Chapter 9: Promotion

The moment I stepped onto the office floor that morning, a suffocating tension filled the air. I wasn’t the only one who felt it—everyone moved with a sense of uncertainty, as if waiting for something inevitable. Or rather, someone.

I clutched my coffee cup tightly, the heat grounding me as I made my way to my desk. Whispers surrounded me, hushed voices carrying the weight of speculation and unease.

“Have you seen him yet?” “They say he’s arriving today. First official meeting with the department heads.” “I heard he’s even more ruthless than before. A completely different man.”

I swallowed hard. So, today was the day. Callum Winter Stone was about to make his grand entrance, and there was no more avoiding the reality of it.

Lia appeared beside me, her expression unreadable. “You okay?”

I nodded, but the knot in my stomach betrayed me. “I’ll have to be.”

She sighed. “You don’t have to prove anything to him, Athena. Just do your job. Show him you’re unshaken.”

Easier said than done.

Before I could respond, a murmur rippled through the office, growing louder by the second. The unmistakable sound of footsteps—measured, deliberate—echoed through the hall. A presence commanded the space before he even appeared.

And then, he did.

Callum Winter Stone entered the department with the kind of authority only someone like him could wield. He had always been magnetic, but now, there was something sharper about him—an edge honed by time and experience. Dressed in an impeccably tailored suit, his icy blue eyes scanned the room, assessing, calculating.

For a moment, our gazes collided.

My breath hitched.

It lasted only a second, but it was enough.

Recognition flickered in his expression, something unreadable passing through his gaze before it disappeared entirely. He gave nothing away. Not a hint of emotion, not a sign that he had once known me beyond a professional setting.

Good. That’s how I wanted it.

The department head, Mr. Graves, stepped forward, clearing his throat. “Mr. Stone, welcome. We’re honored to have you here.”

Callum nodded once. “I expect nothing less than efficiency from this department. Any weaknesses will be dealt with accordingly.” His voice was smooth, controlled, laced with an underlying threat that sent a chill through the room.

I forced myself to breathe. I would not let him see how much his presence affected me.

As the meeting began, I took my seat, keeping my head high. I wouldn’t crumble, no matter how much my past with him clawed at the surface. I had come too far to let Callum Winter Stone unravel me again.

He may be back. He may hold power. But I was not the woman he left behind.

And I would make sure he knew it.

But as the hours dragged on, I found it harder to keep my composure. My mind drifted against my will, pulling me back to memories I had long buried. The way he used to look at me—not with indifference, but with a fire that once burned just for me. The way his voice, now cold and impersonal, once carried warmth when he whispered my name.

I clenched my fists beneath the desk. None of that mattered now. I had moved on. I had rebuilt myself from the ruins he left behind.

Then why did it feel like those ruins still held a part of me hostage?

I told myself it was better this way. That his indifference was what I wanted. That his back turning on me was a blessing, not a wound reopening. But as I watched him leave the room, not sparing me a single glance, a sharp ache twisted in my chest.

Why did it hurt? Why did I feel like I was the one being left behind all over again?

I sat at my desk, still reeling from the shocking news. Just moments ago, my phone rang, and when I answered, it was my manager, Mrs.Carter. Her voice was calm yet firm, delivering a piece of information that left me speechless.

"Ms.Scott, congratulations," she had said. "You've been promoted. Your salary will be increasing to $100,000."

I had frozen in place, unable to comprehend what I had just heard. My mind scrambled to process the sudden shift in my reality. "Wait... what? Are you serious?" I managed to stammer.

"Yes," she confirmed, but before I could ask any more questions, she quickly added, "The official announcement will be made tomorrow morning when you arrive at work. For now, keep this to yourself."

I wanted to ask more, to understand why this was happening now, but she was already rushing off. "I have a tight schedule, Athena. We'll talk soon," she said before hanging up.

I stared at my phone, my heart pounding in my chest. Promoted? A six-figure salary? It all felt unreal. I had worked hard, but this was beyond anything I had expected. My mind raced with questions. Why now? Was it because of Callum’s return? Did he have anything to do with this? Or was this a reward for my dedication and persistence?

Lia noticed my stunned expression. "Athena, what happened? You look like you've seen a ghost."

I hesitated for a moment, then decided there was no point in keeping it from her. "I just got a call from my manager. I’ve been promoted," I said slowly. "And my salary... it’s increasing to $100,000."

Lia’s eyes widened, but instead of excitement, her face twisted with something else—concern. "Athena, that’s... that’s huge. But something doesn’t feel right."

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

She leaned closer, lowering her voice. "Think about it. Promotions don’t just happen overnight, and that kind of salary increase? It’s unheard of, unless someone high up is pulling strings. And with Callum back… don’t you think the timing is suspicious?"

My stomach tightened. I had been trying to ignore that exact thought. "You think Callum has something to do with this?"

Lia sighed. "I don’t know. But Athena, be careful. If this isn’t just about your hard work, then there’s a reason they don’t want you asking questions."

I swallowed hard, my excitement dimming under the weight of uncertainty. Lia was right. Something about this felt... off.

Tomorrow, I’d find out the truth. But I wasn’t sure if I was ready for it.