BETHEL

5

Bethel's stomach twisted as she stared at the email. This wasn't a promotion—it was a trap. She could almost hear Mr. Anderson's voice mocking her through the cold, formal text. A rush of anger welled up, her hands tightening around her phone, but she forced it down.

This wasn't the time to panic or get emotional. This was just another game, and she had already decided to play.

Letting out a slow breath, she tossed her phone onto the bed and leaned back, staring up at the ceiling. She would have to face him again tomorrow, knowing exactly what this meant. But if Mr. Anderson thought he could corner her, he was wrong. She wasn't going to let him win—whatever game he was playing, she'd make sure she had her own strategy.

The next morning, Bethel walked into the office feeling the weight of every glance and whisper. As soon as she stepped through the door, the usual hum of activity seemed to quiet, and all eyes were on her.

"Did you hear?" someone murmured as she passed.

"Kayah's gone," another voice hissed.

Bethel's steps faltered, her heart racing. What did they mean, Kayah's gone? Kayah had been the CEO's trusted assistant for years. She pushed through the whispers and headed straight for her desk, but before she could sit down, she was met by the HR manager, his expression unreadable.

"Bethel, you'll need to gather your things," he said curtly. "You've been reassigned to the CEO's office upstairs."

Her stomach sank, but she nodded, forcing herself to stay calm. This was happening faster than she had imagined.

As she packed her belongings, the whispers grew louder. Fragments of conversations floated around her.

"He sent Kayah to the West End branch."

"Just to make room for her..."

"She's his new pet."

Bethel's pulse quickened with every word. So that was it. Mr. Anderson had not only moved her up but had shipped off Kayah, his longtime assistant, just to make room for Bethel. The move was deliberate, a show of power, designed to isolate her and let everyone know who was in control.

By the time she reached the CEO's office, she felt the full weight of the situation. The plush, executive floor was eerily quiet compared to the bustling energy downstairs. As Bethel set her things down at her new desk outside Mr. Anderson's office, she felt the unease settle in deeper.

This wasn't just a promotion—this was a move to control her, to keep her under his thumb. Whatever Mr. Anderson had planned, it was already in motion, and Bethel was now at the center of it.

Bethel's pride stung as she stood in front of her new desk, the plush surroundings doing little to ease the humiliation burning inside her. Just yesterday, she had been an assistant manager—respected, with a clear path ahead of her. Now, she was nothing more than a glorified personal assistant, sent here on the whim of a man determined to keep her in check.

She felt the sharp contrast acutely. The stairs she had once climbed with confidence now led to a space designed to strip her of it. All the work she had put in, all the effort to prove herself, reduced to this—the CEO's personal assistant, a role Kayah had likely cherished, but for Bethel, it felt like a demotion, not an honor. The whispers downstairs echoed in her mind, making the reality even harder to swallow. His pet.

The thought sickened her. She had worked too hard for this, and now everyone knew she wasn't here because of her capabilities—it was Mr. Anderson's power play, nothing more.

A wave of anger surged through her, but beneath that anger was a deeper hurt—her pride. She had never been the type to shrink away from a challenge, but this felt different. It wasn't just a test of skill. It was a test of her will, her ability to endure being under his thumb without breaking.