Chapter 7 - 7

"Now, for the job I need you to do. Honestly it's simple." Emilio Reyes said with a shrug as he lounged on his seat. "For the next few years you, and another employee will train to be my son's assistants."

"Sir?" Ian said as he looked at the CEO in visible confusion.

"You might think that being a CEO's assistant is a lowly role, you schedule his meetings, buy things he needs, but that's not how the Assistants to the CEO of the Reyes Group functions." Emilio Reyes explained.

"I need people that are both book smart and street smart, I need people who will be able to stand up to my son and tell him no." The CEO further explained.

"Sir, how does being an assistant help with my plans?" Ian asked tentatively.

"Your plans?" Emilio Reyes asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Sir, I will be honest with you, I don't plan on remaining as an employee for the rest of my life." Ian revealed to the CEO.

To Ian's surprise Emilio Reyes simply grinned and shook his head.

"You know, if you said that to another CEO or to another employer they would have immediately kicked you out of the room." Emilio Reyes said with a laugh, clearly amused with Ian's behavior.

Ian was confused, he never thought that someone like the head of the Reyes Group would find his statement amusing.

"Sir, I'm very serious about this." Ian said in an insistent tone.

Emilio Reyes seemed to find his statement amusing and ended up laughing even more.

"You seem to be a smart kid who has been through a lot." Emilio Reyes said as he tapped on the table. "How far do you think you will get with just money?"

Ian was about to answer when it hit him. This man was right, without the right connections there wasn't much that he could do.

All his efforts would all just be in vain.

"You won't get far right?" Emilio Reyes said as he raised an eyebrow and leaned back on his seat.

"What are you offering?" Ian asked as he looked at the intimidating man.

"Train to be my son's assistant, stand by his side, and the Reyes Family will back you." Emilio Reyes offered.

"Then I wouldn't be taking back my family's position on my own." Ian said as he looked at the man.

"Your honesty is refreshing." Emilio Reyes said with a smile. "You remind me of my own assistant, Marco. That honestly will serve you well around my son, he can be short sighted at times."

"Sir?" Ian asked, even more confused now.

"It's true that it will not be 100% just you, but Mr. Lim, everyone requires help every now and then." Emilio Reyes said with a nod.

"I have a dislike of second generation heirs." Ian said quite frankly, he knew he needed this job, but something in him was just desperate to push it away.

"My son isn't a second generation heir." Emilio Reyes said with a laugh. "More like a fifth or sixth generation, much like you."

"I don't like working with spoiled rich kids, I met one in the lobby just now. He was annoying." Ian said, crossing his arms on his chest like a child.

"Again, my son is different." Emilio Reyes explained. "He has neve been spoiled by anyone in our family. He has never received special treatment, currently he is undergoing a special form of training."

Ian paused and considered his options. Working for the Reyes group would definitely solve his problems, but he felt that if he committed to this his whole life would be tied to this family, and that was not something he was eager to do.

"I'll make sure that in your contract, you can leave after working for my son for two years." Emilio Reyes promised.

"Can I extend if I need to?" Ian asked, he wasn't a fool, he wanted to guarantee that if he wasn't ready to branch out on his own then he would still have a job.

"That will depend on my son and on how well the two of you work together." Emilio Reyes said with a shrug.

"That is acceptable." Ian said with a nod, agreeing on the terms. "And what sort of training and work will I have to do?" He asked.

"You and another future assistant will shadow Marco, when we see fit we will send you to one of the company subsidiaries that my son will take over first." Emilio Reyes explained.

"Seems manageable." Ian said with a shrug.

"Do not be deceived, kid." Emilio Reyes said with a laugh. "The job you are about to take isn't an easy one."

"I'm a fast learner." Ian bragged.

"That I can see." Emilio Reyes said with a grin.

"Marco." Emilio Reyes called out through the intercom.

The assistant from earlier quickly entered the room, with him was a thick envelope and a pen.

"Before you go I want you to sign the contract and the NDA." Emilio Reyes said. He also took out another envelope from his drawer. "Part of your compensation will include an apartment in your name, a car, and a company credit card for personal use."

Ian was shocked at what the CEO had said, he didn't expect any of the additional perks.

Marco quickly took out the contract and handed it over to Ian to read and sign. Ian knew that this contract would be much more complicated compared to most employee contracts.

As he read through the document Ian was not surprised to see the steep penalties when it came to the non-disclosure of both company and personal affairs for the Reyes family and the executives of the Reyes Group.

When he got to the section discussing the terms of his employment, he was surprised to find that the two year trial period was already incorporated. It seemed that the CEO was two steps ahead of him.

"I assume everything is in order?" Emilio Reyes asked as he handed Ian his pen.

Ian nodded and signed the contract.

"Great." Emilio Reyes said with a smile as he handed Ian the envelope containing the keys and deed to the apartment, the keys to the car, and a credit card.

"File that and give Ian his ID so he can come in tomorrow." Emilio Reyes told his assistant Marco who simply nodded and left.

"A signing bonus." Emilio Reyes said as he handed Ian an envelope of cash.

Ian thanked him and took it. He was about to check how much money was inside when the CEO spoke.

"That's one hundred thousand in cash. It should be enough to see to your needs before your first pay." Emilio Reyes told a shocked Ian.

"Sir, this is too much." Ian said, shaking his head.

"No, the work you will be doing will be more than you could ever expect, so I hope I can compensate you." Emilio Reyes said, refusing the money.

"I'll do my best sir." Ian said with a nod.

"You may go. You are expected to be here at 7am sharp tomorrow morning. Understood?" Emilio Reyes asked Ian.

Ian nodded and left.

Outside the office, Marco was waiting for him.

"Welcome to the family, I guess." Marco said with a shrug.

"Why do I feel like I just signed my soul to the devil?" Ian teased, Making the older assistant laugh.

"It feels that way sometimes." Marco said, shaking his head. "The Reyeses are a good family, they are just secretive, you should know this."

"I've heard that they are nicer. I mean, I'm sure you know about my family." Ian said with a shrug.

"I hope this job helps you bring them back to the top." Marco said as he placed a hand on Ian's shoulder. "I'll walk you out. Here is your ID, corporate attire for work, no uniform. Usually I try to at least wear duller colors compared to the boss."

Ian simply smiled and nodded as they walked into the elevator.