LOGINShare
Chapter 10: CEO's Secretary
Last Updated:
2025-02-24 16:41:31That evening, I drove straight to the hospital to visit Ryan. My brother was still under treatment, fighting to recover from leukemia. As I walked into his hospital room, my mother looked up, exhaustion evident in her eyes, but her face lit up when she saw me.
"Athena! You’re here," she said, relief in her voice.
Ryan, lying on the hospital bed, turned his head and grinned weakly. "Hey, sis. Rough day at work?"
I took a deep breath, then smiled. "Actually, I have good news. I got promoted. And my salary increased—enough to cover all of your medical expenses. We don’t have to worry anymore."
My mother gasped, covering her mouth in shock. "Oh, Athena... that’s incredible!"
Ryan’s eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you, sis. You always take care of us."
I squeezed his hand. "Of course, Ryan. That’s what family is for."
For the first time in a long time, I felt at peace. No matter what was happening at the office, my priority was clear—my family always came first.
The next morning, I arrived at the office early, still feeling the warmth of last night’s moment with my family. Knowing that Ryan’s treatment was secured gave me a sense of relief I hadn’t felt in years. I was ready to take on whatever challenges this promotion would bring. Or so I thought.
As soon as I settled at my desk, my manager, Mrs. Carter, approached me. She had a stern but unreadable expression.
"Athena, come with me to the conference room," she instructed.
I nodded, following her without hesitation. My heart was pounding slightly. Had something changed overnight? Was there an issue with my promotion?
The conference room was empty except for the two of us. Mrs. Carter turned to face me, folding her arms. "I’ll get straight to the point. Starting today, you will be the CEO’s new secretary."
My breath hitched. "Excuse me?" My mind raced, trying to process her words.
"It’s a direct order from the CEO himself. You have been promoted not only for your exceptional work ethic but because you’re one of the few employees who can handle high-pressure tasks efficiently," she explained, her tone leaving no room for argument.
I swallowed hard. I was supposed to be excited about a new opportunity, but all I felt was dread. Because if I was going to be the CEO’s new secretary, that meant I’d have to work closely with the current secretary—the last person on Earth I wanted to see.
Callum.
My stupid, cheating ex-fiancé.
I forced myself to remain calm, but my heart pounded in protest. "Mrs. Carter, I… I didn’t expect this. I thought I’d be handling the finance division."
She raised a brow. "That was the initial plan. But the CEO believes your skills are better suited for this role. It’s a great opportunity, Athena. You should take it."
I clenched my fists, trying to suppress the unease clawing at me. Callum was the last person I wanted to be around. The thought of seeing his smug face every day, working beside him, reporting to the same CEO—
No. This wasn’t happening.
But rejecting the role wasn’t an option. This was the CEO’s decision. And declining would mean jeopardizing everything I had worked so hard for—including the salary that was now covering Ryan’s medical expenses.
I inhaled deeply, pushing down my emotions. "Understood. When do I start?"
Mrs. Carter gave a small smile, satisfied with my answer. "Immediately. Gather your things. You’ll be moving to the executive floor."
As I walked out of the conference room, a sinking feeling settled in my stomach. I had no choice but to face my past head-on.
On my way to Callum’s office, I couldn’t stop thinking about Ryan. His frail body, his hopeful eyes, the way he smiled despite the pain. He was my priority. No matter how much I despised Callum, my brother’s life was more important than my pride. I had to endure this for Ryan. My personal feelings didn’t matter—not when his treatment depended on my job.
With a deep breath, I pushed the office door open.
I froze.
Callum stood in front of me, arms crossed, looking as arrogant as ever. His dark eyes locked onto mine, and for a brief second, something unreadable flickered in them. Then, he spoke.
"I miss you." His voice was cold, emotionless, as if the words meant nothing.
I stiffened, my heart clenching. Of course, he would say something like that, twisting a knife into the wounds he had left behind. But I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing me falter.
I lifted my chin and met his gaze head-on. "Let’s just get this over with."
A slow smirk formed on Callum’s lips as he took a step closer, invading my space. "Still feisty, I see." His voice dipped lower, taunting, as he reached out and tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear.
I jerked back, glaring at him. "Don’t touch me."
He chuckled, but there was a dangerous glint in his eyes. "You’re my secretary now, Athena. That means you’ll be seeing a lot more of me. And I intend to make up for lost time."
