The Promotion

Chapter Fifteen

When I reached the entrance to the top floor, a sudden wave of panic washed over me.

My card.

I froze, patting my bag, then my coat pockets, my heart dropping into my stomach. For a brief, awful moment, I thought I'd lost it. Then it hit me—I'd left it on my desk yesterday. The plan had been simple: stay sober, collect my things, go home. That plan had clearly disintegrated somewhere between vodka shots and heartbreak.

I pressed the intercom, hoping I wouldn't be interrogated.

"Yes?" an unfamiliar voice answered.

"Hi—it's Louisa. I left my pass in my office," I said, heat creeping into my cheeks.

There was a pause. Just long enough to make me regret opening my mouth.

Then the door buzzed open.

I exhaled in relief and stepped inside, offering polite smiles to unfamiliar faces as I passed. I lifted my coffee to my lips, taking a hopeful sip—only to grimace. Stone cold. So much for the travel mug Alexander's staff had lovingly prepared.

When I reached my office, I raised my fist to knock on Alexander's door, then stopped, remembering his rule.

No knocking.

I pushed the door open carefully.

Alexander sat behind his desk, fingers flying across his laptop keyboard. He looked focused—sharp, controlled. When he noticed me, he stopped typing immediately, closed the laptop, and smiled.

"Louisa. Come in."

I stepped inside and closed the door behind me, suddenly unsure where to stand or what to say.

"How are you?" he asked gently.

"I'm sorry," I blurted out. "I'm so, so sorry. My behaviour last night was completely unacceptable. I was unprofessional, reckless, and I haven't done anything useful since I started. I understand if you want to fire me. I would deserve it. I just—" My voice cracked. "I'm sorry."

The words tumbled out in a rush, my head bowing under the weight of humiliation. Silence followed.

Then—

Alexander laughed.

I lifted my head, stunned.

"I'm not firing you," he said, amusement still in his voice. "You didn't embarrass me."

"You didn't...?" I asked, unsure I'd heard correctly.

"No," he continued. "When I realised I hadn't seen you for a while, I went looking for you. At first, it looked like you were just leaning on the bar. When I got closer, I could tell you weren't feeling well. People were concerned, but I told them you needed fresh air."

Relief rushed through me so fast I nearly sagged with it.

"So... I didn't make a fool of myself?"

He smirked. "If you'd been drunk the way you were the night we met, then you would've embarrassed me."

I couldn't help smiling, the memory flickering warmly between us.

"Now," he said, gesturing for me to sit, "do you want to tell me why you drank that much?"

I took the chair opposite him, clasping my hands on the desk like they might run away otherwise.

"It's nothing," I said weakly.

Alexander leaned forward and placed his hands gently over mine.

"Louisa," he said softly, "you can tell me anything. I'm still the same man who listened to you that night. What's wrong?"