The Social Climber Is Mr. CEO’s First Love

Meliza's POV

I felt proud of my minor achievement as I sat on my chair in front of my own office table. I admit that I felt apprehensive about accepting the position Nina offered me since I knew the consequences would be, but Nina was right. I earned this position.

I worked hard last year not to become a supervisor but to earn more money to help my mom and sister, and being a supervisor for this summer is a bonus for me.

I have my own desk with a laptop, and I couldn't believe I would be working inside an air-conditioned room and not under the heat of the sun. I don't complain. I loved working in the fields and enjoyed my time with the farm hands, even with my fellow part-timers, even if most of them hated me, especially the girls.

"Iza, don't forget to talk with Ethan, okay?" I heard Nina say, and when I looked up, she was standing before me with a wide grin on her face.

"It suits you, my dear; you just don't know how I fought for you to be one of the supervisors," she said, and my forehead wrinkled as I looked at her in confusion.

"What do you mean by that?" I asked.

"Well, you have some competitions, Meliza, and I don't need to tell you who they are, but I know they hated you," Nina responded as she looked at me with tenderness in her voice.

"I knew what happened last summer, and I don't believe what they said about you," she added, and I weakly smiled at her.

"Thank you for trusting me, Nina," I replied.

"I like you, Iza. I could see myself in you when I was younger. There will always be people who will envy you wherever you go, but always remember to be yourself and stand for what you believe in." She responded.

"I know you have a bright future ahead of you," Nina added.

"Call me when you need me, and don't hesitate to ask me anything, even personal matters; you can talk to me, Meliza's." She continued.

"Thank you, Nina. I couldn't thank you enough," I stated, and we talked more about my work before she left the office.

I smiled as I leaned back on my chair and turned it around. I felt so happy, and I am enjoying my position so far.

After making some reports based on the data Nina had given me, I picked up the list of my fellow workers who were under my supervision and started reading it. I let out a heavy sigh after I found the names of Nicole and Crystal.

I stood up from my chair with heaviness in my heart. I couldn't believe the girls who hated me so much to be part of my team. I had no choice but to start my main duty as their supervisor. I began inspecting the work of those part-timers under me since I wasn't the only supervisor on the farm.

"Are you going to the Mango plantation?" Vince asked when he found me getting out of my office

in a hurry.

"Yes, how do you even know where I am going?" I asked, smiling at him.

"Well, I knew who was under your wings, and most of them are harvesting mangoes, " he responded.

"I am headed to the plantation as well; you can hitch a ride with me if you like; you can save time," Vince added.

"I think I should walk, Vince," I replied, avoiding his intense gaze.

"Iza, please, don't make this harder for us. I will not ask you again to be my girlfriend or mention anything about my feelings for you while we are working. I will properly ask you to discuss that matter with you on a date." Vince declared.

"I don't want you to feel uncomfortable around me. You will be working under me. Nina is the general manager, but this summer, I will be in charge of the operations, and you will be working with me whether you like it or not." He added, and I let out a soft sigh as I mumbled, okay.

"I promise not to talk about courting you while we are at work," Vince continued.

"I am sorry," I mumbled as I looked at him.

"It is okay, Iza, but I am not backing out. I am not going to surrender. I knew you hated me for being so persistent; you said no, but I didn't stop. I don't know how to stop myself from falling for you, Iza." He responded as he took my hand and led me outside, and my face blushed.

I felt fortunate and couldn't deny Vince made me feel special. But I didn't feel anything for him aside from being friends. I love him as my friend:

I could see some farmhands looking in our direction as he guided me into climbing inside his pickup truck. We received the same reaction when we arrived at the Mango plantation.

"Are you sure you are okay on your own?" He asked with a worried expression after I climbed out of his truck. And I couldn't deny his handsome appearance; he looked so hot with his coverall.

"I will be fine. I can deal with them, and I need to do my job on my own, Vince," I replied.

"Good luck, and see you later, Meliza." He said.

"See you later!" I shouted, waving my hand as he drove away from where I was standing.

After Vince drove away, I quickly turned my heels. I was looking for my fellow part-timers and found them under one of the mango trees, standing and doing nothing. It was not time for a break, but they were laughing and talking as if nothing was happening around them.

Most of the workers were busy doing their jobs, while Nicole and Crystal were busy talking with their friends, who were all under me. They were all laughing, doing nothing so far, and I knew they were doing it on purpose. They wanted to test my patience as their supervisor.

