Lucian became quiet and was about to say something when his phone suddenly rang.
He lowered his eyes to the screen. The caller was Stella.
He did not stay away from me while answering the call, and his face unknowingly became softer.
“Hmm, it’s good that you got back home. You did very well today. Rest soon.”
“The island trip? About that, let’s go after attending the European summit first.”
Europe summit.
We decided earlier this year to attend the conference together so we could grow into a new market.
After finishing the call, he seemed to forget the small issue from before and casually explained things to me.
“Ciara, for the Europe summit happening in a few days, I’ll take Stella with me.”
“You’re already one of the senior people in the company. With you staying behind to handle things, I feel less worried.”
I feel less worried.
Those four simple and fluttering words left me frozen in place.
So, plans truly could not follow changes.
What changed was never the plan itself, but the person inside his plan.
Lucian did not notice my face suddenly turning white, or maybe he noticed but simply did not care much.
He picked up the car keys and headed outside.
“The light in Stella’s home is broken. I’m going there to change the light bulb.”
I calmed my feelings and gently nodded.
Still, Lucian paused near the door, as though waiting for me to fix his untidy collar like before.
But I only walked closer and shut the door.
Once the door closed, I leaned my back against it and slowly lowered myself onto the floor.
I did not know how long I stayed there. Only after my legs started feeling numb did I hold onto the wall and slowly rise, then walk toward the study room.
After switching on the computer, the cold white light shone on my blank face.
The mouse moved and opened that email I had looked at many times already.
The words inside the email sounded honest and recognized all the work and effort I gave during the past eight years.
They even prepared a special investment plan fund document using my name.
It was completely unlike Lucian’s endless “next time.”
Once I finished discussing the exact onboarding details with the CEO of the competing company, I got up and pulled out the proposal from the shelf that I had partly completed earlier.
I had started preparing this proposal near the end of last month.
Based on the schedule, if nothing went wrong, it would be completed and carried out on the first day of my promotion as general manager.
But since Lucian chose to give that position to another person, there was no reason for me to hand this contract to him anymore.
The loud sound of an engine rose from outside the window.
My hand trembled, and I instinctively lifted my eyes toward the clock hanging on the wall.
Three hours had already gone by since he left.
From downtown to Stella’s residence, going there and back only took around fifteen minutes.
What kind of light bulb needed that much time to replace?
I did not want to continue thinking about it.
The study room door slowly opened, and Lucian stood by the entrance.
“Why are you still awake?”
I stayed silent.
Lucian walked inside, and the moment he noticed the proposal in my hand, his expression paused briefly.
Maybe he also remembered how much hard work I had poured into this proposal and how excited I had been to carry it out on my first day as general manager.
“Ciara, why did you bring the proposal out again?” His voice sounded natural, though a little cold. “Even if you’re not the general manager, the proposal can still be carried out.”
“It makes no difference, Ciara.”
No, it didn't make a difference.
I quietly denied it in my heart.
When he saw me staying silent, he didn’t continue speaking. He put an arm around my shoulder and gently said, “Alright, sleep now. We’ll discuss work tomorrow.”
I didn’t move.
“Lucian, let’s break up.”
Lucian’s hand on my shoulder suddenly stopped moving for a second.
Then, he laughed. “Isn’t it only one job position? Right now, you are Mrs. Lucero. Why are you arguing with a young girl? Ciara, don’t be so narrow-minded.”
“When the company becomes public, I’ll give you a higher position, something even above general manager, okay?”
His voice sounded tired but amused, and he did not take my words seriously at all.
After saying that, he ignored my response, turned around, and walked to the bathroom.
I watched his back and quietly said, “Lucian, I’m not becoming general manager anymore.”
“I’m preparing to become a new partner.”
