Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Stella sat at her desk, her mind racing. She knew she couldn’t afford to let her emotions control her, not here, not now. Whatever Richard’s intentions were, she had to be smarter, stronger, and more composed than ever. But the weight of his presence in the office was suffocating.

The rest of the day passed in a blur of half-hearted work and stolen glances at the door to Richard’s new office. She wanted to avoid him at all costs, but a part of her knew that wouldn’t be possible for long.

Late in the afternoon, an email popped up on her screen. The subject line read: Meeting Request: Miss Stella Adams.

Her stomach churned as she clicked it.

Stella, please report to my office at 4 PM. – Richard.

She checked the time—3:50 PM. Her heart pounded as she tried to prepare herself mentally. She didn’t know what he wanted, but she vowed not to give him the satisfaction of seeing her flinch.

At exactly 4 PM, she knocked on his door.

"Come in," Richard’s voice called out, smooth and composed.

Stella stepped inside, her face a mask of professionalism. Richard was seated behind his desk, but the smirk on his face made her feel like he’d been waiting for this moment all day.

"Close the door," he said, motioning toward the chair opposite him. "Have a seat."

Reluctantly, Stella obeyed, sitting stiffly with her hands folded in her lap.

"You’re settling back in well," Richard began, his tone deceptively cordial.

"I’m doing my best," Stella replied evenly.

Richard leaned back in his chair, studying her. "Good. Because I need someone I can trust to ensure a smooth transition. The CEO spoke highly of you, and I expect nothing less than excellence."

Stella clenched her jaw. "I’ll do my job to the best of my ability, sir."

"That’s what I like to hear," Richard said, his eyes glinting with something she couldn’t quite place.

But then his tone shifted, growing colder. "Let’s not pretend, though, that this isn’t… awkward."

Her breath hitched. There it was—the elephant in the room.

"Sir, if you have concerns about my work, I’d appreciate direct feedback," she said, keeping her tone steady.

Richard chuckled, a low, mocking sound. "Oh, Stella, you’ve always been so professional. But we both know there’s more at play here."

Her pulse quickened, but she refused to rise to his bait. "If there’s nothing else, I should get back to work."

"Not so fast," he said, his voice sharp. "I’m not finished."

She froze, gripping the arms of the chair.

"I don’t intend to make this difficult for you," Richard continued, leaning forward now, his tone deceptively soft. "But I expect us to have… clarity. No misunderstandings, no unresolved feelings getting in the way of progress."

Unresolved feelings. The words hung in the air like a challenge.

Stella met his gaze, her own eyes blazing. "The only feelings I have are about doing my job and doing it well. Whatever happened in the past has no bearing on my work here."

Richard tilted his head, a faint smile playing on his lips. "If that’s what you believe, Stella, then I look forward to seeing you prove it."

She stood abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor. "If there’s nothing else, sir."

He waved her off with a flick of his hand, his smirk still firmly in place.

Stella left his office with her heart pounding and her mind racing. She knew one thing for certain: Richard wasn’t just here to take over the company. He was here to remind her of the power he still thought he had over her.

But if he thought she was going to fall apart, he was in for a rude awakening. Stella wasn’t the same woman who had cried herself to sleep over him. Not anymore.