Chapter 8

Lisa was on a roll or at least, she liked to think so. After surviving the investor presentation, which she half-expected Jennie to replay on a loop just to remind her how badly she’d almost messed it up, things had been surprisingly smooth. Jennie hadn’t mentioned the incident since, and while Lisa was still catching her breath after it, she felt like she was making some real progress.

Even the office had noticed that Lisa seemed... calmer. More focused. She was still her usual funny, slightly chaotic self, but there was a new sense of purpose in the way she worked. Maybe it had something to do with Jennie’s influence or the slow but steady realization that Lisa was more capable than she’d ever given herself credit for.

It was late Friday afternoon when something unexpected happened. Lisa was wrapping up her weekly tasks, feeling pretty good about how the week had gone, when her phone buzzed. She picked it up, expecting a message from Jennie about a last-minute assignment. Instead, it was from her dad.

Lalisa, I just had a meeting with one of our key partners. They’re expanding into a new region and need someone with your experience to help lead the initiative. They’ve asked if you’d be interested in a leadership position. We can talk about it over dinner this weekend.

Lisa stared at the message, her heart skipping a beat. A leadership position? Now?

Her dad had been patient for the most part, letting her gain experience at Kim Industries without pushing her too hard to join the family business. But this...this felt like a significant step. It wasn’t just a subtle nudge toward taking over; this was a full-blown offer to lead something major.

And honestly? Lisa didn’t know how to feel about it.

She set her phone down, her mind spinning. "A leadership role already?"  Sure, she’d been working under Jennie for a while now, learning the ropes and figuring out how to handle high-pressure situations, but was she really ready for something this big?

As if on cue, Jennie appeared in the doorway of her office, her expression as unreadable as always.

“Ms. Manoban,” Jennie said, her tone clipped and professional. “I need you to finalize the quarterly client reports before you leave today. The board will be reviewing them next week.”

Lisa snapped out of her thoughts, nodding quickly. “Right. I’m on it. Just finishing up.”

Jennie gave a brief nod and turned to leave, but then, almost as an afterthought, she paused and looked back at Lisa. “You’ve been more focused lately.”

Lisa blinked, caught off guard by the comment. “Oh... uh, thanks? I guess I’ve been trying to keep things under control. Fewer disasters.”

Jennie’s eyes narrowed slightly, as if she were considering something. “It’s noticeable.”

Lisa wasn’t sure if that was a compliment or not, but coming from Jennie, she figured it was as close to one as she’d get. She smiled awkwardly. “Well, I have a good teacher. Tough, but good.”

Jennie didn’t respond to that, but after a brief pause, she added, “Don’t let complacency set in. There’s always room for improvement.”

Lisa chuckled. “Of course. Always striving for greatness. That’s the Jennie Kim way, right?”

Jennie’s expression remained neutral, but Lisa thought she saw the faintest flicker of something in her eyes maybe amusement, maybe approval. It was hard to tell with Jennie. She was like a locked vault of emotions.

Before Jennie could say anything else, Lisa’s phone buzzed again. She glanced down at the screen another message from her dad, reminding her about dinner.

Lisa quickly shoved her phone into her pocket, feeling the weight of the job offer hanging over her. Jennie must have noticed the shift in her demeanor, because she tilted her head slightly, her eyes narrowing in that 'I know something’s up' way.

“Is there something else on your mind, Ms. Manoban?” Jennie asked, her voice calm but pointed.

Lisa hesitated, then decided to come clean. After all, Jennie was the most no-nonsense person she knew. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to get her perspective.

“Actually... yeah,” Lisa admitted, rubbing the back of her neck. “I just got a message from my dad. He’s offering me a leadership position in one of his partner companies. It’s... kind of a big deal.”

Jennie’s expression didn’t change, but she crossed her arms, clearly waiting for more. “And?”

“And I’m not sure if I’m ready,” Lisa continued, letting out a frustrated sigh. “I mean, I’ve learned a lot here, but I don’t know if I’m ready to lead something major. Like, what if I screw it up?”

Jennie studied her for a moment, her gaze sharp and focused, as if she were evaluating Lisa from top to bottom. Then, in typical Jennie fashion, she delivered her response with brutal honesty.

“If you’re waiting until you feel ‘ready,’ you’ll never take the step,” Jennie said, her voice cold but not unkind. “Leadership isn’t about feeling ready. It’s about being prepared to face challenges and adapt. You’ve already proven that you can handle pressure. The question is whether you want to take on that responsibility.”

Lisa stared at her, processing Jennie’s words. It wasn’t what she expected, but then again, Jennie was never one to sugarcoat things.

“You really think I could handle it?” Lisa asked, her voice quieter than usual.

Jennie raised an eyebrow. “You’ve made mistakes, but you’ve also corrected them. You’ve shown growth. If I didn’t think you were capable of handling more, I wouldn’t have kept you in this position.”

Jennie turned back toward the door, clearly considering the conversation finished. “Whatever decision you make, ensure that you commit to it fully. Half-measures will lead to failure.”

Lisa nodded slowly, still absorbing Jennie’s words. “Thanks... for the advice. I’ll think about it.”

Without another word, Jennie walked out, leaving Lisa standing there, staring at the door in disbelief.

---

That evening, Lisa sat at home, staring at her phone. The job offer from her dad was still hanging in the air, and she knew she’d have to give him an answer soon. But Jennie’s words kept replaying in her mind.

"Leadership isn’t about feeling ready. It’s about being prepared to face challenges and adapt."

Maybe Jennie was right. Maybe Lisa had been holding herself back, waiting for some magical moment where she’d suddenly feel completely ready to take on the world. But that moment wasn’t coming. If she wanted to move forward, she’d have to take a leap of faith just like she had when she’d first accepted the job as Jennie’s assistant.

She picked up her phone and tapped out a message to her dad.

I’m interested in the leadership position. Let’s talk more about it over dinner.

After hitting send, Lisa leaned back on her couch, feeling a strange mix of excitement and nerves. This was a big step, and while she wasn’t sure what the future held, she felt a growing sense of confidence that she could handle it.

Because if she could survive working for Jennie Kim the cold, precise, unflinching CEO...she could survive anything.

---

The next day at the office, Lisa found herself glancing at Jennie’s office door more often than usual. It wasn’t that she was seeking approval, exactly, but Jennie’s words from the day before had stuck with her. There was a level of respect there an acknowledgment that Lisa was capable, even if Jennie would never outright say it.

By mid-morning, Lisa’s phone buzzed with a message from her dad. It was simple: I’m glad you’re taking the next step, Lalisa. You’ll do great.

Lisa smiled to herself, feeling a wave of pride. She was stepping into something bigger, something she hadn’t quite been sure she was ready for. But with every challenge she’d faced at Kim Industries, with Jennie’s cold but oddly motivating presence, Lisa had learned that growth didn’t come from waiting for the perfect moment....it came from pushing herself into uncomfortable situations and coming out stronger.

As the day went on, Lisa continued her work with renewed focus, knowing that she had the support of both her father and, in some strange, indirect way, Jennie. She wasn’t just the chaotic assistant who spilled coffee and fumbled through presentations anymore. She was becoming something more someone more confident, more capable.

And as she closed her laptop at the end of the day, Lisa couldn’t help but feel like she was finally stepping into her own.

Continue....