Chapter 125

Olivia

Alice had the decency to look embarrassed. “Nothing. Just… you know how people talk.”

My stomach clenched. “What are people saying?”

The three exchanged glances.

“Nothing specific,” Vivian said carefully. “Just the usual office gossip when someone gets a big promotion soon after marrying

the CEO.”

“I’ve been working my ass off for so long.” I reminded them, anger simmering beneath my professional facade. “I’ve stayed late, come in on weekends, and delivered results consistently.”

“We know that,” Nova assured me quickly. “And anyone who’s worked with you knows it too. Don’t mind the jealous assholes.”

As if on cue, there was another knock, and Jessica appeared with my new security badge and office keys.

“Mrs. Carter, here are your credentials,” she said, handing me a sleek leather folder. “HR has scheduled an orientation session

at 11 AM to review your new system accesses and responsibilities. Is there anything else you need?”

“No, thank you, Jessica.”

After she left, my friends stared at me in awe.

“Mrs. Carter,” Nova repeated, mimicking Jessica’s deferential tone. “That’s going to take some getting used to.”

“Tell me about it,” I muttered.

Alice checked her watch. “We should get back to work.”

“Right. And we should let you settle in,” Vivian added.

alone with my thoughts and

a steady stream of colleagues stopped by to congratulate me. Some seemed genuinely happy for my success, while others wore thinly

the boss for what, a few months? And now

corrected, “but yeah, talk about a fast

as I rounded the corner, their

the promotion,” one of them said from Digital Marketing,

a

rolled around, I’d endured several HR orientation sessions, signed a stack of paperwork, and received

through files when there was yet another

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7:58 pm P

Chapter 125

expecting more colleagues with thinly

Michelle Clark, the Marketing Director, my

Carter,” she greeted me with a warm smile. “How

finding my feet,” I admitted, standing to shake

across from my desk. “I wanted to personally welcome you to the executive team. Your work on the Westwood

a lot coming from

of a role model to me since I joined Carter Enterprises. She’d worked her way up through the ranks over fifteen years, breaking through

continued, “there was some pushback about your promotion. Not because of your

I tensed. “I understand.”

before you married Alexander Carter, you were on

“I appreciate your support. And

you

down.”

to put

Thompson account? But that’s

It’s high–profile, challenging, and exactly the kind of project that will silence any doubters.” She handed me a thick folder. “The brief is in here. We present initial concepts

of project I’d dreamed of leading. “Don’t thank me yet,” she warned with a wry smile. “The pressure is on. People will be watching

losing myself in the creative challenge. The project was substantial, rebranding an entire hotel chain to appeal to younger, tech–savvy

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