Chapter 29

Laura's POV

I sat at my desk, staring blankly at my computer screen. My fingers hovered over the keyboard, but my mind was far from the spreadsheet I was supposed to be working on.

Aldoracco.

It had to be a coincidence.

Didn’t it?

But deep down, I knew better. That name wasn’t common. And if it was him…if it was really him, then my life was about to be ripped apart all over again.

This was the one thing I had not connected to him. And now, in some cruel twist of fate, he might be my new boss?

I shook my head, forcing myself to think rationally. It could be his father. Or a cousin. Maybe someone completely unrelated. I just had to keep my head down and do my job. If it was him… I’d deal with it then.

Nathan’s voice snapped me out of my daze. “Hey, you okay? You’ve been staring at your screen for the last five minutes.”

I forced a tight smile. “I’m fine. Just… thinking.”

“Well, think fast because we’re all about to be under a microscope,” he muttered, adjusting his tie.

Before I could respond, a sharp knock at my cubicle made my breath hitch.

I turned slowly, my heart slamming against my ribs. A well-dressed woman with a sleek bun and an air of importance stood before me, clipboard in hand.

“Miss Laura Carter?”

I swallowed hard. “Yes?”

“The CEO would like to see you. Now.”

The office around me blurred as a dull roar filled my ears.

Nathan blinked. “Wait, you? What did you do?”

I ignored him, forcing my legs to move as I stood. “Did he… say why?”

The assistant’s expression remained unreadable. “He didn’t. Follow me.”

I hesitated for half a second before forcing myself to nod.

This was it.

Either my worst nightmare was about to be confirmed…

Or fate had played the cruelest trick of all.

I followed her toward the executive floor feeling like I was walking to my death.

The elevator ride to the executive floor felt like an eternity. My pulse pounded in my ears, drowning out the hushed conversations of passing employees.

The assistant led me down a long hallway lined with glass offices and polished floors. The air was colder here, the silence almost eerie.

Finally, she stopped in front of a large mahogany door. A nameplate gleamed beside it, but I didn’t dare look at it. I already knew.

She gestured toward the door. “Go in.”

I hesitated. “Should I knock, or—”

Before I could finish, a voice cut through the heavy air.

“Come in.”

The air rushed from my lungs. My fingers clenched at my sides as my worst fears solidified into reality.

That voice. That deep, commanding tone was one that had whispered tempting annoying words to my ears the last night.

My heart thundered in my chest. For a brief, desperate moment, I considered turning around and running. But where would I go? This wasn’t some nightmare I could wake up from.

Summoning every ounce of strength I had, I pushed the door open.

The office was vast, lined with floor-to-ceiling windows that bathed the room in natural light. A sleek desk sat at the far end, and behind it, a high-backed leather chair faced away from me.

Seconds stretched into eternity.

Then, with a slow, deliberate motion, the chair swiveled around.

And there he was.

Kelvin Aldoracco.

I stood frozen in the doorway, my breath lodged in my throat as my gaze locked onto him.

He was as devastatingly handsome as ever—dark hair neatly styled, sharp jawline cleanly shaven, and those piercing evil green eyes of his that I was sure was plotting my downfall. Dressed in a perfectly tailored suit, he exuded the kind of power that made the air in the room feel heavier.

His expression remained impassive, his fingers folded together as he studied me in silence.

Then, after what felt like an eternity, he spoke.

“Sit.”

The single word was clipped, devoid of emotion.

I hesitated before moving stiffly toward the chair in front of his desk. My knees threatened to buckle as I sat, my hands curling into fists on my lap.

I expected him to tease me or be sarcastic. Maybe even gloating. But what I didn’t expect was the sheer professionalism in his demeanor, as though I was just another employee he had no history with.

He leaned back in his chair, exhaling softly. “I’ll get straight to the point, Laura. Your time here is over.”

My stomach dropped.

The words were unexpected and hit me like a punch to the gut.

I stared at him, searching for something that hinted at remorse, at hesitation. But I knew I could never find such an expression on his face.

“You’re… firing me?” My voice came out hoarse.

He didn’t blink. “Effective immediately. HR will handle the paperwork. You’ll receive your final paycheck by the end of the day.”

The finality in his tone sent a sharp pang through my chest.

I should have seen this coming. The moment I saw his name, I should have known I wouldn’t be able to stay. But hearing it out loud, so coldly delivered, still left me reeling.

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to hold his gaze. “Is this personal or professional?”

A flicker of something, amusement?—crossed his eyes, but it vanished just as quickly. “Does it matter?”

I clenched my jaw. Of course, it did.

I forced myself to stand, keeping my spine straight even as my legs trembled beneath me. “I guess that’s it, then.”

I turned toward the door, swallowing the lump in my throat.

But before I could take a step, his voice, lower now, taunting, stopped me in my tracks.

“Leaving so soon? What happened to that fire of yours Laura?”

I stiffened, my fingers tightening around the strap of my purse.

I turned my head just enough to catch the smirk playing at the corner of his lips.