THE RETURN OF THE CEO'S SECRETARY

hield, my safeguard, my core id

ok a calming breath. Today was

ught that love and kindness cou

years prior, broken b

. A name that inspired respect,

broken me, yet I re

ncentration. I stood up straigh

e saying,

is deep-set eyes looked me over

he vehicle is p

gh there was no sincerity in

s peaceful, punctuated only b

rbed in my reflections. My mother-in-law, the sole person who

was coming together

Ethan exited first, looking aro

walked onto the chilly marble f

se quiet su

od wide open, and the conversat

irected at me-anxiety, unease,

respect. I remained upright, all

osp

far side of the table. His lips

arkled in his eyes. He wasn't a

else wa

red, maintaining a calm and stea

heir faces, they were not expect

ng lady

y. "Sure. Now, let's proceed t

rte

king the slight change in his

s time for him to realiz

g the company's future actions

to err, yet they misjudged me

and now I w

father-in-law attempted to inte

ck my presentation. His tone wa

ed una

g my tone slightly to capture

ges. By examining the numbers o

have contingency str

ack, and looked down at the do

e given this som

rtlessly. "Unlike others, I a

ed uneasily, yet I sensed thei

y could overlook. I

't fully focused on the figures

. The man who used to mean ev

t there was something-somethi

gr

to end, I stood up, c

t's meet again next week.

the doorway, a hand suddenl

moving.

nder of the history I had conc

you need anything or have an

my to

voice nearly filled with awe, "Yo

aze penetrated mine with a ferv

mind someone... some

curling my lips. "Then go find he

his

ticed a glimmer of something-re

ore. I stepped outside wit

welcomed me with a friendly s

holding a glass of wine, her

?" she inquired, pla

he chair opposite her. "It happen

rovoke me, but

you did. They're likely all fee

"That's t

then agreed. "Alright. Howe

ve larger challen

ed towards the stairs to pre

r biggest Investor who just arr

as I looked at my reflection i

inc

ent staircase, all eyes were o

, yet I wasn't paying attenti

ister, whom I hadn't

blow to the gut. She had dev

entr

illiams. He was positioned

hing my closest fr

ving the crowd when som

all

sharply.

I had given birth to in a frigid

directly in front of me. His

dentica

e world whirl

e grabbed my arm right

o the restroom, I struggled to

eside my closest friend,

composure in front of the mir

ond necklace and adjusted my d

were about t

I whispered under my breat

th a refreshed sense of directi

ole noise disrupting the stillne

eryone with a

Williams. His gaze trailed a

ugg

lla, my closest friend who de

im, her hand resting on his

st

returned to m

es widening in disbelief. H

voice shaking with astonishment.

was awa

right at me. "She is ali

er would still recognize me, e

oticed the sorrow in her gaze, b

ons; they

. All eyes were on me. Williams

stiffened, yet his expr

g the burden of their gazes. Th

ed ste

ing now. And I was p