Chapter Three: One Month
1020 Words
Ethan Blackwood's POV
"What is this?"
My gaze remained on the white envelope resting in the center of my desk.
Sophia stood across from me, her hands clasped neatly in front of her. She looked as composed as always. Only her eyes betrayed her. They were tired. Far more tired than I had ever noticed.
"You'll understand once you read it, Mr. Blackwood."
I picked up the envelope and slid the paper from inside. My eyes skimmed the first line. Resignation Letter. I frowned. Then continued reading.
By the time I reached the bottom of the page, the office had fallen into complete silence. I placed the letter back on my desk.
"No."
Sophia blinked. "...Sir?"
"I don't accept it."
Her expression remained calm, but I caught the slight tightening of her fingers.
"It isn't something that requires acceptance."
"It does."
I leaned back in my chair. "You're under contract."
"My contract allows a thirty-day notice."
"I know exactly what your contract says."
"Then you know I've followed every procedure."
Neither of us spoke. The silence stretched between us. Finally, I broke it.
"Why?"
She lowered her eyes for the briefest moment before looking back at me. "I think it's time."
"Time for what?"
"For me to move on."
The answer irritated me more than it should have. "Has another company approached you?"
"No."
"Are you unhappy with your salary?"
"No."
"Then name your price."
Her lips parted slightly. For the first time since she'd entered my office, something flickered across her face. Disappointment.
"You think this is about money?"
"What else would it be?"
The question left my mouth before I considered it. The disappointment in her eyes deepened.
"It's not about money, Mr. Blackwood."
"Then explain it."
"I don't owe you an explanation."
The words landed harder than I expected. Sophia had never spoken to me like that. Never. She drew in a slow breath.
"I've given this a great deal of thought." "I've made my decision." "I'll remain for the required notice period to ensure a smooth transition." She paused. "After that..." "I'll leave Blackwood Holdings."
I studied her. Waiting for her to change her mind. She didn't.
"I'll have Human Resources prepare the paperwork."
She gave a polite nod. "If that's all, I'll return to work."
She turned toward the door.
"Sophia." She stopped without facing me. "You've always been professional." "I expect that to continue during your notice."
A faint smile touched her lips. It wasn't warm. It wasn't happy. It looked… Resigned.
"You have nothing to worry about."
Then she walked away. The door closed quietly behind her. I stared at it for several long seconds. Annoyance settled heavily in my chest. People resigned every day. Executives. Managers. Interns.
The company replaced them. Business continued. That was how corporations worked. Sophia would be no different. She was an exceptional secretary. Finding another would take time. Nothing more. Nothing less. At least… That's what I told myself.
---
"She resigned?"
Oliver Grant nearly spilled his coffee. He stared at me from across my office.
"I thought I'd misheard."
"You didn't."
He frowned. "Why?"
"I asked."
"And?"
"She didn't answer."
Oliver looked genuinely surprised. "She always answers."
"Apparently not anymore."
He remained quiet for a moment. "You should talk to her again."
"I already did."
"No."
He shook his head. "I mean actually talk to her."
"I did."
"You asked questions."
He sighed. "That's not the same thing."
I looked back at the reports on my desk. "This isn't personal."
Oliver laughed. "It became personal the second Sophia Carter handed you a resignation letter."
"I'll hire someone else."
"Will you?"
His tone carried something dangerously close to amusement. "She's only a secretary."
The words had barely left my mouth before Oliver gave me a long look.
"I hope you don't actually believe that."
"What exactly is she, then?"
"She's the person who remembers every meeting you forget." He counted on his fingers. "Knows every client by name." "Fixes problems before you even hear about them." "Reminds you to eat." "Schedules your life." "And somehow convinces people you aren't completely impossible to work with." He leaned back. "You don't have a secretary, Ethan." "You have Sophia."
I said nothing. Oliver smiled faintly.
"You'll understand after she's gone."
---
The next morning began like every other. Except… It didn't. I arrived at the office.
My coffee wasn't on my desk. I glanced toward the doorway. A young woman I'd never seen before stood there looking terrified.
"Good morning, Mr. Blackwood."
"Where's Miss Carter?"
"She's in Human Resources."
I frowned. "Why are you here?"
"I'm... filling in while she's away."
I looked at the cup she'd placed on my desk. "Who ordered this?"
"You always drink cappuccino, don't you?"
"No."
Her face drained of color. "I—I thought—"
"I drink espresso."
"Oh..."
She hurried forward. "I'll replace it immediately."
She reached for the cup. Her sleeve caught a stack of documents. The files slid from my desk, scattering across the floor.
The young woman froze. "I'm so sorry."
I closed my eyes briefly. "Leave them."
She looked ready to cry. The office door opened. Sophia stepped inside. One glance at the mess told her everything. Without a single question, she calmly knelt to gather the papers.
She reorganized them in the correct order in less than a minute. Then she replaced the coffee with another cup. Espresso. Exactly the way I preferred.
The young assistant stared at her in disbelief. "How did you know?"
Sophia smiled politely. "Three years of practice."
She handed me the reorganized file.
"Your nine o'clock meeting has been delayed by fifteen minutes." "The chairman called. "The legal department resolved yesterday's issue." "And your driver is waiting downstairs whenever you're ready."
Everything… Back to normal. As though the interruption had never happened. The temporary assistant looked between us.
"I don't think I can do this job."
Sophia rested a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "You'll learn."
I watched the exchange in silence. For the first time… A thought crossed my mind. Replacing Sophia Carter… Might not be as simple as I'd assumed.
- Writer
