The Billionaire's Shattered Trust

had p

nd killed the engine. Letting out a deep breath, she unbuckl

to be back,"

her wristwatch sen

!" she

ifteen mi

nd rushed out. The morning traffic had already r

" the receptionists chime

le and a wave before di

open!" she muttered impatiently

e hurried toward her office, chec

Not

the door open, and stepped in

r chair, lazily popping gum,

tomach t

and why are you in my

w, unimpressed. "Are y

bli

uestion me?" The woman's

iture was the same. The framed pictures on t

as her

d, stepping forward. "If you don't explai

a moment, then suddenly, her

you're Ve

snapped. "Now ge

. "My bad. I'm the new project manager, and i

. Her office. Her job. W

sense," Vera said,

the director instead of wasting my time," she said, her voice laced

stormed out of the office, heading straight for the director's

t to the point. "Can you tell me why a woman is sitt

e, Vera, but I didn't think it was this bad." He set the pen down gently on the desk and

s running out of patience. "I don't need

r. "As you've been told, sh

opped. "And wha

at his lips. "You may be uncultured, but you're not

o longer the project manag

sn't I notified about any of this?" H

It's simple. We don't need someone who takes

bout the sick leave she'd taken,

ued, "you weren't here to get it. Tha

permission for that leave, Mr. Drake. Official

to leave. "Leave my

ll chuckle escaped her lips. "Is the interim CEO

guilt, perhaps, flic

d such a reaction. It was a shot in the dark, but it seemed he

dle these things. There's no way they could've conducted an interview and hired

bly wearing thin. "Get out!" he barked,

iance. She stood tall, not giving him the satisfaction of seeing her falter. "Of cour

s drawer, pulled out an env

ol nod before turning on her he

eventh floor. The interim CEO's office. Even if she'd been fired, she wo

enth floor, she walked stra

voice steady. "I need to see

nodded. Vera wasn't a stranger to her-sh

n," the secretary said, g

ite but tinged with the quiet urgency th

e CEO's door, waiting for

rmly when she entered, a broad

r," Vera said, no

Hope you're feeling better?" The CEO'

er voice smooth but firm. "

t with Kens and Drills," Mr. Kent's voic

last project for them," he continued, his tone dripping with app

Mr. Kent," Vera replied with a polite smile, h

med. "So, what brin

The manager gave me this letter this morning," she

he situation. Once he read the let

ned the contents, his expression darkened. A deep frown cr

tugged at her lips. She had been right.

calm but firm. "The woman who's supposedly the new project man

ng darker. "I'm sorry about this, Miss Wills, but re

e polite, but with an edge of finality. S

led out sharply, "Send the PR ma

de. Since her chair was still occupied, she sat down in t

mous glare. "What are you still doing here?"

ced at her, then turned her gaze fo

ustration, sighed hea

ime with Mr. Drake, whose expression

arked, stepping into the office, his

did, Mr. Drake," she said, her tone coo

g of color as he processed her w

tugging at her lips. What a foolish dire

of my replacement," she added, her

posture. "The PR manager should be with him now, so I'm patiently waiting for

The lady next to him eyed him curiously. "Is everyth

d it out of his suit pocket, his br

e voice on the other end thun

oned to the lady, "Wait in my offi

ed at Vera, then back at the close

a mocked, a smirk tugging

enomous glare before quickly exit

ion still lingering. She glanced down at her phone, then reached into

heart skipped a beat. "Oh, I forg

work, intending to use it as soon as she arrived. But with everythi

flashing back to the past-Stan's harsh words, his anger,

she stood up from her chair and

d to the restroom, making sure the room

oping to find a reason to delay what she already feared. But eventually, she broke the seal and pulled

again, almost to herself, as she anx

k leave from work. She'd gone to the doctor, who had suggested that her symptoms migh

egular periods, the doctor had mentioned th

s," the doctor had said

firm with the necess

nly disappeared, she had convinced herself it was jus

ress, but the uncertainty gnawed at her. Since she was scheduled to return to work after her sick leave, she

nd placed it on the sink, anxiously counting the seconds-one... two... three... four... five..

f. She quickly rummaged through her bag, pulled out ano

r pulse quickening. Once aga

ice barely a whisper as tears welled in her eye

't ready for this. He would be furious. If he had reacted so badly the last time

she thought, her mind

aware of her actions, and left the restroom,

her seat earlier, didn't return to the office except to grab her bag. Vera barely notic

e thought of going through this pregnancy without his su

y, though uncertainty gnawed at her every step. The future felt like a