My Alpha Stepbrother's Dirty Secret novel Chapter 288

Chapter 16

Diana's POV

The next morning‚ as early as possible‚ I made my way to Apexcare Medical Group. My heart wouldn't stop racing the entire ride there. I kept replaying that email yesterday in my head. I told myself this was a new start. A real one. A job I got on my own‚ without my parents‚ without their connections‚ without anyone pulling strings for me.

The hospital building stood tall and intimidating‚ glass shining under the morning sun. People moved quickly in and out‚ nurses pushing carts‚ doctors speaking into phones‚ patients waiting with tired faces. Everything felt serious and important‚ and suddenly I felt very small standing at the entrance.

I walked to the reception desk and told the lady I was here for the interview. She checked something on her computer‚ then nodded politely.

“You’ve been instructed to go to the hospital admin office‚” she said.

My stomach tightened. That sounded more official than I expected. I followed her directions down a long hallway that smelled faintly of disinfectant and coffee. Every step echoed in my ears‚ making me even more nervous.

When I reached the office‚ I knocked softly before stepping inside.

A man who looked to be in his late fifties sat behind a large desk‚ flipping through a file. He wore glasses low on his nose and looked calm in a way that made me even more anxious. He barely looked up at first as he scanned the pages.

“Good morning‚ sir‚” I said carefully.

He finally raised his eyes toward me. “Ah. Miss Diana.”

He studied me for a moment‚ then closed the file.

“You’re hired.”

I blinked.

“Sir… what?”

“You’re hired‚” he repeated casually‚ as if he had just told me the weather outside.

That was exactly why I wanted this job.

I wanted to prove I could stand on my own.

“Your pay will be five thousand dollars monthly‚” the man continued‚ sliding a form toward me. “Fill in your details.”

Five thousand.

My fingers froze over the paper. That was far more than I expected. Suspicion slowly crept into my chest.

Something was not right.

I picked up the pen anyway‚ still trying to process everything. My thoughts spiraled. My parents were extremely wealthy. My grandparents even more. Influence followed our family everywhere‚ and people often treated us differently because of it. I had come here determined to earn something on my own‚ without anyone knowing.

So who was this “he”?