Chapter 63
The first thing Victoria noticed about Evelyn was her delicate porcelain skin and striking features.
As the head of Division One in the Project Department under Titan Capital Group’s CEO, Victoria Sloan held immense authority. She was Alexander Whitmore’s most trusted confidante, a woman whose sharp instincts and ruthless efficiency had earned her reputation.
Victoria plucked the resume from Gregory Shaw’s desk, her sharp eyes skimming the document before narrowing slightly.
“Only a bachelor’s degree?” Her tone dripped with skepticism. “That hardly suggests an impressive academic background.”
As she continued reading, her expression darkened. “No work experience at all? And a three-year employment gap after graduation?” She scoffed. “In my experience, that usually means either failed postgraduate applications or someone who settled into domestic life too early.” She shot Gregory a pointed look. “This is the candidate you’re handing me? How exactly am I supposed to train her?”
Gregory stiffened, clearly caught off guard by her immediate dismissal.
His gaze flickered toward Evelyn, who sat quietly on the sofa, sipping her coffee with her head slightly bowed. She showed no reaction to their conversation, as if completely unaware she was the topic of debate.
The tension in the room was palpable.
Gregory Shaw exhaled quietly, relieved that the conversation hadn’t escalated further.
"But she’s from the President’s office. If you refuse her…" Gregory began cautiously.
Victoria Sloan cut him off sharply, her tone leaving no room for debate. "The President’s Office isn’t just Division One. Someone like her will only slow us down. With the year-end evaluations coming up, I won’t risk the entire department’s bonus because of one person."
Gregory hesitated, about to respond, when the door swung open.
A man stepped in, his presence commanding immediate attention.
"Then let her join Division Two," he suggested smoothly.
Dressed in a tailored navy suit, his gold-rimmed glasses catching the light, he exuded effortless sophistication. His calm demeanor contrasted sharply with Victoria’s sharp edges.
This was Daniel Pierce, the leader of Division Two in the Project Department. Refined, composed, and every bit the corporate elite.
Alexander Whitmore was swamped with responsibilities, as was the rest of the President’s Office.
To manage the workload efficiently, the Project Department had been split into two divisions—Division One and Division Two. Their primary role was to streamline coordination between the company’s various departments, ensuring seamless operations.
Victoria’s lips thinned, but she said nothing.
Daniel’s gaze flickered toward Gregory. "Unless there’s an objection?"
Gregory shook his head quickly. "No, none at all."
Victoria crossed her arms. "Fine. But don’t come complaining to me when she drags your team down."
Daniel merely smiled. "We’ll manage."
The air between them crackled with unspoken rivalry.
Gregory cleared his throat. "Then it’s settled. She’ll transfer to Division Two."
Daniel nodded. "Perfect."
As he turned to leave, Victoria’s voice stopped him.
"Don’t think this means you’ve won anything."
Daniel paused, glancing back over his shoulder. "This isn’t a competition, Victoria."
Her eyes narrowed. "Everything’s a competition."
With that, he walked out, leaving the tension unresolved.
Gregory sighed.
Another day at Titan Capital Group.
The conference room buzzed with tension as Victoria Sloan spun on her heels to face Daniel Pierce. "Mr. Pierce, you can't seriously be considering someone like her for your team?" Her manicured nails tapped impatiently against her tablet. "That second-rate university? And only a bachelor's degree? How embarrassing for Titan Capital."
Daniel's jaw tightened. "Ms. Sloan, at Titan Capital, we value competence over credentials. Or have you forgotten our core hiring principles?" His voice carried the quiet authority of someone who wouldn't tolerate interference.
Victoria's lips curled in disdain. She flipped her blonde hair over one shoulder. "Three years unemployed speaks volumes about her so-called competence. But by all means, sabotage your own division." Her stilettoes clicked sharply against the marble floor as she exited. "No wonder Division Two's performance trails behind ours."
Alone now, Daniel studied Evelyn Carter's resume with fresh eyes. Academic honors jumped off the page - Dean's List every semester, the prestigious Horizon Scholarship, multiple case competition victories. Only that glaring three-year gap marred an otherwise stellar record.
Something about it intrigued him. Most candidates with gaps made excuses. Evelyn's resume stated the bare facts without apology. That took either arrogance or remarkable self-assurance. He suspected the latter.
