The office at “Grand-Ver” was buzzing with activity. Employees moved quickly, chatting and rushing between elevators and their offices. Amid the hustle, a young woman of about twenty-five walked calmly into the lobby, scanning the surroundings.
“Alright, Anya, it’s time,” she whispered to herself, adjusting the resume in her hand.
Her name was actually Anna Belskaya, daughter of Gennady Belsky, one of the largest shareholders of “Grand-Ver,” a company known for its eco-products and recent ventures into the fitness nutrition market. But no one knew that. On paper, she was Anna Zhukova, using her mother’s surname to avoid any privileges and see the company from the perspective of an ordinary employee. “My father wants me on the board, but first, I need to understand how things work at the ground level,” Anna thought as she approached the security desk.
“What’s your business here?” the guard asked, raising an eyebrow.
“I have an interview in the purchasing department. Anna Zhukova,” she said with a smile.
“Alright, come on in. Sign in at reception,” he nodded.
Anna felt her heart race as she entered the building. “I’m the daughter of one of the main shareholders, but here I am, just another job applicant…” she thought. But there was no turning back. She had to learn how the company really treated its employees.
On the fifth floor, HR manager Irina greeted her and quickly glanced at her resume.
“Anna Zhukova, right? Your experience is light, but you do have a management degree…” Irina said.
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“Yes, I recently finished my master’s in management, and I’m eager to develop in procurement,” Anna replied confidently.
Irina hesitated. “Our department’s demanding. Gleb Igorevich, the head, runs things his way. If you can handle it, there’s room to grow. Are you up for it?”
Anna smiled. “Of course.”
Half an hour later, she met Gleb Igorevich—a thirty-five-year-old man with an air of arrogance. He glanced at her resume, then frowned.
“Your experience is minimal. We’re hiring a junior specialist, but fine. Let’s see what you’ve got. Are you willing to work overtime and irregular hours?”
“Yes, I am,” Anna answered, still confident.
“The salary’s modest, and the workload’s heavy. If you’re in, come in tomorrow,” Gleb shrugged.
Anna agreed, feeling a mix of emotions as she left his office. “Gleb seems like the typical boss who treats me as just cheap labor,” she thought. But it was all part of her plan—to see how employees were treated from the inside.
The next day, she took a small desk by the window and began working on spreadsheets. A woman in a business suit approached her.
“Hi, you’re new? I’m Olga, the chief accountant. If you need any help, just ask,” she said warmly.
“Thank you,” Anna replied with a smile.
A man around forty with a friendly smile came over next.
“New here? I’m Sergey, in charge of logistics. If you need anything, just let me know,” he offered.
“Thanks,” Anna nodded politely, her nerves still on edge. After an hour, she decided to ask Gleb a question.
“Gleb Igorevich, could you tell me where the archive of old contracts is? I need a sample…”
“Figure it out yourself,” he snapped, without looking up from his computer. “The folders are by that wall.”
Anna realized: “No one here will teach you. You have to learn on your own.”
A week later, a crisis hit. A supplier missed the deadline, and clients were unhappy. Gleb summoned Anna to his office, looking furious.
“Why didn’t my assistants follow up on the deadlines? You should have called the supplier and handled it!” he barked.
“But you didn’t tell me…” Anna began, embarrassed.
“No time for warnings! Handle it!” Gleb shouted. “Learn to think on your feet!”
Anna gritted her teeth, suppressing the urge to argue. “Is this how management works here? No guidance, then anger when tasks go wrong?” But she pulled herself together, called the supplier, arranged compensation, and solved the issue. Gleb didn’t acknowledge her effort but seemed surprised by her calmness.
One late evening, as Anna stayed late at the office, she spotted her father, Gennady Belsky, arriving for a board meeting. He gave her a brief smile but made no sign they knew each other. He quietly asked:
“Everything alright, daughter?”
“Yes, Dad. There are challenges, but I’m handling it,” she whispered.
“Good. The board will soon choose a new department head. Should I lend a hand?” he asked, his voice low.
“Not yet,” Anna replied. “I still want to understand the team’s perspective. Please, don’t reveal our connection.”
“Understood,” he nodded. “If anyone crosses the line, we can handle it.”
“No, I’ll do it my way,” she said firmly.
He patted her on the shoulder. “Well done, Anya. Proud of you.”
As time passed, Anna gained the respect of her colleagues, though Gleb continued to treat her as just an assistant. One day, she suggested implementing a new system for electronic procurement requests. Gleb exploded.
