His Paper Bride

"Hey! Bring back my purse!" Ella screamed, her voice echoing through the quiet, isolated street as a man in a hoodie sprinted off with her bag.

Her heart pounded hard against her chest, her breath shaky. The street was almost empty, just dim streetlights and her own fear bouncing off the walls of silence.

Ella bent forward, hands on her knees, catching her breath. The thief had vanished into the shadows. She let out a frustrated sigh, her eyes burning with tears.

It had only been two months since she moved from her small town to this massive, unforgiving city and already life was testing her.

She was living in a cramped, single room shared with three other girls she barely knew. The space smelled faintly of detergent and struggle; beds squeezed shoulder-to-shoulder, one fan trying its best to cool everyone. But Ella had no choice. This was what starting over looked like.

At twenty-five, she was stronger now,  wiser, sharper, tougher. Life had taught her not to fold under pressure. Still, every night she prayed for a breakthrough, for that one opportunity that would change everything, not just for her, but for her parents too.

It had been two long months of walking from company to company, dropping applications, waiting endlessly. Each rejection chipped at her hope, but she never stopped. Until, finally, a letter came.

She'd been hired.

A well-known, prestigious company;  the kind she'd only dreamed of. It felt unreal. Her eyes had watered when she got the call. Finally, a chance to start building the life she promised her parents.

"Hey! Watch your step!" someone shouted as she walked into the company building, nearly bumping into a glass divider.

Ella froze and quickly muttered an apology, realizing her eyes had been glued to the grand view;  polished marble floors, silver elevators, cold air-conditioning that smelled of wealth, people in sleek suits walking with purpose.

The world she'd only seen in magazines now surrounded her, and for a moment, she felt small but also proud.

She approached the front desk with a polite smile and explained that she was the new hire. The receptionist, with perfectly painted nails and an overly polite smile, made a quick call and told her she'd be starting immediately as the CEO's personal assistant.

Ella's heart skipped. The CEO? That wasn't what she expected. But she steadied her nerves and followed the direction.

The moment she stepped into his office, the air felt heavier. The scent of strong cologne and tension filled the room. Everything was sleek; black furniture, spotless windows, a massive desk that screamed authority.

Ben looked up from his files; tall, dark, intimidating. His gaze was sharp enough to silence a room. Ella froze at the doorway, unsure what to say.

"Sit down," he ordered, his tone flat and commanding.

Ella quickly obeyed. Her palms were sweating, but she tried to stay calm.

"I already know your name and every detail I need," Ben said coldly. "No need for any introductions as I have no time for storytelling. If you have nothing else to say, get out of my office and begin what you'll be paid for."

His words hit like a slap. Cold. Dismissive.

Ella swallowed hard, forcing a weak smile as she stood up. She wasn't going to mess this up, not after fighting so hard to get here.

She found the nearest restroom, leaned over the sink, and looked at her reflection. Her eyes were tired but strong.

"This time," she whispered to herself, "I'll win for all of us."

Her reflection stared back with quiet fire and that was enough to push her through.

She returned to her desk and began working, carefully following instructions, refusing to make a single mistake. But before she could even settle, her office phone rang.

"Mr. Ben is calling for you," said a voice from the line.

Her stomach twisted. Already?

She took a deep breath, smoothed her dress, and knocked on the CEO's door.

"Come in," his deep voice called out.

She stepped inside, her voice trembling slightly. "Sir... you asked for me."

"Yes, I did," he said without looking up.

His eyes finally lifted, meeting hers; cold, piercing. "And why are you shaking?"

"N-no... nothing," she stammered, her lips trembling as she tried to hide her fear.

His expression hardened. "Then fix yourself," he snapped. "I don't want anyone ruining my day."

The words stung. She stepped out of his office quietly, her heart heavy, eyes stinging with tears she refused to shed.

"All this just on my first day?" she muttered under her breath, sighing deeply.

For a moment, she wondered if it was even worth it, maybe staying home jobless was better than enduring humiliation. But then she remembered her parents' faces, their laughter before everything went wrong. And that reminder alone made her stay.

The day dragged endlessly. When the closing hour came, she felt her body loosen with relief as finally, she could go home.

But before she could grab her bag, Ben's voice echoed from his office again. "Ella, stay behind. There's still work to do."

The excitement of leaving vanished instantly. She dropped her shoulders and whispered, "Oh my God, what a day," in a breathless, exhausted tone.

The next few hours were brutal task after task, his voice sharp with orders, his face unreadable. No breaks, no air. She could barely breathe.

But she kept going. Because giving up wasn't an option.

When the final task was done, she slumped into her chair, chest rising and falling in exhaustion.

"Finally," she whispered, exhaling deeply. "Finally."

She picked up her bag and stepped out of the office, the cold night air hitting her face like freedom.

Tomorrow would come and she'd face it head-on.