In a cozy restaurant, with soft jazz playing, an unusual conversation was unfolding at a table by the window. A young woman with a mischievous gleam in her eyes placed her hands on the snow-white tablecloth and leaned forward:
“Daddy, I have an idea!” Eva paused theatrically. “Before I take the reins of power into my own hands, I want to conduct a small experiment. Give me the most… let’s say, unremarkable position. At least for a week!”
Anton Markovich almost choked on his expensive wine:
“What am I hearing? Three higher educations, and suddenly… Are you really going to pick up a broom?”
“Oh, what are you saying, Daddy!” Eva laughed, beckoning the waiter with an elegant gesture. “I need something more… social. I want to be in the thick of things, you know?”
Having placed her order – risotto with truffles – she looked expectantly at her father. He stroked his neat beard thoughtfully:
— Hmm… What if… a secretary to my deputy? You’ll be like a spider in a web – all the threads in your hands.
Anton Markovich’s eyes sparkled slyly:
— I love your idea! I can imagine their faces when they find out that my “modest secretary” will become their future boss! – he leaned back in his chair with a satisfied look. – And I’ll finally be able to relax…
— Daddy, are you planning on retiring? – Eva’s voice sounded tenderly mocking.
— Darling, sixty years is a decent age for a well-deserved rest. I want to live for my own pleasure, and you… you can handle it!
Eva responded with a warm smile, not even suspecting what surprises fate had in store for her. A week later, she was already standing in front of a majestic glass skyscraper in the heart of Moscow — her father’s empire, where she was to begin her journey… from the very beginning.
“Daddy…” Eva smiled softly, stopping at the entrance to the building. “You really have created something special. In every sense, you are the best.”
With these words, she stepped into the cool foyer of the business center. A new chapter of her life had begun…
The deputy’s office greeted her with cold and tobacco smoke. A balding man in expensive glasses — a typical “gray cardinal” of the corporate world — sat behind a massive desk.
“So you are Eva,” he muttered, not even rising to greet her. “I am your immediate supervisor. But you will work under Lena, my assistant.”
“Of course, Gennady Pavlovich,” Eva maintained a diplomatic smile.
He leaned back in his chair, blowing a cloud of blue smoke straight at her:
“Let’s be honest, baby. Your diplomas are worthless here. They’re of no use whatsoever.” He chuckled. “They only took you because the other candidates were even worse.”
“If only you knew,” flashed through Eva’s mind. Her father had personally supervised this “random” choice.
“Forget about ambition,” the boss continued to preach. “You’re a nobody here. Only what Lena and I say. Got it?”
He leaned forward, looking at her over his glasses:
“If you’re a good boy, you’ll get candy. If you screw up, you’ll be out so fast your heels will shine. Do I make myself clear?”
“Extremely so,” Eva answered quietly, feeling anger boiling inside.
Leaving the office, she barely had time to settle in at her new workstation when…
“Oh, my personal fetch-and-bring has arrived!” Lena landed on the edge of her desk, exuding the suffocating aroma of cloying perfume.
The first day promised to be… interesting.
“And you must be Lena?” Eva maintained her professional composure. “Gennady Pavlovich mentioned that you would bring me up to speed.”
Lena cast an appraising glance at the newcomer, like a queen examining a commoner:
“Hmm… Eva… Perhaps, only your name is cute.”
“Oh my God,” she theatrically threw up her hands, “did you put on clothes from a supermarket sale? Darling, you are the face of the company now!” Lena winced, as if she had seen something unpleasant. — Run to the accounting department, get an advance… Dress like a human being!
Eva, who had deliberately chosen a modest wardrobe, shrugged her shoulders in bewilderment:
— What’s wrong with my clothes?
— My dear, — Lena hissed, — we own the best shopping centers in the country! And on you… — she pointed with disgust at Eva’s suit, — there isn’t even a decent label. You should go and study our business from the inside…
“Your business? Funny…” — Eva chuckled to herself.
— Oh, I have an idea! — the cheerful Kira, a marketer with a charming snub nose, fluttered out from behind the next table. — There is a proven scheme: buy, wear for a week, return! Everyone does it!
— This is our little secret of survival, — Andrey, a full-time designer, winked, appearing with a steaming coffee. — Thanks to our fashion guru — Elena Anatolyevna! — he bowed playfully towards Lena. — By the way, new girl, would you like some coffee?
