Chapter 36: A Tempting Offer

Sitting in the interview seat, Ellis watched as her resume and interview notes were handed to Lois. She felt a little tense. Lois didn’t even glance at the documents. Instead, she gestured for her staff to leave the room.

Now, it was just the two of them, facing each other.

“Ms. Ellis, should we start with the usual self-introduction, or do you prefer to keep things straightforward?” Lois asked.

Putting distance between herself and Easton wasn’t enough. Ellis was realizing more and more that his influence still loomed over her life. She was no longer really Madam Easton—just someone who still carried the title. She didn’t want people associating her with him, but without a divorce certificate, she couldn’t outright claim to be single either.

Job hunting while still being known as Madam Easton felt both ridiculous and suspicious. It almost seemed like she was some kind of corporate spy infiltrating other companies.

She thought for a moment before replying. “Let’s not waste your time, Madam Lois. Let’s keep it straightforward.”

“As far as I know, Ms. Ellis was an executive assistant at Hudson Group. Can you explain why you left? And does Mr. Easton know that you’re applying here?” Lois asked, finally lowering her gaze to the resume in her hands.

Ellis’s throat went dry.

“Uh…”

Her hesitation must have been obvious because Lois looked up again.

“Is it a difficult question?”

Lois was direct, which only made Ellis feel more awkward. It didn’t matter if the answer was embarrassing—she had to give one. She decided to be honest. “Easton and I are in the process of getting a divorce. It’s no longer appropriate for me to stay at his company. And no, he doesn’t know I’m applying here.”

With the way things were going between Easton and Victoria, it wouldn’t be long before Easton officially announced that Victoria was replacing her as the new Madam Easton. Or maybe he would go around telling people they had already started divorce proceedings. Either way, there was no point in hiding it anymore.

Lois hadn’t expected that answer. She studied Ellis quietly. Lois wasn’t just a successful businesswoman—she was striking in appearance too. Hers was a sharp, aggressive kind of beauty, the type that carried a strong presence. Even in a perfectly tailored business suit, she couldn’t hide her natural allure.

Ellis had always enjoyed admiring beautiful women, but now wasn’t the time to be distracted. Lois’s scrutiny made her uncomfortable. For the first time, Ellis wondered if this whole interview had been a mistake. Maybe she should have applied somewhere that had no idea she had ever been Madam Easton. That way, she could avoid the strange looks and whispered gossip.

Just as she was debating whether to cut this short and leave, Lois glanced back at her resume and spoke again.

“Ms. Ellis, my secretary doesn’t just assist with work. They also handle my personal matters and need to be available 24/7. Can you manage that?”

Ellis thought back to what she had been told in the initial interviews. Secretarial roles varied, but the one she had applied for was mainly about supporting an executive’s work. There had been no mention of handling personal affairs, let alone being on-call 24 hours a day.

She hesitated.

“You can ignore whatever salary was discussed in your first two interviews,” Lois continued after a pause. “I’ll set the salary myself—one million a year, plus bonuses.”

Ellis was stunned. Based on the job market, given her experience, education, and skills, she had expected an annual salary of, at most, three hundred thousand.

One million? If this had been before she filed for divorce, a mere million wouldn’t have been enough to buy a custom gown she’d only wear once. But now, broke as she was, a million wasn’t just a number—it was an incredibly tempting fortune.

There was no such thing as a free lunch. If someone was willing to offer her a salary at least three times the market rate, there had to be a catch.

“Madam Lois, forgive me for being blunt, but the salary you’re offering is far above my worth. May I ask what exactly you need from me?”

“Do you know how to take care of children?” Lois put down the resume.

“Children?” Ellis blinked, thrown off by the sudden shift in topic.

“Can you or can’t you?” Lois repeated.

“I’ve never taken care of a child before.”

“That’s fine. You can learn.”

Ellis was completely lost. Wait—was she applying to be a highly paid nanny instead?

“If you can handle being available 24/7 and you’re willing to learn how to take care of a child, give me a call. I’ll have the offer sent over.” Lois handed her a business card before adding, “I have a full schedule today, so we’ll stop here.”

With that, Lois left the room. Ellis sat there, dumbfounded. Based on how the conversation had gone, it seemed like all she had to do was say yes, and she’d have a million-dollar job in her hands.

Now that she was free from Easton, free from the emotional torment of love and heartbreak, had her luck suddenly turned around? Had she met a benefactor? Deciding whether to take the job was now her biggest dilemma. She needed an outside opinion. Out of habit, she picked up her phone and called Maya.