The morning rush at the “EcoTech” office was in full swing. Employees hurried to their desks, chatting as they moved from the elevators to their offices. Amidst the hustle, no one noticed a young woman, about twenty-five, calmly entering the lobby and scanning the room.
"Alright, Amy, it's time to make your move," she whispered to herself as she adjusted the resume she held tightly in her hand.
Her name was actually Amylee Belsa, daughter of Gendard Belsa, one of the largest shareholders of “EcoTech”—a company specializing in eco-friendly products and recently branching out into the fitness nutrition market. However, no one in the office knew this. Officially, she used her mother’s surname and kept her father’s name hidden. She had decided to keep her identity a secret to avoid any preferential treatment, wanting to see the company’s true internal workings firsthand. “My dad wants me on the board, but I need to understand how things run from the ground up,” Amylee thought as she approached the security desk.
“What’s your business?” the security guard asked, raising an eyebrow.
“I’m here for an interview in the operations department. My name is Amylee Zenka,” she replied with a friendly smile.
“Alright, you can head in. Please sign in at reception,” the guard nodded.
Amylee felt her heart pounding in her chest as she walked to the elevator. “My father owns a large stake in this company, and yet here I am, just another job applicant…” she thought. But there was no other way. She wanted to see for herself how the employees were treated.
On the fifth floor, she was greeted by the HR manager, Irene, who skimmed over her resume.
“Amylee Zenka, right? Your experience is limited, but you do have a degree in business management,” Irene remarked.
“Yes, I recently completed my master's and am eager to grow in procurement,” Amylee replied confidently. “I’m ready to learn.”
Irene looked thoughtful for a moment. “The operations department is demanding. The head, Glexan Ivanich, is particular and prefers to do things his way. But if you can handle it, there’s room for growth. Will you give it a try?”
Amylee smiled. “Of course, I will.”
Half an hour later, Amylee was introduced to Glexan Ivanich, a man in his thirties with a haughty demeanor. He glanced at her resume and frowned.
“Your experience is minimal… but alright, we’re looking for a junior specialist. Let’s give it a try. Are you ready for overtime and irregular hours?”
“Yes, I am,” Amylee answered firmly.
Glexan shrugged indifferently. “The salary is modest. We have many projects, and you’ll need to work hard. If you agree, be here tomorrow.”
Amylee agreed and left his office, feeling conflicted. “It seems like Glexan sees me as cheap labor, just another employee. But I’m here to learn the truth about how this company treats its staff.”
The following day, Amylee sat down at an old computer at her new desk by the window. A young woman in a business suit approached her.
“Hi, are you new? I’m Olive, the chief accountant. Let me know if you need help with any accounts,” Olive said.
“Thank you,” Amylee replied with a smile.
Not long after, a man in his forties with a friendly grin came over. “Oh, you’re the new one? I’m Shaun, in charge of logistics. If you need anything, just ask, if not—well, suit yourself.”
Amylee nodded politely, feeling slightly nervous. She was getting used to the pace of the office, but things felt a bit overwhelming. An hour later, she decided to ask Glexan Ivanich a question.
“Glexan Ivanich, excuse me, where can I find the archive of old contracts? I need a sample…”
“Figure it out yourself!” he snapped, not looking up from his computer. “They’re over by that wall,” he added carelessly.
Amylee quickly understood: “No one here will guide you step-by-step. You have to figure everything out yourself.”
A week later, the first crisis hit: a supplier missed their deadlines, and clients began complaining. Glexan summoned Amylee to his office, visibly angry.
“Why didn’t my assistants keep track of the deadlines? You were supposed to contact the supplier and handle the situation!” he barked.
“But you didn’t give me any instructions…” Amylee began, feeling embarrassed.
“No time for instructions! Handle it yourself. Learn to act quickly,” Glexan snapped. “And if you want to stay here, stop waiting for orders and start thinking for yourself!”