— Shut up, designer! — Lena barked, her eyes flashing. — The last thing we need is to blurt out all our secrets to the first person we meet. Maybe she’s a “plant”?
Eva only raised an eyebrow slightly:
— Believe me, snitching is not my style. I’m just working here.
The day was a whirlpool of new impressions. Having immersed herself in her father’s empire for the first time, Eva absorbed every detail of the work process with keen interest.
– Anton Markovich will be here soon… You’ll dance in his chair for me!
– So-o-o-o… – Eva rolled her eyes dramatically. – I’ll repeat for those who don’t understand: daddy won’t be coming. Not today, not tomorrow… – she paused. – He won’t be coming at all.
A whisper ran through the room. Eva looked around the assembled with a regal gaze:
– Speaking of daddy… In the file I’m listed as Eva Sergeyevna, but… – she smiled, – in reality I’m Eva Antonovna.
The silence became deafening.
– To put it simply, – she looked with particular pleasure at the pale couple, – I’m Anton Markovich’s daughter and your new boss.
– A lie! – Lena broke her pencil. – You… you’re an impostor! A beggar! Have you looked at yourself in the mirror?!
– Eva, – Gennady Pavlovich said through gritted teeth, – the jokes are over. Get out! Or the security will help…
– You seem nervous today, Gennady Pavlovich, – Eva propped her chin up with her hand. – Couldn’t Lenochka… provide you with her usual services?
A deathly silence hung in the room. The bomb was ready to explode.
– That’s enough! – Gennady Pavlovich grabbed the phone like a drowning man grabs a straw. – Security!
But fate had a surprise in store for him – three strong men in formal suits appeared in the doorway and rushed… to Eva:
– Eva Antonovna? Has something happened?
– Creature! – Lena choked on her own bile. – And you bought these?!
– You bought them? – a familiar voice thundered from the doorway. Anton Markovich himself appeared in the doorway. — More likely, inherited…
He cast a heavy glance at those present:
— Let me introduce… once again: my daughter, Eva! She’s been watching your… — he grimaced in disgust, looking at Gennady Pavlovich — serpentarium for a week.
— This… — a nod towards Lena — out the door. Fire her. And explain about confidentiality. Clearly, but without self-harm. Let her talk to the lawyers and security.
— Let me go! I’ll leave on my own! — Lena squealed when the guards grabbed her by the elbows. — You’ll dance to my tune yet, you bitch! — she hissed at Eva as a parting shot.
— I don’t think so, — Anton Markovich grinned. — My daughter, the entire security service is now yours. As are the rest of the resources.
He turned to his former deputy:
— And you, Gena… — steel rang in his voice. — Not only did you poison my people. You promoted that… Lena. With her “outstanding” abilities… — he chuckled. — I won’t mention other talents — you know better… In short, you’re out! We’ll keep quiet about your wife, so be it — we’re above that. But there’s no more room for you in my company!
The silence in the room became palpable.
— Well, daughter, your time has come! — Anton Markovich looked around the silent hall triumphantly when Gennady Pavlovich, muttering angrily, closed the door behind him.
Eva beamed:
— Dad, do you see these four? — she nodded at Tatyana, Andrey, and their two colleagues, frozen by the wall. — My team! They’ll become my right hand… Do you mind?
— Do you mind? — Anton Markovich laughed. — Daughter, you’ve always been able to see in people what others missed. Sit down, guys! — he waved his hand invitingly. — We have a lot of work!
… The years flew by like calendar pages. Under Eva’s leadership, the holding blossomed like a spring garden. She became that rare manager with whom you can laugh heartily, cry on someone’s shoulder, and resolve any work issue.
Life generously rewarded her — a happy marriage, a thriving business, a loyal team. But the fate of her former “well-wishers” turned out differently…
Gennady Pavlovich, having lost access to the golden trough, quickly spent his savings and found solace at the bottom of a glass.
And Lena… Oh, she successfully married a “golden bag”, but… Money and power are like a drug: the more you have, the more you want. Now she is “developing a career” in an IT company, returning home with disheveled hair.
— It’s all yoga, darling! — she chirps to her husband, innocently blinking her eyes.
The sun shines equally on everyone… But everyone chooses their own path