty, waiting to be filled with files, books, or anything else she might need.

Hermia smiled to herself. This wasn’t some grand, executive space, but it was hers. Her first office.

A place to work, think, and create.

Her heart swelled with quiet joy as she began to imagine personal touches she could add.

"The walls need something," she murmured, already envisioning a calendar or a quirky wall clock. She’d find something perfect for the space, something that would make it uniquely hers.

Walking to the window, she paused and took in the view of the city.

It wasn’t sprawling or picturesque, but the sight of people moving about their day, the buildings reaching for the sky—it filled her with a sense of possibility.

She slipped on her sky-blue coat, wrapping it around her shoulders as if shielding herself with the newfound warmth of her space.

Standing there, gazing out at the world, she thought to herself, Niklaus isn’t all that bad.

He’d given her this. A chance, an opportunity. Sure, the path to get here hadn’t been smooth, but it was hers now.

And for the first time in a while, she felt genuinely happy.

Turning back to the desk, she pulled out the chair and sat down, ready to get to work. Let’s make this count, she thought with determination.

It hadn’t been easy for Hermia to find a job.

Returning to America had felt like a daunting leap, and the uncertainty of starting over had weighed heavily on her shoulders.

But now, she had a chance—an opportunity to prove herself and build a life here. She wasn’t about to waste it.

Sitting at her desk, she allowed herself a moment of reflection.

Her fingers brushed against the surface of her laptop as if grounding herself in the reality of it all.

This was her start, her new beginning, and she vowed to give it everything she had.

As she adjusted her seat, her attention was drawn to movement in the main office outside her glass wall.

The door to Niklaus’s larger office had opened, and she saw him step inside, his commanding presence impossible to ignore even through the clear partition.

His assistant, Steffon, followed close behind, holding a stack of files.

Hermia instinctively straightened in her seat.

Though the glass wall gave her some privacy, it also offered a clear view into the main office—and vice versa.

She was keenly aware that at any moment, Niklaus could glance her way.

Her heart quickened as she watched him move with his usual blend of confidence and authority, his sharp features set in a neutral expression.

For a fleeting moment, she wondered if he would acknowledge her presence or if he was too absorbed in his work.

She took a deep breath, steadied herself, and turned back to her desk.

Focus, Hermia, she told herself firmly.

This is your moment to prove you belong here.

The faint sound of voices carried through the glass as Niklaus and Steffon discussed something.

Hermia couldn’t make out the words, but she caught Steffon’s slightly incredulous tone and Niklaus’s calm, measured responses.

Despite herself, she felt a flicker of pride. This wasn’t just a job—it was an opportunity to step into a world she’d always dreamed of.

And no matter what challenges lay ahead, she was determined to rise to the occasion.

Hermia stepped out of her office, standing tall and poised like a professional ready for her tasks.

She wanted to make an impression, to show Niklaus and Steffon that she wasn’t just some burden or a victim of circumstance—she was here to work.

Niklaus glanced at her and immediately stopped mid-conversation with Steffon. His blue eyes widened briefly, then softened as they settled on her.

"How are you?" he asked, his tone gentler than she expected.

She could see the flicker of surprise on his face, no doubt because he had assumed she’d still be resting.

After all, he’d insisted on it earlier, likely feeling guilty for the chaos he’d caused by making her clean the dusty storage room.

Hermia offered him a warm smile. "The janitors finished, and the office is all set up. I love it," she said, the excitement in her voice genuine.

Niklaus’s lips twitched into a smile, a rare expression of pure joy that caught even Steffon off guard.

He liked seeing her happy—more than he cared to admit—and it showed.

Steffon, standing off to the side, blinked in surprise.

He had never seen his boss like this before: smiling shyly, his usual stoic demeanor replaced by a softer, almost bashful one.

"Do you need anything else?" Niklaus asked after a moment, his voice tinged with a rare awkwardness.