Deception in Silicon Heights

Chapter 4: The Meeting That Changed It All

At work, things were moving at a breakneck pace. Solitech had recently landed a major contract that would secure its place as one of the top tech companies in the country. Ethan had played a key role in the negotiations, and his efforts hadn't gone unnoticed by the executive team.

One Friday morning, he received an unexpected invitation to a private meeting with the board. His heart raced as he walked down the sleek, modern corridors of Solitech's headquarters, wondering what the meeting was about. He'd been with the company for years, climbing steadily through the ranks, but he had never been summoned like this before.

When he entered the room, the atmosphere was different—more serious, more focused. The board members, all high-ranking executives, were seated around the table, and at the head of the table was Marcus Langley, the CEO.

"Ethan, have a seat," Marcus said, gesturing to the chair at the centre of the room.

Ethan sat, trying to mask his nerves.

"We've been impressed with your work, Ethan," Marcus began, his tone formal but sincere. "The recent contract you helped secure was a game-changer for us, and we've been discussing the future of this company and how we want to shape our leadership team moving forward."

Ethan felt his pulse quicken.

"We'd like to offer you the position of Chief Operations Officer," Marcus continued. "It's a big step up, but we believe you're the right person to help guide this company into the future."

Ethan blinked, stunned. The COO position was one of the most powerful roles in the company, second only to the CEO. It was a dream come true—one he hadn't even allowed himself to dream.

"Of course, we'll need to discuss the details," Marcus said, leaning back in his chair. "But if you're interested, we can start working on the transition immediately."

"I'm... I'm interested," Ethan replied, his voice steady despite the whirlwind of thoughts in his head.

"Good," Marcus said, smiling. "Then let's get to work."

As the meeting wrapped up, Ethan felt a strange mixture of elation and dread. This promotion would change everything. It was the culmination of years of hard work, but as he left the meeting, his thoughts weren't on his career—they were on his family.

Jessica didn't know about the promotion. He hadn't told her about the possibility because something inside him had stopped him from sharing the excitement. Now, with the offer in hand, he wasn't sure he wanted her to know at all.