Amylee bit her tongue to suppress the urge to argue. Inside, she was boiling. “Is this really how management works? No guidance, and then anger when things aren’t completed?” she thought. But she pulled herself together, contacted the supplier, negotiated compensation, and resolved the issue. Glexan seemed surprised by her calm demeanor, but didn’t offer any praise.
One late evening, when Amylee was staying late, she saw a familiar face in the corridor: her father, Gendard Belsa, had arrived for a board meeting. He glanced at her briefly, smiled with his eyes, but didn’t acknowledge her. He quietly asked, “Is everything alright, daughter?”
“Yes, Dad. I’m managing. There are some challenges, but I’m holding up,” she whispered.
“Good. The board will choose a new department head soon. Perhaps I should support you?” he offered.
“Not yet,” she shook her head. “I want to understand how my colleagues think first. Please, don’t reveal our secret.”
“Understood,” he nodded. “Listen, if anyone becomes too difficult, we can fire them.”
“No, Dad. I’ll handle it myself…”
He smiled, patting her shoulder before leaving with a soft, “Well done, proud of you, Anya.”
Days turned into weeks, and Amylee settled into her new role. Some colleagues began to appreciate her work, but Glexan continued to pressure her. He saw her as nothing more than an assistant who had to follow orders, and it seemed he wasn’t going to change his opinion. One day, Amylee suggested an improvement in the procurement process by implementing a new electronic request system.
“Who do you think you are, teaching me?” Glexan snapped. “I’ve been with ‘EcoTech’ for years! And you’re just a girl with no experience.”
Amylee replied calmly, “It could increase efficiency. I’ve studied several examples…”
“Your examples are worthless!” Glexan dismissed her. “Just shut up and do your job.”
The room fell silent as her colleagues watched the scene unfold. Amylee felt humiliated, but she knew she had to endure it if she wanted to uncover the truth about how employees were treated at this company.
As the company celebrated the “5th anniversary of the operations department,” Glexan made a sarcastic comment: “Well, the newbie can attend if she wants. Just dress modestly, don’t stand out.”
Amylee smiled, despite the sting. “Thank you, I’ll be there.”
At the event, the mood was one of drunken revelry. Glexan was boasting about his rise in the company, while Amylee quietly sipped juice, sitting aside. Suddenly, Glexan called out to her.
“Amylee, why so quiet? Dreaming of becoming a director?” he mocked.
“No, I’m just listening,” she replied flatly.
He laughed loudly. “What’s there to listen to? This company has done fine without people like you. You’re only here because they pity you…”
Amylee felt the sting but kept quiet. She decided it was time to stop being passive. The next week, during a board meeting, her father, Gendard, spoke up.
“We need to embrace new ideas,” he said. “Let’s start with the procurement department.”
Amylee’s invitation arrived: “Come to the meeting, but remain incognito until the right moment.”
During the meeting, Glexan had no idea what was coming. Gendard called on Amylee. “I’d like to introduce a young specialist who has been observing the department from the inside. Please, Amylee Belsa, step forward.”
Everyone turned to look. Glexan’s face went pale. “What… you’re the shareholder’s daughter?! Why didn’t you tell us?”
“I wanted to see how employees are treated,” Amylee answered confidently. “I’ve seen that some managers suppress new ideas and treat their subordinates poorly.”
The room buzzed. Glexan tried to defend himself, but Gendard interrupted him.
“That’s enough, Glexan. We need to change, not protect those who stifle growth.”
Amylee continued, “I don’t want to fire anyone. But we need to ensure that employees are treated fairly and ideas are welcomed.”
The board nodded, and Glexan was demoted. Amylee took on a new role as deputy head of procurement, where she began to implement changes that allowed employees to flourish.
A few months later, “EcoTech” saw record results under her leadership. When her father asked, “Well, Anya, did you manage after all?” she smiled and replied, “Yes, Dad. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished, but I couldn’t have done it without understanding the real workings of the company.”
Her father nodded, “The most important thing is that we set an example that it’s not about positions—it’s about the work you do and how you treat others.”
And in the end, Amylee realized her success wasn’t about being the boss’s daughter. It was about changing the company culture and proving that true leadership came from within, no matter where you started.