My stomach twisted at his words. The possessiveness in his tone sent an uncomfortable shiver down my spine. He was acting like he still had a claim over me, as if the past had never happened.
I took a deep breath, forcing myself to remain calm. "I’m here to do my job, nothing more."
Callum tilted his head, amusement dancing in his eyes. "We’ll see about that."
I hated the way he looked at me—like he already knew I was trapped. Like he knew I had no choice but to stay.
And the worst part? He was right.
My hands balled into fists. "I quit."
Callum barely glanced up from his desk, as if he had been expecting it. "No, you don’t."
My jaw clenched. "I’m serious. I don’t want this job. I’ll submit my resignation today."
He finally looked at me, leaning back in his chair with a smirk. "And how exactly do you plan to pay the company a million dollars for breaching your two-year contract?"
My breath caught. "What?"
Callum pulled out a document from his drawer and slid it across the desk toward me. "You signed a binding contract when you accepted the promotion. If you resign before the term is up, you’ll owe the company a hefty sum for damages. I doubt you can afford that—unless, of course, you have a secret fortune I don’t know about."
My fingers trembled as I stared at the paper. The words were clear as day. A million dollars. Money I didn’t have. Money that was impossible to come up with overnight.
He stood up, walking around the desk to stand beside me. "Face it, Athena. You don’t have a choice. You’re mine for the next two years."
Related chapters
My Ex, the Widowed Billionaire Chapter 11: His Order
I couldn’t breathe.Callum’s words echoed in my head, suffocating me. Two years. I was trapped. Stuck working under him, forced to face the man who had shattered my heart every single day.No. There had to be a way out.I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay composed. If Callum thought he could intimidate me, he was dead wrong.“I see,” I said, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me. “Well, I appreciate the clarification, Mr. Stone.”Callum raised an eyebrow at my sudden shift in tone. “Mr. Stone? That’s new.”I ignored his smug expression and turned on my heel, walking toward the door. My mind was already calculating my next move. If I couldn’t resign, I’d make myself impossible to work with. I’d be the worst secretary he ever had.Let’s see how long he’d last before firing me himself.—The next morning, I arrived at the office exactly five minutes late.Callum was already at his desk, flipping through a document when I walked in. His eyes flicked up to meet mine,
Last Updated : 2025-02-24My Ex, the Widowed Billionaire Chapter 12: His Help
I stared at the cheque, my fingers tightening around the envelope as my pulse pounded in my ears. Five hundred thousand dollars. The amount was staggering, enough to pull Ryan out of the mess he was in. But coming from Callum? It felt like a slap in the face.Slowly, I lifted my gaze to meet his. He was watching me, his expression unreadable, but I could see the satisfaction in his eyes. He thought this was an easy win. That dangling this money in front of me would be enough to keep me leashed.“You think this changes anything?” My voice was barely above a whisper, but the weight behind it was undeniable.Callum leaned back in his chair, a smirk playing on his lips. “It’s not about changing anything, Athena. It’s about helping you.”I laughed, but there was no humor in it. “Helping me? You don’t get to say that. Not after what you did.”His smirk faltered, but he recovered quickly. “I made a mistake.”“A mistake?” I repeated, my voice rising. “You left me, Callum. You proposed to me,
Last Updated : 2025-02-24My Ex, the Widowed Billionaire Chapter 13: What's the catch?
