Chapter Two: The Mistake That Changed Everythinged
727 Words
Chapter Two: The Mistake That Changed Everything
Two months passed, and Emily Carter was no longer just another intern.
Her creativity, determination, and refusal to accept mediocrity had earned her the respect of most employees. Although some admired her, others believed she was receiving special treatment because the CEO had publicly praised her work.
Emily ignored the whispers.
She had worked too hard to let gossip distract her.
Still, there was one thing she couldn't ignore.
Every time she met Ethan Kingston's eyes, she noticed something different.
The coldness was still there.
But behind it lay exhaustion.
Loneliness.
And pain.
One Friday evening, the marketing department was preparing for the company's biggest product launch of the year.
The entire executive team remained in the office long after sunset.
Emily volunteered to stay.
As usual.
Around nine o'clock, she walked into the executive lounge carrying fresh coffee.
She knocked gently.
"Come in."
Ethan was sitting alone.
His tie had been loosened, and several documents were scattered across his desk.
He didn't even look up.
"Leave it there."
Emily placed the coffee beside him.
"You've been working since morning."
"I know."
"You should eat something."
Finally, he looked at her.
"Are you always this stubborn?"
She smiled.
"My mother says I inherited it from my father."
For the first time...
Ethan smiled.
It wasn't big.
Just enough to soften his face.
"You remind me of someone."
Emily tilted her head.
"Who?"
"Myself."
The answer surprised them both.
Days became weeks.
They often worked late together.
Sometimes they discussed marketing strategies.
Sometimes university life.
Sometimes nothing at all.
The silence between them slowly became comfortable.
Emily discovered Ethan loved classical piano.
He learned she secretly wrote short romance stories whenever she felt overwhelmed.
She laughed often.
He almost never did.
But whenever she laughed...
He found himself listening.
Unfortunately...
Not everyone appreciated their growing friendship.
Especially Victoria Hayes, Ethan's executive assistant.
Victoria had spent five years beside Ethan.
Many employees believed she would eventually become Mrs. Kingston.
She believed it too.
Until Emily appeared.
One afternoon, Victoria confronted Emily in the hallway.
"You should know your place."
Emily frowned.
"I'm sorry?"
"You're an intern."
"So?"
"So stop pretending the CEO is interested in you."
Emily laughed quietly.
"He's my boss."
"Good."
Victoria stepped closer.
"Keep it that way."
Emily didn't answer.
She simply walked away.
Victoria's warning stayed in her mind longer than she wanted to admit.
The following week...
Everything fell apart.
Kingston Group was about to sign a multi-million-dollar partnership.
Emily had prepared the presentation files.
Someone secretly replaced one financial report with an outdated version.
During the meeting...
The client noticed the discrepancy.
Questions filled the room.
The presentation ended in disaster.
The client requested more time before signing.
Inside the conference room...
Silence was unbearable.
Ethan slowly closed the report.
"Who prepared this?"
No one spoke.
Emily stood.
"I did."
His eyes met hers.
"Come to my office."
She entered five minutes later.
The door closed behind her.
Ethan stood by the window.
His voice was calm.
"Did you check the report?"
"Three times."
"Then how did this happen?"
"I...I don't know."
"You don't know?"
Emily shook her head desperately.
"I swear I submitted the correct version."
Ethan remained silent.
That silence hurt more than shouting ever could.
Finally he spoke.
"The partnership is worth hundreds of millions."
"I understand."
"No."
He turned around.
"You don't."
His expression had become unreadable again.
"The internship is over."
Emily stared at him.
"...What?"
"I can't keep someone I can't trust."
Those words shattered something inside her.
"You think I lied?"
"I think someone made a mistake."
"It wasn't me."
"I don't have time to investigate intentions."
Emily felt tears sting her eyes.
"So that's it?"
He looked away.
"Leave your company badge with HR."
She waited.
Hoping he'd stop her.
Explain.
Ask one more question.
Instead...
He walked back to his desk.
The conversation was over.
Emily quietly removed her employee badge.
Placed it on his desk.
"One day..."
Her voice trembled.
"...you'll regret not believing me."
Then she walked out.
The office door closed.
For the first time in years...
Ethan felt strangely empty.
But he buried the feeling beneath work.
Just as he always had.
He convinced himself it was the right decision.
He had no idea it would become the greatest regret of his life.
- Writer
