Chapter 6 6

Taking a deep breath, Cleo squared her shoulders. She sat on her bed in silence, lost in thought. How was she supposed to continue life without Ethan?

A new, unsettling thought crept into her mind. Now that Ethan was gone, how was she going to pay the bills? Since their marriage, she had never worked for herself. The only work she had done was assisting Ethan with his business, believing that by easing his workload, they would have more time together. But that hadn't worked.

Now, she was alone. And she needed a job.

Exhaustion weighed heavily on her, making it impossible to act immediately. Instead, she forced herself to have lunch. The rest of the day slipped away in a blur as she remained in her room, consumed by her thoughts. Eventually, sleep claimed her.

The next day,Cleo sat at the dining table, her laptop open before her, the glow of the screen casting a dull light over her tired face. She had to start over.She needed something-anything-to anchor her, to give her purpose beyond the remnants of a marriage that no longer existed.

She had spent hours scrolling through job listings, her fingers clicking absentmindedly as she sifted through post after post. Each job description blurred together, the words losing meaning as her mind wandered.

Her eyes flicked over yet another listing before she stilled.

**LX Group is hiring.**

Her breath caught in her throat.

Ethan's company.

For a moment, she hesitated, her finger hovering over the trackpad. Would it be foolish to even consider this? The LX Group was a giant in the corporate world, an empire built on ambition and ruthless efficiency. She had attended more than her fair share of company galas and corporate events, standing by Ethan's side as he introduced her to his colleagues, speaking about his work with pride.

But now, Ethan was gone.

Cleo sat up straighter, biting her lip as she read through the details. The position was for an executive assistant-something she was more than qualified for. Besides, LX Group was a massive corporation. The chances of running into Ethan were slim.

At least, that's what she told herself. With a deep breath, she clicked **Apply.**

---

The morning of the interview arrived quicker than she expected.

Dressed in a navy-blue blazer and matching pants, Cleo stepped out of the cab, her heels clicking sharply against the pavement as she approached the towering glass building of LX Group.

A rush of nerves swirled in her stomach as she stepped through the revolving doors, the cool air of the lobby hitting her instantly. The space was sleek and modern, bustling with professionals moving with purpose.

She made her way to the receptionist, smoothing the front of her blazer.

"Cleo Daniels. I have an interview scheduled at 10 AM."

The receptionist, a polished young woman with neatly tied-back hair, nodded and gestured toward the elevators. "Take the lift to the twenty-third floor. Someone will be there to escort you."

Cleo nodded, murmuring her thanks before stepping into the elevator. The doors slid shut, and as the numbers climbed, she exhaled slowly, steeling herself.

New beginnings. That's what this was.

When the doors opened, a woman greeted her with a professional smile. "Miss Anderson? Right this way."

Cleo followed her down a long, glass-paneled corridor, her heart pounding as they reached a large office door.

"Please wait here,"the woman instructed before stepping inside.

Cleo took a shaky breath, brushing her hands down her pants. Her palms were slightly damp. Maybe she was more nervous than she thought.

The door opened again, and the woman reappeared. "You can go in now."

Cleo nodded, stepping forward. She walked into the office, her eyes taking in the expansive space-the floor-to-ceiling windows offering a stunning city view, the sleek mahogany desk, the neatly organized shelves.

And then, she heard his voice.

"Take a seat, Miss Daniels."

Cleo froze.

That voice.

Deep. Calm. Commanding.

Familiar.

Her heart hammered against her ribs as her gaze snapped toward the man behind the desk. He was tall, dressed in a crisp charcoal suit, his dark hair neatly styled. His sharp blue eyes locked onto hers with recognition, his expression unreadable.

She knew him.

It hit her all at once.

He was the man from that day-the day she had run through these very halls, heartbroken and lost.

And from the way his eyes slightly narrowed, he remembered her too.

"You..." The word slipped past her lips before she could stop it.

The man leaned back in his chair, his gaze assessing. "You were here the other day,"he said, his tone not unkind but laced with curiosity.

Cleo felt her face heat. "I-yes, but that was-" She cleared her throat. "That was ...a mistake "

A small smirk ghosted across his lips. " You Really dont have to apologise."

She swallowed hard, gripping the arms of the chair. "You're the interviewer?"

"For now, you can say that. but I'm more than that,"* he said smoothly. *"I'm Alex Carter. CEO of LX Group."*

Cleo's breath hitched.

CEO?

Ethan had mentioned him before. Alex Carter, the elusive, notoriously private head of the company. She had seen his name on documents, heard his name at corporate functions-but she had never met him in person.

Until now.

And of all the people who could be interviewing her... it had to be him.

Alex tapped a pen against the desk, watching her closely. "Now that introductions are out of the way, let's get to it. Why do you want to work for LX Group, Miss Daniels?"

She hesitated for only a second before straightening her spine. "I believe my skills align with the position. I have experience in organization, scheduling, and high-pressure environments. I know how to anticipate needs and provide support where it's required."

"A rehearsed answer,"Alex observed, his eyes glinting.

Cleo swallowed. " That's the truth"

"You're aware that Your husband is a senior executive here? " He paused.

Her stomach clenched at the mention of Ethan.

"Ex-husband," she corrected, her voice steady despite the way her chest tightened.

Alex's gaze didn't waver. "Does working here feel like a conflict of interest? wouldn't it affect your work performance?"

"No," she said firmly. "My personal life has nothing to do with my ability to do this job."

A long silence stretched between them.

Then, something flickered in his expression-approval, maybe? Interest?

Finally, he leaned forward, folding his hands on the desk.

"You're hired."

Cleo blinked. "Excuse me?"

Alex smirked. "You heard me."

Cleo's pulse quickened. There was something in his gaze, something unreadable yet knowing, as if he saw straight through her.

"Report to HR tomorrow,"he continued. "Welcome to LX Group, Miss Daniels"

Cleo exhaled slowly, gripping the arms of the chair as reality settled over her.

This was happening.

She had a job.