BONDS UNBROKEN

CHAPTER FORTY

Chapter Forty

The Monday morning sun filtered softly into Nivida’s glass towers, glinting against the polished marble of the lobby. Briella stepped out of her car, her posture crisp and commanding, heels clicking with precision as she strode inside. Clara trailed a respectful step behind her, already with a folder in hand, ready for the day.

“Morning, Ms. Tristan,” Clara said warmly, handing her the folder. “These are today’s key briefs. I highlighted the sections I think might interest you most.”

Briella gave a small smile, brief but genuine. “Thank you, Clara. You always know what I need.”

As they moved through the lobby, employees greeted her with hushed respect. The air carried a mix of admiration and curiosity—everyone had noticed the way she and Marcellus had been working seamlessly together lately. Whispers stirred, but none dared rise above the quiet awe that surrounded her presence.

Upstairs, Marcellus was already in his office. His jacket was off, sleeves rolled neatly to his elbows, as he stood over a set of reports. The door opened without a knock—Grace, his secretary, carrying a tray with his coffee.

“Morning, Mr. Cedric,” Grace said coolly, her tone clipped. Her eyes flicked toward the open space between his office and Briella’s, her jaw tightening almost imperceptibly.

Marcellus didn’t notice. He took the coffee absently, eyes still scanning numbers. “Morning, Grace. Leave the reports on the desk.”

But Grace hesitated a second too long before setting the tray down, her gaze lingering toward Briella’s glass office. Her lips pressed into a thin line before she turned and walked out briskly.

Moments later, Clara entered Briella’s office with a soft knock. “Ms. Tristan, the staff updates are ready. Would you like me to schedule a joint review session with Mr. Cedric this afternoon?”

Briella looked up from her computer, considering. “Yes, Clara. But set it for after lunch. I want the boardroom cleared.”

“Understood.” Clara jotted it down quickly. Her efficiency was effortless, her loyalty quiet but strong.

As midday approached, the office buzz quieted when Briella and Marcellus entered the boardroom together. Their combined presence was magnetic—her sharp elegance paired with his calm, commanding authority. They reviewed reports with ease, their back-and-forth seamless, leaving no room for hesitation. Staff members whispered afterward, impressed not only with their synergy but also with how untouchable they seemed together.

Later that afternoon, Clara returned to Briella with a hesitant knock. “Ms. Tristan, I overheard some chatter from the HR floor earlier… something about delayed background checks for new hires. It struck me as odd, so I thought I should tell you.”

Briella’s brow furrowed. “Good call, Clara. Look into it discreetly. Don’t alert anyone just yet.”

Clara nodded firmly. “I’ll handle it.”

Across the hall, Grace watched from her desk, her eyes narrowing as Clara passed. A faint smirk tugged at the corner of her lips, though she quickly smoothed it away when Marcellus stepped out of his office.

“Grace, clear my schedule after five. I’ll be working with Ms. Tristan.”

Grace’s voice was polite, but the steel in her tone was unmistakable. “Of course, Mr. Cedric.”

Her eyes followed him as he crossed the hall to Briella’s office, a shadow flickering in her gaze.

Inside, Briella and Marcellus worked late into the evening. At one point, Briella leaned back, rubbing her temples. “It feels like there’s always something lurking beneath the surface.”

Marcellus looked at her for a long moment before answering, voice steady. “There is. But as long as we face it together, it won’t break us.”

Briella exhaled slowly, her eyes softening as she met his gaze. For a heartbeat, the room was still, filled with something unspoken. Then she nodded, returning to her work with renewed focus.

Outside the office, Grace sat at her desk long past her usual hours. The building had quieted, most staff already gone, but she remained, her screen casting a pale glow over her face. Her phone buzzed once—a single message with no name attached.

“She’s growing stronger. Watch closely. Don’t let her guard down.”

Grace’s lips curved into the faintest smile before she deleted the message instantly, as if it had never existed.

Meanwhile, in the dim silence of Briella’s office, the hum of the city lights below wrapped around her and Marcellus. Neither of them knew that just outside their glass walls, shadows were already weaving their next move.

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✨ End of Chapter Forty ✨