THE HIDDEN FEELING

As Alexander entered Sterling Enterprises, he was greeted by an unexpected surprise. His employees had gathered in the lobby, a banner reading "Welcome Back, Alexander!" hanging overhead. Applause and cheers filled the air as he walked in, and he couldn’t help but smile at the heartfelt reception.

"Welcome back, Mr. Sterling!" someone called out, and soon the chorus of greetings became overwhelming.

He raised his hand to quiet the crowd, his eyes shining with appreciation. "Thank you all so much. It’s great to be back and see all of your familiar faces."

One of his senior managers stepped forward, holding a bouquet of flowers. "We wanted to show you how much we’ve missed you and how happy we are to have you back."

Alexander accepted the flowers, feeling genuinely touched. "Thank you. This means a lot to me."

He took a moment to look around, taking in the smiles and enthusiasm of his team. It was then that he decided to show his gratitude in a tangible way. "I’ve seen the hard work you’ve all put in while I was away, and I want to thank you for your dedication. To show my appreciation, I’m increasing everyone’s salary."

A stunned silence followed his announcement, quickly replaced by excited whispers and then cheers. The joy on his employees’ faces was unmistakable.

"Thank you, Mr. Sterling!" several voices rang out, their gratitude evident.

Alexander smiled broadly. "You all deserve it. Let’s continue to work hard and make Sterling Enterprises even better together."

With that, he made his way to his office, feeling a renewed sense of purpose and connection with his team. The warm welcome and their enthusiasm gave him the motivation he needed to dive back into his role as CEO and lead with both strength and compassion.

As the day progressed, Alexander immersed himself in meetings and strategizing sessions. The excitement of returning to work and the positive reactions from his team kept him thoroughly engaged. For a while, he didn’t think about Amelia or their life together—his focus was solely on the tasks at hand.

In the midst of a busy afternoon, as Alexander walked through the bustling office, he caught sight of a face that seemed oddly familiar. The person was standing near the break room, deep in conversation with a colleague. Alexander couldn’t place where he had seen them before, but the resemblance to someone from his past was striking.

He paused for a moment, trying to recall where he might have encountered this person. It nagged at him, distracting him from his work. The familiarity of the face tugged at the edges of his memory, but he couldn’t quite make the connection.

With a slight furrow in his brow, he continued on to his office, still mulling over the face he had seen. The fleeting recognition, combined with the demands of his role, left him preoccupied. Alexander knew that he would need to resolve this nagging feeling soon, but for now, he pushed it aside and focused on the pressing matters of the day.

As they wrapped up their discussion, Alexander gathered some documents from his desk and handed them to Amelia. "These are the projections and market analysis for the new product," he said, his tone formal and businesslike. "I need you to review them and have the calculations ready by tomorrow morning."

Amelia took the documents with a steady hand. "Understood, Mr. Sterling. I’ll ensure it's completed by then."

Alexander nodded, his attention already shifting back to other tasks. "Thank you."

Amelia left the office, her heart heavy despite her outward composure. As soon as she was out of sight, she hurried to the nearest restroom. The sterile, bright lighting did nothing to ease the tension she felt. Leaning against the sink, her eyes brimmed with tears that she had fought hard to keep in check.

It was hard to believe how Alexander could act so detached, as if their shared history and marriage were irrelevant. The formality and distance he maintained felt like a personal rejection, and the reality of it all struck her deeply.

Amelia closed her eyes, taking deep breaths to steady herself. She allowed the tears to flow briefly, letting the emotions wash over her. It was a small, private release from the façade she had to maintain in the office.

After a few moments, she composed herself. She dabbed at her eyes with a tissue, carefully reapplied her makeup, and looked at her reflection with resolve. She had to regain her composure and focus on her work despite the emotional turmoil.

With a final, steadying breath, Amelia left the restroom. She returned to her office, her posture upright and her expression a mask of professional calm. As she sat down at her desk, the documents from Alexander lay before her, a tangible reminder of the tasks ahead. She began reviewing the figures with meticulous attention, channeling her feelings into the work, determined to excel despite the personal challenges she faced.

As Amelia started working on the project, she immersed herself in the numbers and projections, trying to push her personal turmoil aside. The room was silent except for the soft rustling of papers and the occasional click of her calculator. Suddenly, there was a knock Suddenly, there was a knock at her office door. Distracted and still raw from her encounter with Alexander, she didn't look up and responded brusquely, "Who is it?"

"It's Mark," came the gentle reply.

Surprised, she raised her head and saw Mark standing in the doorway, a concerned look on his face. Instantly, she regretted her rude tone.

"Mark, I'm sorry," she said, her voice softening. "I didn’t realize it was you."

Mark stepped inside, closing the door behind him. "It's alright. I just wanted to check on you. You seemed a bit off today."

Amelia managed a faint smile, touched by his concern. "It's been a tough day. But I'm alright. Just trying to get through these calculations."

Mark walked over and took a seat opposite her, his eyes searching her face for any sign of how she was truly feeling. "If you need to talk or take a break, just let me know. I'm here for you."

She looked up, meeting his kind eyes. "Thanks, Mark. I really appreciate it."

They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of her emotions hanging between them. Amelia felt a bit of the tension ease, grateful for Mark's understanding presence.

As the hours passed and the office started to empty out, Amelia remained at her desk, determined to finish the project Alexander had assigned. The numbers and projections demanded her full attention, and she found solace in the work, distracting her from the emotional turmoil she felt.

It was already late when Mark knocked on her office door again, this time with a more insistent tone. "Amelia, it's getting really late. You should head home."

She glanced up, her eyes tired but still focused. "I just need a bit more time to finish this."

Mark frowned, noticing the strain on her face. "You’ve been working non-stop. You skipped lunch and now dinner. You can't keep pushing yourself like this."

Amelia sighed, realizing he was right but feeling the pressure of the looming deadline. "I know, but I need to get this done."

Mark shook his head, his concern deepening. "No, you need to take care of yourself. Come on, let’s get out of here. We can grab something to eat, and I’ll drive you home."

Seeing the genuine worry in his eyes, Amelia felt a wave of gratitude. "Alright, Mark. Thank you."

She gathered her things and followed him out of the office. As they walked through the building, they passed Alexander's office. He looked up from his work just in time to see them leaving together. A pang of something—anger,jealousy, regret—hit him hard, though he quickly masked his emotions and focused back on his paperwork. Inside, Alexander felt conflicted. Seeing Amelia with another man, even if it was just Mark, stirred emotions he wasn’t prepared to confront. He buzzed his personal assistant, Claire, and gave a new directive. "Claire, I need you to keep an eye on Amelia. Make sure she has everything she needs, and inform me if there’s anything she lacks."

Claire looked surprised but nodded. "Of course, Mr. Sterling."

Meanwhile, Mark and Amelia drove to a nearby restaurant. The ambiance was warm and inviting, a stark contrast to the cold, sterile office environment they had left behind. They found a cozy corner table and sat down, the soft lighting providing a sense of relaxation.

As they looked over the menu, Mark's concern for Amelia was palpable. "You need to take better care of yourself, Amelia. You can't keep sacrificing your health for work."

Amelia smiled faintly, appreciating his concern. "I know. It's just been a rough day."

Mark reached across the table, gently squeezing her hand. "I’m here for you. Whatever you need, don’t hesitate to ask."