Chapter 15
1034 Words
The following Monday arrived with a sense of calm that still felt unfamiliar to Asia.
For years, mornings had been a race against time. She would wake before sunrise, review reports over breakfast, answer emails on the drive to Fletcher Group, and spend the rest of the day putting out fires that never seemed to end.
Even after returning home, the work followed her. There was always another meeting to prepare for, another problem to solve, another responsibility waiting on her shoulders.
Yet somehow, despite everything she had done, it had never felt enough.
This morning was different.
As she stepped into her office at Glanton Industries, she wasn't greeted by tension.No one waiting to hand her work while giving the credit to someone else.
For the first time in a very long time, she felt like she belonged exactly where she was.
Her heels clicked softly against the polished floor as she crossed the room. A fresh bouquet of white lilies sat on a side table, their delicate scent filling the air.
Clara, her secretary had probably arranged them.
The thought made her smile.
Her new secretary had been assigned only a few days ago, but the young woman had already learned more about her preferences than some people had bothered to learn in years.
Asia set her tablet down and settled behind her desk. The chair still felt unfamiliar, but she was beginning to like it.
A knock sounded at the door.
"Come in."
Clara stepped inside carrying several folders.
"Good morning, Ms. Richmore."
"Good morning."
Clara placed the files neatly on the desk before hesitating.
"There was something else."
Asia looked up.
"The board members asked me to pass along their compliments regarding your presentation."
Asia blinked in surprise.
"My presentation?"
Clara nodded enthusiastically.
"Apparently there was a discussion after you left. Mr. Glanton said several of them were extremely impressed."
For a moment, Asia simply stared at her.
What surprised her was hearing it.At Fletcher Group, praise had always been rare.
The years had taught her not to expect recognition.
Now she wasn't entirely sure what to do with it.
"Thank you," she said finally.
Clara beamed before leaving the office.
When the door closed, silence returned.
Asia leaned back slowly, the thought of being appreciated lingered longer than she expected.
Then she pushed it aside and returned to work.
At Fletcher Group, things were considerably less peaceful.
Jane stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows inside the executive office she had fought so hard to obtain.
A week ago, sitting behind this desk had felt like a victory.
Now she wasn't so sure.
She stared down at the city below while absentmindedly tapping her nails against her coffee cup.
The office was beautiful and it was Everything she had imagined.
So why did it suddenly feel so uncomfortable?
A sharp knock interrupted her thoughts.Before she could answer, one of the department managers stepped inside.
"Miss tex,the finance reports you requested."
Jane forced a smile.
"Just leave them there."
The manager placed the reports on her desk before turning to leave.
Then he paused.
"Miss Tex,these reports will be needed for a meeting tomorrow”
Jane's smile stiffened.
“Tomorrow…”. She thought to herself
"Well… I’ll get to work then…Thank you."she responded.
The manager left.
Jane stared at the stack of reports.
“Everywhere i turned, it was one document or another…I’m literally losing it here” she voiced irritated.
She opened the top file to get started with work.
Meanwhile,Several miles away, Alex sat alone in his penthouse office.
A half-finished cup of coffee rested on the desk beside him.
Untouched.
His attention remained fixed on the documents spread before him.
He had spent the last hour reading every single one and every page seemed to tell the same story.
Alex closed one file and opened another.
The result was exactly the same.
A faint smile appeared despite himself.
That sounded like her.
Even years later.
Even after everything.
She was still the same woman who refused to do things halfway.
The same woman who once stayed awake all night helping him prepare for an economics competition because she had been convinced he would forget something important.
The same woman who always gave too much of herself to the people she cared about.
His smile faded.
The shooting report sat nearby.
He hadn't touched it again since reading it.
He didn't need to.
The details were already burned into his memory.The thought still unsettled him.
A quiet knock interrupted his thoughts.
His assistant entered carrying another folder.
"I received the remaining information."
Alex gestured for him to continue.
The assistant sat the file down.
"Most employees were willing to speak."
Alex raised an eyebrow.
"And?"
The man hesitated.
"As far as anyone can tell, Mrs. Fletcher wasn't forced out."
Alex remained silent.
"However," the assistant continued carefully, "nobody understands why she resigned."
That got his attention.
The assistant opened the folder.
"Every review we obtained was positive. Every department head praised her work. Most employees expected her to remain with the company for years."
Alex glanced down at the documents,Nothing explained why she had walked away.
"What about Jane Tex.
The assistant paused.
Alex noticed immediately.
"What is it?"
The assistant chose his words carefully.
"Many employees believe Miss Jane’s promotion contributed to the decision.
He leaned back slowly as the thoughts in his mind took over him.
So why did she look so tired when he saw her?
Why did her smile seem smaller than he remembered?
And why would a woman with so much influence suddenly walk away from a company she had spent years helping build?
The assistant waited quietly.
After several moments, Alex finally spoke.
"Keep digging."
The assistant nodded.
"Yes, sir."
When the door closed behind him, Alex's eyes fell back to the reports scattered across his desk.
Dozens of people had described Asia in different ways.Yet there was one thing every single person seemed to agree on.
Nobody had expected her to leave.
And somehow, Alex had a feeling that whatever answer he was looking for wasn't written inside any report.
It was hidden somewhere in the things people weren't saying.
- Writer
