Determination

Elliot

I stared at the folded page tucked neatly into my drawer, a smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth. Thirty days. That’s all I needed to get Susan to see me in a new light. Scratch that...see me for what I’ve always been: hers.

The plan was ambitious, yes, but I thrived on ambition. It was the same drive that had built Prescott Industries into what it was today, the same drive that would now bring Susan back to me.

The knock at my door was brisk, efficient...quintessential Gerald. I closed my notebook and straightened up, slipping into the unshakable air of the CEO everyone expected me to be.

“Come in,” I called.

Gerald entered, holding a clipboard, his usual composed expression firmly in place. If there was one thing I could rely on, it was Gerald’s ability to keep everything professional to the point of predictability.

“Morning, Mr. Prescott,” he began. “I wanted to give you an update on Susan Hart’s appointment. I just came from a meeting with her.”

I kept my expression neutral, though my interest piqued immediately. “Go on.”

“She requested a meeting to clarify her new role,” Gerald said, glancing at his clipboard. “I assured her that this was purely a decision based on merit. She’s sharp, driven, and already proven she can deliver results. It’s in the company’s best interest to secure her talent.”

I nodded, masking my satisfaction. “And how did she take it?”

“She seemed… surprised,” he admitted, frowning slightly. “She asked if the decision had come directly from me. I explained that while I signed off on it, the recommendation came from her performance during the contract.”

Good. It wasn’t entirely untrue. Susan’s work had been exceptional...one of the many reasons I couldn’t afford to let her go.

“She’s cautious, though,” Gerald continued. “It’s like she’s waiting for the other shoe to drop. I got the impression she doesn’t fully trust the situation.”

“Smart woman,” I said, leaning back in my chair. “She has every reason to be cautious. You don’t get to the top without being skeptical of sudden opportunities.”

Gerald nodded. “Exactly why I think she’ll be an asset in the long run. She doesn’t just take things at face value. That kind of critical thinking is rare. I’ll keep working with her to ensure she feels comfortable in her role.”

I kept my features composed, though I felt a flicker of amusement. Gerald was entirely unaware of my personal connection to Susan. To him, this was about retaining top talent...an HR success story in the making.

“Good work, Gerald,” I said. “Keep me updated on her progress. I want to make sure she has everything she needs to excel here.”

“Of course.” He paused, glancing at me with an odd look of curiosity. “You seem particularly invested in this, Mr. Prescott. Is there a specific reason?”

I raised an eyebrow, my tone as casual as I could manage. “Is it so surprising that I want to keep someone who’s good for the company?”

“Not at all,” he said quickly. “She’s exactly the kind of employee we need. I’ll handle the transition details and keep her on track.”

With that, he left, the door clicking shut behind him.

I leaned back in my chair, letting out a low chuckle. Gerald was thorough, I’d give him that. He saw Susan as an asset...a rising star in the company. And while he wasn’t wrong, he didn’t see the bigger picture.

For me, this wasn’t just about keeping an exceptional employee. This was about keeping her.

She could request all the meetings she wanted, question every detail of her new role, and dissect every decision. None of it would change the fact that she was here...and that I was going to use every moment to prove to her she belonged here.

And maybe, just maybe, she’d realize she belonged with me too.