"Nicole, working hours are not yet over, and it is not yet time for a break; why are you all standing there doing nothing?" I asked, and she laughed.

"You think you can command us what to do, Iza? Do you think we will listen to someone like you? We all know you are in that position because of Vince." Nicole responded with a mockery on her face.

I gripped my hand on the list I was holding as I looked at her with anger mixed with pain on my face.

"Well, I was chosen and am in this position because I deserve it, Nicole. If you don't want me to report you to Nina, you should do your job now." I responded and turned my attention to the rest of her friends.

"Guys, I don't want you to get in trouble, so I am asking you to please cooperate. I understand you hated me for being your supervisor, but you didn't have a choice. I am only doing my job here," I said to them, and I could see the anger and disgust on their faces as they looked at me.

"Do your job well because we all know it is not for me but for your own sake. If you hate me, don't make it personal; don't complicate your work because of your hatred towards me." I added.

"I know your job is important to you, for we are all aiming to work at Adriana's Agricultural Corporation someday. We all have the same goal, and if you will not do your job, then it is all up to you." I continued.

"You all know there is a long list of applicants waiting for their turn to be here. If you want to lose your chance, be it. I am not going to beg you to do your assigned job. I am here to evaluate and make a report on your performance. I didn't come to impress you all or ask for your approval to be your supervisor because we are all workers here." I said.

"Bitch!" Crystal said as she spit near my feet.

"Now, move!" I yelled as I ignored them, cursing under their breath.

I could feel the tension around us, but I felt glad they moved and started doing their jobs. Nicole and Crystal were talking against me while the rest shut their mouths as they began to put the ripe mangoes in the boxes.

I helped even if I didn't need to, and I just wanted to be an excellent example to them even if I knew they would never support me.

"Why are you back, Meliza?" Nicole asked.

"I need this job, Nicole," I replied as I checked the mangoes, ensuring all that went in the box was free from damage or spoilage. We separated the rejected mangoes into a separate box.

"Are you sure about that? I don't think that was your only reason, Iza; we all knew you returned to have Vince, right?" Nicole responded.

"I can only answer work related question. I don't want to talk or discuss my personal life with you because it is none of your business. If you like Vince, you better start chasing him and stop bothering me with nonsense questions. You better focus on your job at the moment." I answered, and she looked daggers at me.

"You are only a nuisance here, Meliza. Everybody was disappointed that the management chose you to be our supervisor because you are not fit for the position since you had done nothing last year but flirt with all the boys." She countered, her friends laughed, and I fell silent as I controlled myself.

I felt hurt, but if I picked a fight with her, it would not end well. I chose to stay silent and ignored them as long as they were working, and it would be fine with me. I must endure their insults and ridicule for the rest of my summer. All I need is to survive this season, and I will be on my own, and I will never come back here to Adriana's farm.

"I heard what happened in the Mango plantation. Are you okay, Iza?" Ruby asked after her shift, and she was inside my office.

"I am fine," I responded.

"I know you are not fine. Those girls should respect you, Meliza. You better report them to Nina. Insubordination is a serious offense." She responded.

"I don't want to make it worse, Ruby," I replied as I continued to press the keyboard of my laptop.

"They should be punished and learn their lessons. I couldn't believe those girls for targeting you again. It wasn't your fault to be beautiful; they should look at themselves in the mirror before they attack you." She said.

"Don't mind them; I must focus on my job and ignore their insults. Their hurtful words will never stop me from pursuing my dreams, Rubs. They made me more motivated." I lied.

"I couldn't believe you would say something like Dad, Iza." She replied, shaking her head.

"Do you plan to work overnight?" she added. I stopped what I was doing, looked at the clock on the wall, and realized it was thirty minutes past five o'clock in the afternoon.

"Oh, no! I still need to speak with Ethan," I said as I stood up.

"I can't believe you are that privilege to speak with the new heartthrob of the farm. I heard he is a bad boy. Beware of his charm, Meliza. I think he is the kind of boy capable of breaking down your defenses." She responded as she winked at me.

"Come on, Ruby, you know he is not my type of guy," I replied, trying my best to control the loud pounding of my heart as I remembered Ethan's handsome face. I didn't want my best friend to find out I felt something foreign when I met Ethan, and I was scared to deal with this kind of raw emotion that I experienced for the first time.