By the Book

Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Decisions Ahead

The soft strains of instrumental Disney music played from my phone, filling the quiet of my office as I pored over the latest quarterly reports for one of my accounts. The numbers blurred slightly, a testament to the long day, but I refused to let fatigue slow me down. My morning victory still hummed in the back of my mind, and the promise of dinner with Miles later had added an inexplicable warmth to the otherwise mundane task of financial analysis.

I made a small note in the margins of my printout and reached for my coffee, now lukewarm but still drinkable. Before I could take a sip, Chloe's voice crackled through the intercom.

"Hey, Kara, Alan's on his way in. He wants to touch base."

I blinked, lowering the mug. "Alan? Right now?"

"Yep. Said it'll just take a few minutes," she replied, her tone casual but knowing enough to make my stomach flip.

"Got it. Thanks."

The intercom went silent, and I quickly straightened the stack of papers on my desk, setting aside the financials I'd been reviewing. Alan didn't do drop-ins without a reason.

The knock came a moment later, brisk and authoritative. Before I could respond, the door opened, and Alan stepped in, his tailored gray suit and polished demeanor as sharp as ever. He was a man who exuded professionalism, his every movement deliberate and efficient.

"Kara," he greeted me with a small nod, a faint smile softening his usually stoic expression. "Got a minute?"

"Of course, Alan." I gestured to the chair across from my desk, closing the notebook in front of me. "What's on your mind?"

He took the offered seat, his presence immediately commanding the room. "First of all, congratulations on this morning's negotiation. I had a chance to glance over Chloe's summary, and it sounds like you handled it brilliantly."

"Thank you," I said, a flicker of pride sparking in my chest. "It was a team effort, but I'm glad it went well."

"It's more than just one meeting," Alan said, leaning forward slightly. "Your work over the past year has been exemplary. You've consistently delivered results, taken on challenging accounts, and managed to grow each one. It hasn't gone unnoticed."

I fought to keep my expression neutral, though I could feel my instincts kicking in. Praise from Alan was never without purpose—it always came with a price. The genuine-sounding compliments were his way of buttering you up before dropping the real reason for the conversation, and I'd seen it play out enough times with other team members to know when my turn had arrived.

Still, I nodded politely, careful to keep my tone measured. "I appreciate that, Alan. It means a lot coming from you."

He gave a faint smile, the kind that didn't quite reach his eyes. "That's actually why I'm here. There's an opportunity coming up—one I think you're ready for. I've put your name in for consideration."

There it was. The shift. The flicker of strategy beneath the surface. I adjusted my posture, my hands folding neatly on the desk to disguise the tension creeping into my shoulders. "An opportunity?"

Alan nodded, leaning back slightly but maintaining his calculated air of authority. "A promotion. Regional Financial Director. It's a significant step up—broader responsibility, bigger accounts, more visibility within the company."

I felt my breath catch for a moment. Regional Financial Director. The title carried weight, prestige, and the kind of professional recognition I'd worked toward for years. It wasn't just a promotion—it was a launchpad into a new echelon of my career. But, coming from Alan, it wasn't just an opportunity. It was a carefully placed move on his chessboard.