I rushed toward him, jaw clenched in frustration. “What are you doing here?” I hissed, keeping my voice low to avoid a scene.Callum didn’t flinch. He stood his ground, hands tucked into his dark coat pockets, gaze steady. “I came to check on Ryan.”I let out a humorless laugh. “You expect me to believe that?”He tilted his head, infuriatingly calm. “Believe whatever you want, Athena. But I deposited the check, and the hospital confirmed the payment.”My breath hitched, anger bubbling up. “You had no right,” I spat. “I told you I didn’t want your money!”His eyes hardened. “And I told you this isn’t about you. It’s about Ryan.”I clenched my fists. “You think throwing money around makes you a hero?”He sighed, raking a hand through his hair. “You’re impossible. You’d rather let pride dictate your actions than accept help when you clearly need it.”His words stung like a slap, but I refused to back down. “You don’t get to question my love for my brother.”Callum stepped closer, presenc
Last Updated : 2025-02-26My Ex, the Widowed Billionaire Chapter 14: Unacceptable
Callum's lips twitched slightly, but the humor didn’t quite reach his eyes. “The catch is just do what I say and just do the job well without being stubborn.”I narrowed my eyes, crossing my arms as I studied him. “That’s it?”“Yes,” he said simply. “Take the time off, be with Ryan, and when you come back, you do your job without pushing back on every damn thing I tell you to do.”I huffed, turning my attention back to Ryan, who was finally resting peacefully. The anger that had flared earlier still simmered inside me, but exhaustion dulled its edges. Maybe Callum was right. Maybe I did need this time off. But I hated that he had taken control of the situation without my input.Ryan stirred slightly, his fingers twitching against my hand. His face was still pale, but the tension in his expression had eased. I exhaled slowly, brushing his hair back before looking at Callum again. “Fine.”A flicker of relief crossed his face, but it was gone in an instant. “Good.”The room fell into a t
Last Updated : 2025-02-26My Ex, the Widowed Billionaire Chapter 15: Food delivery
I walked out of the hospital room, my breath catching as the weight of my mother’s words pressed on me. Ryan is more important than your pride, Athena.I knew that. I’d always known. But knowing didn’t make accepting it easier.The cold air outside stung my skin, a sharp contrast to the warmth I left behind in Ryan’s room. I wrapped my arms around myself, vision blurring as tears spilled over. I hated this. Hated how Callum still had the power to shake me, to make me question everything I had rebuilt.“Athena?”I startled, quickly wiping my tears as Lia approached. Her brows knitted in concern, hands tucked into her coat pockets.“Hey,” she said softly. “You okay?”I forced a smile. “Yeah. Just... fresh air.”Lia gave me a look that said she didn’t buy it. “Athena, you’re a terrible liar.”I let out a shaky breath, shoulders slumping. “It’s just... a lot.”She nodded, tilting her head toward the small café across the street. “Come on. Let’s get coffee. You look like you could use it.”
Last Updated : 2025-02-26My Ex, the Widowed Billionaire Chapter 16: Don't expect
I placed the bags on the small hospital table, my hands unsteady as I unpacked the contents. The smell of freshly cooked food filled the room—warm soup, soft bread, and a variety of dishes carefully packaged. It wasn’t just any meal. It was thoughtful. Comforting. Exactly the kind of food someone would send if they knew we hadn’t eaten properly all day.I hated how that realization made my chest tighten.My mother sat beside Ryan’s bed, watching me carefully. She didn’t say anything, but I could feel the unspoken words hanging in the air.I sighed, forcing myself to focus on the task at hand. “Do you want some?”She hesitated before nodding. “You should eat too, Athena.”I wasn’t sure I had much of an appetite, but I pulled out a container of soup. As I lifted a spoonful to my lips, the warmth spread through me, comforting in a way I hadn’t expected.We ate in silence, the only sounds the occasional beeping of the monitors and the hum of the hospital outside. Ryan remained asleep, his
Last Updated : 2025-02-26My Ex, the Widowed Billionaire Chapter 17: Callum's POV
CALLUM’S POVI never expected Athena to forgive me.Not after what I did.I once imagined a future with her—warmth, love, unshakable promises. I gave her a ring, a vow, a dream of something lasting. But I destroyed it.One day, I was hers. The next, I walked away.For Emilia.For a woman with weeks left to live.For a promise rooted in duty, not love.I exhaled sharply, forcing myself to stay present, but the past had its claws deep in me. Ryan’s steady breathing filled the silence, yet all I heard was my own regrets. The way I tore Athena’s world apart for something I thought was bigger than us.Emilia was dying. Fragile. Terrified of facing the end alone. She pleaded with me, begged me to stay. And then there was Richard Rhodes—her father, a man who shaped futures. Marrying into the Rhodes family meant securing a position of power few could dream of.I told myself it was right. That Emilia deserved to spend her last days without fear, that I couldn’t abandon her.But that was a lie.
