Chapter 7: THE UNFINISHED BATTLE

Unknown to Stella, even though she had resolved to take control of her life, fate had its own plans—and her choices would soon matter more than ever.

Stella arrived at work feeling cautiously optimistic. For the first time in days, there was a glimmer of excitement in her step. She greeted the receptionist, who handed her an envelope. Her heart raced as she opened it. For a moment, she feared it was a termination letter, but to her relief, it was a formal warning. Along with it was a directive to report to the CEO’s office immediately.

Hurriedly, Stella rushed to her desk, dropped her bag, and straightened her dress. She adjusted her hair in a small mirror, trying to calm her nerves. She rehearsed an apology in her mind—her boss had always been understanding. With a deep breath, she knocked on the door.

"Come in," a deep voice called from inside.

She opened the door and froze.

There, sitting across from her boss, was Richard.

A surge of emotions hit her like a freight train—anger, shock, betrayal, confusion. Her pulse quickened, but she fought to maintain her composure. She wouldn’t let him see her break. Not here. Not now.

"Good morning, sir," she said, forcing her voice to remain steady as she stepped into the room. Her eyes flicked briefly to Richard, but she quickly turned her attention back to her boss. "I want to sincerely apologize for my absence yesterday. It was unprofessional, and I deeply regret any inconvenience caused."

Her CEO raised a hand, cutting her off mid-sentence. "You’ve received your warning letter, Miss Stella. I trust this won’t happen again."

"No, sir," Stella replied quickly, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

"Good." He leaned back in his chair, clasping his hands together. "Now, to more pressing matters. There’s been a major development in the company, and you’re fortunate to be here to hear it firsthand."

Stella nodded, bracing herself.

"I’d like you to meet Mr. Richard Rotimi," the CEO continued, gesturing toward Richard. Stella’s breath hitched, her fists clenching at her sides.

"He is the new owner of this company."

The words hit her like a punch to the stomach. "Sir?" she blurted out, her voice laced with disbelief. She immediately corrected herself. "I’m sorry, sir. Please continue."

The CEO didn’t seem to notice her momentary lapse. "As I was saying, I am retiring. At my age, it’s long overdue. After careful consideration, I’ve decided to hand over the reins to Richard. He has the vision and expertise to take this company to the next level."

"Thank you, sir," Richard said smoothly, his voice as infuriatingly confident as Stella remembered.

Her anger simmered beneath her calm façade, but she forced herself to smile politely.

The CEO turned his attention back to her. "Miss Stella, I’ve highly recommended you to Mr. Rotimi. You’ve been an excellent personal assistant, and I trust you’ll continue to excel under his leadership."

Stella’s smile faltered, but she quickly masked it. "Thank you, sir. I will do my best."

Her mind was racing. Richard? Her Richard? No, she corrected herself bitterly. Not her Richard. Not anymore. He had stolen her heart, humiliated her, and now, he was about to dominate the one place she had left for herself—her work.

As the CEO stood to shake Richard’s hand, Stella caught Richard’s eyes. His lips curled into a faint smirk, one that made her blood boil.

"Good luck, Miss Stella," her CEO said warmly. "I’m confident you’ll thrive."

Stella returned the sentiment with a forced smile, but inside, she was seething. She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms to stop herself from lashing out.

"Thank you, sir," she said again, her voice barely above a whisper.

As she left the room, she could feel Richard’s eyes on her back, and it made her skin crawl. Once outside, she leaned against the wall, struggling to catch her breath.

The fight she thought was over had only just begun.