“Who do you think you are, telling me how to run things? I’ve been here for seven years! You’re just a girl with no experience!”
Anna remained calm. “It could improve efficiency. I’ve researched similar systems…”
“Your research is meaningless!” he dismissed her. “Just do your job.”
Her colleagues fell silent, watching as Gleb berated her. Anna felt humiliated, but she remained silent. “I have to endure this if I want to learn the truth about how employees are treated,” she thought.
The company was planning a “5th anniversary of the purchasing department” event. Gleb remarked arrogantly:
“Well, the newbie might attend if she wants. But don’t stand out too much.”
Anna blushed but accepted the invitation. “Thank you, I’ll be there.”
At the event, the atmosphere was filled with drunken chatter. Gleb bragged about how he “rose from the bottom,” while Anna sat quietly, sipping her juice. Suddenly, Gleb called out to her.
“Anna, why so quiet? Dreaming of becoming a director?” he sneered.
“No, just listening,” she replied flatly.
He laughed loudly. “Our company’s done just fine without people like you. They probably took pity on you.”
Anna felt the sting of his words but said nothing. It was time to reveal the truth—”Enough of playing the bystander.”
The following week, the board gathered to discuss changes. Gennady Belsky called for new approaches, including changes in the purchasing department. Gleb had no idea what was coming. Anna received an invitation from her father: “Join the meeting, but stay incognito for now.”
At the meeting, Gleb was present as head of the department. Anna sat quietly in the corner, pretending to be a stenographer. Then, Gennady asked:
“I’d like to introduce a young specialist who has been observing our department from the inside. Please, Anna Belskaya, come to the podium.”
The room went silent. Gleb looked stunned. “Who is that?” he muttered.
“I am Anna Belskaya, daughter of Gennady Belsky,” Anna said, standing tall. “I worked under the name Anna Zhukova to see how employees are truly treated.”
Gasps filled the room. Gleb stammered, “You’re the shareholder’s daughter? Why hide it?”
“I wanted to understand how new employees are treated,” Anna replied firmly. “I saw that many are professional and kind, but ideas are stifled, and some managers… like Gleb…” She glanced at him. “…humiliate their subordinates to maintain control.”
Gleb snapped, “That’s slander! I was just trying to teach her…”
Gennady interrupted, “Enough, Gleb. We need change, not people who oppress others.”
Anna continued, “I’m not suggesting we fire everyone. I just want an environment where new ideas are valued, and employees are treated with respect.”
The board murmured in agreement. The company director nodded.
“I agree. We need to support fresh talent. Changes are coming to the purchasing department.”
Gleb realized his position was in jeopardy. He tried to defend himself, “I didn’t know she was…”
“If she weren’t my daughter, would you have treated her this way?” Gennady cut him off. “Gleb, you’ll be stepping down.”
Anna didn’t expect to be promoted immediately, but her father proposed her as deputy head of the department. “Let her prove herself,” he said.
Anna agreed, but the real victory was not power—it was changing the work culture. The next day, she walked into the department as the new deputy head.
Olga, the accountant, beamed at her. “Congratulations, Anna! You’re amazing!”
“Thanks. But let’s focus on working together to make things better,” Anna smiled.
Gleb, now demoted, packed his things, glaring at Anna. “You’ve won,” he muttered. “Sorry if I went too far.”
Anna sighed. “Gleb, it wasn’t about titles. Any new employee deserved better treatment. I hope you learn that.”
He nodded, then left the office. Anna remained, surrounded by colleagues who had supported her all along.
The next day, she gathered the team.
“There won’t be revolutions. Let’s just be open to new ideas,” she said, smiling.
Her colleagues applauded. The shift in culture was complete. Anna’s experiment had worked. She had seen the arrogance and found a way to change it.
Months later, “Grand-Ver” launched a successful eco-friendly project, with record results in the purchasing department. Anna had earned her place—not because of her title, but because she had proven herself.
When her father asked, “Did you manage after all?” she smiled and replied:
“Yes, Dad. It’s gratifying to see change happen. But if I’d come in with a high status from the start, it wouldn’t have worked.”
He nodded. “True. It’s not about the title, but the way you treat people.”
And so, the “heiress with the secret surname” had found her path, fostering a culture of respect and collaboration in the department. She had shown that true leadership wasn’t about status—it was about working as an equal with everyone, regardless of title.