Last Updated : 2025-02-26My Ex, the Widowed Billionaire Chapter 18: Callum's POV 2
CALLUM’S POV 2I arrived at Rhodes Enterprises exactly one hour later, my suit pressed, expression neutral. The weight of Richard’s expectations sat heavy on my shoulders, but I refused to show any cracks.As I stepped into the boardroom, a dozen pairs of eyes flicked toward me—some wary, some calculating, all waiting for me to falter. Richard sat at the head of the table, his gaze impassive.“Callum,” he said smoothly, motioning for me to take my seat. “Let’s begin.”I forced a nod, suppressing the lingering headache from last night’s whiskey. This was my battlefield now. To survive, I had to play the game.The meeting was brutal. The board questioned everything—my competence, leadership, and ability to carry the Rhodes name forward. Richard stayed silent, letting them tear into me like vultures. I answered each challenge with precision, refusing to be rattled.By the time the meeting ended, I’d made one thing clear: I wasn’t just Emilia’s grieving husband. I was the man who would le
Last Updated : 2025-02-26
Latest chapter
My Ex, the Widowed Billionaire Chapter 66: His Choice
They say closure is a myth. That healing doesn’t come in clean arcs, but in spirals—circles that loop back on themselves when you least expect it. I used to believe healing was about moving forward, about choosing growth. But what they don’t tell you is sometimes healing means looking backward, straight into the eyes of what broke you, and asking if maybe… just maybe… you still want it.Callum was standing in my kitchen.He moved like a man walking through a dream, unsure of what was real and what he’d only imagined during the countless sleepless nights I suspected we both had. The air between us was thick—heavy with memories, words left unsaid, and the quiet pull of things unresolved.He hadn’t shaved. A small thing, but for Callum Hastings, that was a kind of confession.“You look tired,” I said quietly, unsure of what else to say.“I am,” he admitted, his voice rough. “But I’ll sleep better if you hear me out.”I nodded and poured him a cup of coffee, not because I had to, but beca
My Ex, the Widowed Billionaire Chapter 65: Rumors
Days passed and with each one, the silence between Callum and me became thicker. At work, we fell back into our roles—him, the cold and polished CEO; me, the efficient assistant with unreadable eyes. The moments we’d shared—too fragile, too private—seemed to shrink beneath the weight of routine.But something had shifted. Not just between us, but in the air around us.It started small.A hushed conversation in the hallway that cut off the moment I walked past. A paused laugh when I entered the breakroom. Stares that lingered just a little too long.Rumors.They crept in like cracks in glass—subtle, invisible at first. But they were growing.“He’s been different lately.”“She’s always in his office late.”“Have you seen how close they stand?”One morning, I found a printed photo carelessly left near the printer tray. Callum and me—taken from a distance, probably through the office windows. We were walking through the small park near the firm. He was looking at me, not smiling, but seei
My Ex, the Widowed Billionaire Chapter 64: Returned
Days passed.Ryan remained in recovery, and the doctors said it was a miracle he survived the trauma. Callum never left his side during the first 48 hours, and I stayed as long as I could—until reality knocked again, cold and sharp.Work.Deadlines. Reports. Meetings. Schedules. The world outside the hospital didn’t care about the wounds we were nursing or the chaos we had survived.So I returned to the company.Back to polished shoes and pressed blouses, empty coffee mugs, and overly enthusiastic greetings from coworkers who didn’t know, or pretended not to know, what had happened.I was just “the secretary” again. The assistant with quiet eyes and a composed smile, sitting outside Callum’s office and managing his appointments like I hadn’t once held his hand beside a hospital bed. Like we hadn’t once whispered words we couldn’t take back.The company buzzed with energy that felt foreign to me. Laughter in the pantry. Flirtations over email. The sound of heels against the marble floo
My Ex, the Widowed Billionaire Chapter 63: I love him
The question hung in the air like frost, suspended and sharp. I didn’t answer immediately. I couldn’t. Not because I didn’t know—but because the truth was complicated, layered, messy. I wrapped the blanket tighter around my shoulders, the cold biting through even that small comfort. Callum didn’t press me. He never did. That was one of the reasons I had come to rely on him so completely. But right now, I wished he would say something. Anything. “Yes,” I said finally, barely above a whisper. “But not the way I love you.” His eyes flickered to mine. “What does that mean?” I looked at him, really looked at him. The man who had stepped in when everything was falling apart. Who stayed, even when the weight of my grief and guilt threatened to drown us both. Who loved Ryan like his own. “It means I loved the idea of Daniel. The life we had before everything broke. Before the sickness. Before the loss. I loved the certainty he offered.” “But you don’t trust him,” Callum said, more a st
My Ex, the Widowed Billionaire Chapter 62: Do you still love him?
