The Promotion

Chapter Ten

After a long and exhausting day, I finally stepped out of the grand building. I paused just outside the doors, closing my eyes as the cool evening breeze brushed against my face. It felt grounding, like a quiet reminder that I'd made it through my first day. A slow, steady sigh slipped from my lips as I checked my phone—half past six.

It felt strange. I'd been constantly busy, yet somehow I couldn't pinpoint anything concrete I'd actually done. Setting up my new computer, organising files, sorting through emails, familiarising myself with systems—it had all blurred together into something tedious and overwhelming. My feet ached, my head throbbed, and my mind felt overloaded.

As I climbed into my car, I dialled Sarah's number. She picked up just as I pulled out of the car park.

"Hey! How are you? How was your first day?" she asked immediately, her voice sounding brighter than it had the day before.

"Forget me for a second," I replied. "How's your mum?"

"She's doing okay," Sarah said. "She got discharged today. Still in pain, but she's home and that's what matters. Now—your turn. Tell me everything."

I hesitated. She was going to find out sooner or later. I might as well rip the plaster off.

"Okay," I sighed. "You'll never guess who my boss is."

"What?" Sarah asked sharply. "Who?"

"Mystery guy," I said. "Alexander Pierce is mystery guy."

Silence.

Long, stunned silence.

"No," Sarah finally breathed. "Absolutely not."

"I'm not joking," I said, letting out a small, nervous laugh. "He's my boss."

Her gasp was loud enough that I had to pull the phone slightly away from my ear.

"That is insane," she squealed. "You're telling me you now work for the guy you had a night of passion with?"

"Sarah," I warned. "That night never happened. We are not talking about it."

"If you say so," she teased. "Isn't it going to be awkward?"

"No," I replied firmly. "It won't be. We've agreed to move past it. He's my boss, I'm his employee. That's all."

There was another pause. "Still," Sarah said slowly, "you're working closely with an absolute hunk."

"Oh, shut up," I muttered, parking up outside my apartment. "I've got to go. I'll talk to you tomorrow."

After hanging up, I sat in the car for a moment longer than necessary. Sarah's words echoed in my head. Lucky. Why did that word linger? Why did I feel a faint smile tug at my lips before I forced it away?

Shaking it off, I headed inside.

Calum was sprawled across the couch, eyes glued to his phone. He didn't look up when I entered. I deliberately rustled my bag and cleared my throat, but he didn't react.

I gave up and retreated to the bedroom, dumping my bag before heading straight to the bathroom. I needed to unwind. A bath felt like the only solution.

Once the tub was full, steam filling the room, I slipped in slowly, wincing at the heat before sinking into it fully. The warmth loosened my muscles almost instantly. I leaned back, closing my eyes, letting the bubbles lap against my skin.

And then—uninvited—Alexander appeared in my thoughts.

His voice.
His eyes.
The way he'd looked at me in his office.