Chapter 71 Chapter 71
Chapter 71
Celine slowed her steps as she stood across the street from the Castellan Enterprise building.
Her eyes lifted on their own, finding the fourth floor almost immediately.
That was her office.
Or what used to be her office.
The glass panels were now covered with protective sheets, metal frames holding up temporary supports. Workers moved in and out through the side entrance, carrying tools and equipment. Renovation was already underway. Fresh paint buckets. New cables. New plans.
Everything looked busy. Alive again.
She stood there for a moment longer than she meant to.
She still didn’t know how the fire started. No official explanation had reached her yet. Maybe it was electrical. Maybe someone made a mistake. Maybe it was something else entirely. She didn’t want to think too deeply about it.
All she knew was this—she was alive.
That alone felt unreal sometimes.
She adjusted the strap of her bag on her shoulder and took a breath before walking toward the entrance.
The first floor doors slid open.
And she stopped.
Every single staff member of Castellan Enterprise was standing there.
Rows of people. From receptionists to junior staff, senior managers, cleaners, assistants, even people from departments she barely interacted with. They filled the lobby, standing quietly, facing the entrance.
Celine froze.
Her first thought was that she had walked into the wrong building.
Her second thought was that maybe something terrible had happened again.
Before she could turn around or say a word, the HR manager stepped forward.
It was the same woman who had interviewed her when she first joined the company. Tall, composed, always calm.
She held a bouquet of flowers in her hands.
“Welcome back, Celine,” the woman said gently.
The room followed with soft murmurs.
“Welcome back.”
“We’re glad you’re okay.”
“So good to see you.”
Celine’s throat tightened.
“I—” she started, then stopped. She hadn’t prepared for this. She hadn’t imagined this.
The HR manager walked closer and handed her the flowers.
“These are for you.”
Celine accepted them slowly, her fingers trembling just a little.
“I didn’t know,” she said quietly. “I didn’t know anyone would—”
“You didn’t have to,” the HR manager replied. “This isn’t about planning. It’s about acknowledging what happened.”
She turned slightly, facing the staff behind her.
“This woman,” she said clearly, “went through something no employee should ever experience at work.”
The lobby stayed silent.
“The fire reached her office first,” the HR manager continued. “She was trapped. And yet, she survived.”
Celine felt her eyes sting.
“We failed you,” the HR manager said, her voice steady but sincere. “And as a company, we take responsibility for that.”
A murmur moved through the crowd.
“I want to apologize,” she added, looking directly at Celine now. “On behalf of Castellan Enterprise. For the fear you endured. For the injuries you sustained. And for the trauma you will carry longer than any renovation will last.”
Celine shook her head slowly. “You don’t have to—”
“Yes,” the woman said gently. “We do.”
She reached into a folder she had been holding and brought out an envelope.
“This is a compensation cheque,” she said. “For your dedication to this company. For your hard work. And for the damages caused to you.”
Celine stared at it.
“I didn’t—” her voice cracked. She cleared her throat. “I didn’t come back for this.”
“We know,” the HR manager replied. “That’s why you deserve it.”
Celine looked around at the faces watching her.
Some looked sorry. Some looked relieved. Some looked proud.
None of them looked indifferent.
“I just do my job,” Celine said softly. “I never thought anyone was watching.”
The HR manager smiled. “We were.”
She stepped aside slightly. “Your desk has been moved temporarily. You’ll be working on the second floor until the renovations are complete. Only if you’re comfortable.”
Celine nodded. “I’m okay.”
The HR manager leaned closer. “And if you ever need time, support, or space, my door is open.”
“Thank you,” Celine whispered.
The staff slowly began to clap.
Not loudly. Not dramatically.
Just enough.
Celine bowed her head slightly, holding the flowers closer to her chest.
As the crowd began to disperse, people stopped to speak to her one by one.
“I’m glad you’re back.”
“You scared us.”
“You’re strong.”
“You did well.”
Each word landed somewhere deep inside her.
By the time she reached the elevator, her hands were full—flowers, envelope, emotions she didn’t know how to name.
The elevator doors slid open.
She stepped inside alone.
As the doors closed, her reflection stared back at her.
She didn’t look like someone who had survived a fire.
She looked normal.
But she knew better.
The elevator moved upward.
When it stopped at the second floor, she stepped out, greeted by a quieter space, temporary desks neatly arranged.
She walked to the desk assigned to her.
It was simple. Clean. Ready.
She placed the flowers down gently.
Her fingers brushed the edge of the desk, grounding herself.
For a moment, she wondered if he was somewhere in the building.
She didn’t look for him.
She didn’t ask.
She simply turned on her computer and sat down.
Work waited.
And so did everything else.