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.

filed out, leaving me alone with my thoughts and my

genuinely happy for my success, while others wore thinly veiled expressions of suspicion or resentment. During a trip to the break room, I overheard a snippet of

few months? And now she’s Senior Strategist

another voice corrected, “but yeah, talk

rounded the corner, their fake smiles not

on the promotion,” one of them

a water bottle and leaving without

signed a stack of paperwork, and received no fewer than fifteen “congratulatory” emails

files when there was yet

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PD

7:58 pm P

Chapter 125

called, expecting more colleagues with

it was Michelle Clark, the Marketing Director, my

Carter,” she greeted me with a warm

I admitted, standing

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

you. That means a lot coming from

of a role model to me since I joined Carter Enterprises. She’d worked her way up through

about your promotion. Not because of your abilities, your

I tensed. “I understand.”

she said firmly. “Even before you married Alexander Carter,

washed over me. “I appreciate your

you

down.”

“That’s why I’ve decided to put you in charge of

eyes widened. “The Thompson account?

and exactly the kind of project that will silence any doubters.” She handed me

feeling genuine excitement. This was the kind 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 closely, hoping you’ll fail.”

in the creative challenge. The project was substantial, rebranding an entire hotel chain to appeal to younger, tech–savvy travelers while maintaining their reputation for luxury. It was exactly the kind

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