The atmosphere in the waiting area on the executive floor of K-VESTA GROUP felt cold and flawless, like a display case showcasing untouchable success. Gleaming white marble blended with dark wood accents, creating a sharp contrast—a perfect reflection of Jayendra Kim Arya's leadership.
Arya, who had been standing behind the transparent glass, ignored the financial reports displayed on his tablet. His eyes remained fixed on the small monitor showing a live feed from the Marketing division interview room.
He wasn't supposed to be reviewing candidates for the Marketing Administrative Assistant position, a job that certainly didn't require the attention of a CEO of his stature. But that day, he was deeply interested in the process, for one reason.
As it turned out, one person had managed to steal his focus.
Sarena Jelita. The name was clearly written on her profile.
The girl sat upright in the wheeled chair, clutching the edge of her slightly wrinkled skirt. Her clothes were neat: a perfectly ironed white blouse, a black pencil skirt, and freshly polished loafers. She seemed to be trying hard to project a professional image, but there was something she struggled to hide.
Arya zoomed in on her face. Sarena was a two-year diploma graduate. Her profile was ordinary, with no particularly striking skills, and she was applying for a position with fierce competition.
"She's not going to get the position," Arya muttered, more to himself than anyone else.
Not because Sarena was unworthy. Her eyes were clear, and she answered the questions politely and thoughtfully. But behind that mask of composure, there was a sadness in her gaze that made Arya feel sorry for her. The look in her eyes made her seem utterly miserable.
That was what interested Arya. It wasn't physical attraction, but an awareness of the girl's situation. She looked like she needed money—a commodity Arya possessed in abundance, and one she currently needed badly to resolve her own personal problems.
Arya shut off the monitor and pressed the intercom button.
"Hanif, cancel the next meeting. Call the candidate being interviewed, Sarena Jelita, to The Quiet Room now. Don't let the Marketing recruiter process her any further."
Hanif, Arya's Personal Assistant, never questioned his orders, even when they were this unusual.
Five minutes later, Sarena Jelita, still confused about why her interview had suddenly been terminated, was gently ushered into a small soundproof room known as 'The Quiet Room,' a place ordinarily used for important negotiation meetings.
The girl, standing only 155 centimeters tall, looked even smaller and more fragile beneath the shadow of The Quiet Room's imposing doorway.
There, Arya greeted her from behind a minimalist desk, radiating an aura of power that made Sarena bow her head respectfully.
"Please, sit," Arya said, his voice deep and calm, completely different from the formal tone of the recruiter before him.
Sarena sat down, twisting her fingers in her lap. She was still confused, but she briefly assumed she had moved on to the next stage of the interview.
Arya smiled faintly, a smile that never reached his eyes. "I'm Jayendra Kim Arya. CEO of K-VESTA GROUP."
Sarena gasped. She glanced up. The CEO?
The man looked tall, and the sharp lines of his face made it clear he wasn't ethnically Indonesian. His fair skin complemented his mature good looks. Sarena didn't know it, but he looked noticeably older than she was.
Then why did she have to meet with the CEO?
"I appreciate your effort in applying for a Marketing Staff position here," Arya continued. "But let me be frank. With your two-year diploma qualification, your chances are extremely slim."
Sarena glanced at him again, then lowered her head. She looked like she didn't understand.
"This isn't a job interview, Ms. Sarena. This is a business offer—one far more profitable than the monthly salary of a Marketing Staff member," Arya continued, getting straight to the point.