The door creaked open as Evelyn entered, her posture straight but not stiff. No nervous fidgeting like most interviewees. Just quiet readiness.
Daniel extended his hand. "Evelyn Carter? Daniel Pierce. Welcome to Titan Capital." Her handshake was firm, her gaze steady. Good signs. "Tell me about this three-year period."
A shadow crossed Evelyn's face, gone so fast he might have imagined it. "Personal circumstances required my full attention." Not defensive. Not evasive. Just final.
Daniel leaned back in his chair. He'd worked with enough talented people to recognize potential when he saw it. Whatever those three years held, they'd forged someone with the steel Titan Capital needed.
"Starting Monday, you'll report to Division Two." He slid a security badge across the table. "Don't be late."
The morning sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Titan Capital Group, casting a golden glow across the polished marble floors.
Daniel Pierce smiled warmly at Evelyn Carter. "Starting today, you'll be part of Division Two. Are you comfortable with that?"
Evelyn rose gracefully from the plush sofa, smoothing her skirt. "Absolutely, Mr. Pierce."
"If you ever need assistance, don't hesitate to reach out." Leading the way, Daniel gestured for her to follow. "Let me show you around first."
Their footsteps echoed softly as they walked through the sleek, modern corridors of Titan Capital.
Meanwhile, in the Marketing Department, Ethan Caldwell leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples.
The air in the office had grown stifling after hours of reviewing reports.
Needing a break, he stepped into the hallway, one hand absently reaching into his pocket for a cigarette.
Just as he flicked open his lighter, a familiar silhouette caught his eye.
His fingers froze mid-motion.
Evelyn.
There she was—walking past, her presence like a sudden gust of wind that knocked the breath from his lungs.
The cigarette slipped from his grasp, forgotten.
His pulse roared in his ears as he watched her disappear around the corner with Daniel.
Ethan remained rooted in place, his mind racing.
What was she doing here?
She was trailing behind a man, their hushed whispers carrying through the empty hallway. Their body language suggested a private conversation, one they didn’t want overheard.
Ethan Caldwell recognized the man instantly—Daniel Pierce from Titan Capital Group’s President’s Office.
Given how often employees from the President’s Office interacted with different departments, Ethan had formed a vague impression of Daniel.
What were these two doing together?
His brows knitted in suspicion. Something felt off.
After watching for a few seconds, he realized they were heading straight toward him. Without thinking, Ethan stepped out from the stairwell.
The corridor was nearly deserted, leaving him directly in Evelyn Carter’s path.
A collision was inevitable.
Daniel stopped just a few feet away, offering a polite nod. "Mr. Caldwell."
Ethan barely spared him a glance, his tone dismissive. "Yeah."
Used to Ethan’s arrogance, Daniel didn’t react. Instead, he gestured for Evelyn to follow him as they continued forward.
Evelyn’s gaze flickered toward Ethan—just for a second—before she walked past without a word.
But that brief glance was enough to unsettle him.
Why did she look at me like that?
His jaw tightened as he watched them disappear around the corner.
Something wasn’t right.
And he intended to find out what.
The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the polished marble floors of Titan Capital Group.
Evelyn Carter followed Alexander Whitmore in silence, her heels clicking softly against the gleaming surface.
She hadn’t spoken a single word since they arrived.
Her gaze remained fixed ahead, deliberately avoiding the man standing near the elevators.
Ethan Caldwell.
His presence was like an unwelcome ghost from her past.
She didn’t glance his way.
Didn’t acknowledge him.
But then—
His voice cut through the quiet like a blade.
"I’m getting married."
The words hung in the air, heavy and unexpected.
Evelyn’s steps faltered for just a second before she regained her composure.
She didn’t turn.
Didn’t react.
But the declaration settled like ice in her chest.
Alexander, walking ahead, paused and glanced back at Ethan with an unreadable expression.
The tension between them was palpable.
Evelyn exhaled slowly.
She had moved on.
She had Alexander now.
So why did those words still sting?
The elevator doors slid open.
Without another word, she stepped inside, leaving Ethan and his announcement behind.
But the echo of his voice lingered.
I’m getting married.
And for the first time in months, Evelyn wondered—
Who was the unlucky woman?