The next morning came too quickly. The sunrise spilled soft orange light through the curtains, painting the room in a warmth that felt too gentle for the weight pressing on my chest. Callum had already gotten up. I could hear him downstairs in the kitchen—muffled sounds of a kettle boiling, the low hum of the radio, the quiet patter of his footsteps moving in familiar rhythm.I pulled myself from bed slowly, each movement a reminder of the exhaustion lodged deep in my bones. Ryan had another appointment today. A new specialist. One Callum had found after days of phone calls and medical forums. He never gave up—not on Ryan, not on me. And I hated how part of me still felt tempted by Daniel’s offer, even after everything.I met Callum downstairs, where he stood with two mugs of coffee in hand. He passed one to me without a word, offering a tired smile. There were faint lines at the corners of his eyes—worry etched into every part of him now."Big day," he said, breaking the silence."Ye
My Ex, the Widowed Billionaire Chapter 61: Enough
The days that followed my decision were anything but easy. Even though I had chosen to stay with Callum, to lean on the bond we had built over the years, the weight of my choice pressed down on me like an iron vice. I had rejected Daniel’s offer, but in some quiet, hidden corner of my heart, I still questioned whether I had made the right decision. I hadn’t fully embraced the idea of the future without his help, his promise of an escape from the suffocating reality I had been living in.But as I spent more time with Callum, as I saw the way he fought for us, fought for Ryan, I began to feel that flicker of hope grow a little brighter. Maybe we didn’t need Daniel. Maybe we just needed each other.Ryan’s condition was still precarious. Some days, he seemed like he was doing better, his color returning to his cheeks, his voice stronger when he spoke. But those moments were fleeting, like sunshine breaking through a storm, only to be swallowed by clouds once more.We had a good day here a
My Ex, the Widowed Billionaire Chapter 60: Scared
The days that followed my meeting with Daniel were some of the hardest I had ever faced. I couldn’t shake the weight of the decision that loomed over me, pressing down with increasing force. The tension between Callum and me was palpable, thicker than ever. He hadn’t asked about the meeting, not directly, but I knew he could tell something had changed. My silence was heavy, my distraction obvious. And still, I couldn't bring myself to tell him the truth.Ryan’s condition was worsening. Every day, there were moments when I thought the fight would be over, when I would watch him sleep and wonder if I was seeing him for the last time. And yet, in the same breath, I clung to the hope that we could make it through, that things could get better. But the uncertainty was suffocating. Every medication administered, every round of treatment, felt like a reminder that we were running out of time.I wasn’t sure what I was searching for. Maybe I was looking for a sign, something that would make th
My Ex, the Widowed Billionaire Chapter 59: Evident
The days that followed my conversation with Callum were a blur, but they weren’t a peaceful blur. Every moment felt like it was suspended in the tension of what could be, what might come, and the relentless weight of the choice that was looming over me. I could feel Daniel’s presence pressing in from the outside, waiting for me to make a decision, but I was trapped in this space between past and future, between trust and doubt.Ryan’s treatment continued, a rhythm I had grown all too familiar with. The sterile smell of the hospital, the beeping of monitors, the soft hum of nurses moving through the halls—it had become a part of my life, an unchanging backdrop to the turbulence of my emotions. I tried my best to be strong, to hold it all together for Callum, for Ryan, for myself, but there was a crack in my resolve, and it seemed like it was getting wider with each passing day.Callum’s worry was evident in his eyes every time he looked at me. His attempts to shield me from the weight
My Ex, the Widowed Billionaire Chapter 58: Could I trust him?
The days that followed Daniel’s unexpected call were a blur of conflicting emotions. Ryan’s treatment continued, and the routine of hospital visits, medication schedules, and sleepless nights persisted. But now, between the sterile walls of the hospital and the sterile walls of my mind, I couldn’t shake the unease that Daniel’s presence had stirred. His offer had been made in a seemingly harmless tone, yet something about it unsettled me.Callum and I fell into a strained silence, our once easy conversations now punctuated with awkward pauses and unspoken tension. He noticed my withdrawn demeanor, my distracted gaze, the way I’d stare off into space when he wasn’t looking. He could tell I was carrying something, a secret or a weight, but he didn’t press. It was as if he was giving me space to figure it out on my own, but I knew he was growing more and more concerned. The strain was evident in the way he would look at me, the edge in his voice when he spoke, but I didn’t know how to ex
