Chapter 28

Laura's POV

I rushed through getting dressed, swapping my oversized sweater for a crisp blouse and a pencil skirt. My headache lingered, but there was no time to dwell on it. Katie watched from the couch, arms crossed, a knowing smirk still playing on her lips.

“You’re really running away from this conversation, huh?” she teased as I grabbed my bag.

“I’m going to work,” I corrected, slipping into my heels.

“Uh-huh. Convenient,” she mused, standing and stretching. “Fine, I’ll let you off the hook—for now. But I expect details later.”

I rolled my eyes, already heading for the door. “Thanks for the soup. Kind of.”

Katie laughed. “You’ll be begging for it next time.”

I doubted that, but I didn’t argue because I knew there was no way on earth I was going to get this stupidly drunk again.

By the time I arrived at the office, the atmosphere was thick with tension. The usual hum of conversations and the side glances I usually got was missing. Instead, it was replaced with murmurs abd whispers, and employees clustered together in nervous groups. Something was definitely off.

I hurried toward my desk, spotting my work buddy, Nathan, typing furiously on his computer. He looked up as I approached, his expression shifting from relief to exasperation.

“Laura! Finally.” He pushed back from his desk, running a hand through his dark curls. “Where on earth have you been?”

I sighed, dropping my bag onto my chair. “Long story. What’s going on?”

Nathan scoffed. “Oh, nothing major. Just the fact that our CEO is stepping down and a new boss is taking over today.”

My stomach twisted. “What?”

“You heard me,” Nathan said, lowering his voice. “Nobody saw it coming. The official announcement is in a few minutes, but word is that we’re about to get a major shake-up. Some big-shot investor is taking over the company.”

I sank into my chair, my mind racing. A new boss? Just like that?

“This can’t be good,” I muttered.

Nathan leaned in. “That’s the thing. Nobody knows if it’s good or bad. But judging by how tense upper management looks, I’m guessing it’s bad.”

Before I could respond, a sharp voice echoed through the office.

“Everyone, conference room. Now.”

It was our department head.

Nathan and I exchanged a wary glance before grabbing our things and following the stream of employees toward the conference room.

Something told me life was about to get a lot more complicated.

The conference room was packed by the time Nathan and I stepped inside. The tension in the air was palpable, a heavy weight pressing down on everyone as they murmured amongst themselves.

I slid into a chair near the back while Nathan took the seat beside me, tapping his fingers on the table in restless anticipation. Across the room, our department head stood by the large screen, with an unreadable expression.

The murmurs died down as she cleared her throat, her sharp gaze sweeping over the room.

“I’m sure you’ve all heard the rumors by now,” she started, her tone clipped and professional. “So let’s address the situation properly.”

The room fell into silence.

“As of today, Mr. Buro has officially stepped down as CEO, and our company has been acquired by a major investor.”

A ripple of shock moved through the room. Even though we had all been expecting something big, hearing it confirmed still felt surreal.

Nathan shot me a look, his brows raised. I barely managed a nod in response, my heart hammering.

Ms. Hendricks continued, “The new CEO, Mr. Aldoracco will be taking over immediately.”

A murmur spread through the crowd again.

“Aldoracco?” Nathan whispered. “Why does that name sound familiar?”

“I don’t know,” I muttered, trying to ignore the sinking feeling in my stomach.

The department head held up a hand, silencing the room again. “I won’t sugarcoat this. Mr. Aldoracco is known for his no-nonsense approach. He demands efficiency, precision, and absolute dedication. There will be changes, and I expect all of you to rise to the occasion. If you want to keep your jobs, you will have to prove your worth.”

Nathan let out a low whistle. “Damn. Sounds like a hard-ass.”

I swallowed hard, my fingers curling against the tabletop. A strict, demanding boss? Just what I needed when my personal life was already spiraling.

The department head exhaled. “Mr. Aldoracco will be arriving this afternoon to personally assess each department. I suggest you all prepare accordingly.”

A collective tension spread through the room. Everyone understood what that meant—evaluations, performance checks, and likely, terminations.

“Meeting dismissed.”

As soon as she walked out, the noise returned, louder and more frantic than before.

Nathan leaned back in his chair. “Well, this just got interesting.”

I sighed, rubbing my temples. Interesting? No, this was a disaster waiting to happen.

Wait…

A chill ran down my spine as the name echoed in my mind. Aldoracco.

My breath hitched, and my hands gripped the edge of the table. The sounds of frantic whispers around me faded into a dull hum as realization slammed into me like a freight train.

Aldoracco. That was my demon husband’s name!

The room suddenly felt smaller, suffocating, the air thick with an unseen force pressing against my chest. My heart pounded so loudly I swore Nathan could hear it.

“Laura?” Nathan nudged me. “You good? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

I swallowed, forcing myself to respond. “I… I just—” I shook my head. “Did she say Aldoracco?”

Nathan frowned. “Yeah. Why? Do you know him?”

I didn’t answer. My mind was racing, memories crashing over me in a chaotic swirl. Was it him? Or was it his father?

The doors to the conference room swung open abruptly, and a stern-looking assistant strode in, clipboard in hand.

“Everyone, return to your workstations. Mr. Aldoracco will be arriving soon, and he will be conducting a personal walkthrough of the departments.”

A collective murmur spread through the room as people hurried to leave. I felt frozen in place.

Nathan clapped my shoulder. “Come on. Let’s not be the first ones to get fired.”

I numbly followed him out, but inside, panic churned in my gut.