Chapter 132 The Ascent
Soft light fell on the desks as the morning sun touched the office windows. Anabelle was typing rapidly while seated in her corner.
She made an effort to remain composed but her heart was racing. Despite being exhausted from working late every night this week she felt a different vibe today.
Her phone rang. Jude had sent her a message. Her hands trembled a little as she read it twice.
“What could it be?”She muttered to herself
Clara, her friend, bent over the desk. “You seemed alarmed.”
“Jude just sent me a text. He wants to see me.” Anabelle told her
Clara smiled back. “Perhaps it's a good thing” she remarked.
“Hopefully so. My heart is pounding too quickly” Anabelle said.
“Calm down Anna. You've put in a lot of effort. He might want to express his gratitude for the project.” Clara said
Anabelle nodded slowly but the tightness in her chest persisted. She checked the time. Five minutes to ten o'clock had arrived.
After straightening her shirt she got up and proceeded down the hallway. Her ears rang with each step. She stopped when she got to Jude's door.
Before gently knocking her hand briefly hovered over the knob.
Jude said “Come on in.”
She pushed the door open and entered. The papers were arranged neatly in front of Jude as he sat behind his desk. Coffee odors permeated the space.
“Good morning sir” she said.
“Good morning Anabelle. Please take a seat” he said.
Slowly she folded her hands on her lap and sat down. She could practically hear the speed of her heartbeat.
“You look apprehensive,” he said.
“Your message this morning caught me off guard” she remarked.
He gave a small smile. “Don’t worry. There's good news” he said.
“It's encouraging to hear that,” she remarked.
“I’ve been keeping an eye on your development over the last few months.” he said “Every task has been completed by you with diligence and originality. The most recent project you oversaw surpassed our expectations. I’m grateful.”
She said “I just tried to do my best.”
“And you gave it your all.” He said “You stayed up late most nights, didn't you?”
“Yes sir. I wanted everything to go smoothly” she remarked.
With warm eyes he nodded.
“Anabelle, that kind of dedication is uncommon. You've shown that you can manage more” he said.
Her breath caught a little as she blinked. “More?” she questioned.
“Yes. You would be promoted to Senior Executive Manager.” he announced
She just looked at him for a moment. She couldn't believe the words were playing in her head like music.
“I’m—I’m promoted?” she asked
“You certainly are,” he said.
Her mouth opened and a gradual smile appeared on her face.
“Oh my God I’m so grateful” she exclaimed.
“You deserve it. Next week you will have your own office. You will be in charge of a new group.” He stated “The pay raise had already been authorized.”
She attempted to speak but her hands shook.
“I never imagined this much” she said
“Anabelle, you deserve it. You have put in more effort than anyone else here” he remarked.
She spoke softly, looking down. “I appreciate your belief in me.”
Jude smiled as he leaned back a little and observed her.
“I didn't have to have a blind faith. Your results were self-evident” he said.
She laughed unsteadily. She remarked “I was really afraid when I received your message.”
“You always think too much.” he said
“I do. Perhaps I had done something incorrectly” she thought.
And he laughed. “Wrong? Ignoring your efforts would have been the only wrong thing.”
She had a gleaming face. “Sir this is very important. This is the moment I've been waiting for” she remarked.
“And you worked hard and had patience to earn it.” He remarked, “That’s something to be proud of.”
“I still find it hard to believe. Senior Executive Manager.” she said
“For you it sounds appropriate” he remarked.
She had a shy smile. She remarked, “You’ve always encouraged me to perform better.”
“I only pushed because I knew what you could do.Thank you nonetheless.” he said
She remarked, “You’ve been a good boss.”
“And you've been among the best workers I've ever overseen” he added.
She chuckled quietly. “You don't say things like that very often,” she remarked.
He smiled, “I don't often meet people like you.”
She felt her cheeks warming.
“You ought to be proud of yourself.” he said
She gave a quick nod. “I'll make sure I live up to the new role.”
“I am sure that you will. Just don't forget to take breaks. You overexert yourself” he remarked.
“Ill try to get more sleep.” She added, “But I don't think I can stop working hard.”
“That's alright. Just avoid burning out” he advised.
“I won't." she remarked.
He grinned. “Go have a party.”He said “You deserve a nice lunch.”
“I might actually do that. Once more thank you sir” she said.
“When were not in meetings you can call me Jude.”He said
“All right Jude thank you.”She said
“It sounds better,” he remarked.
She got to her feet still smiling. “I’ll start working on the transition plans right away,” she said.
“You don't have to hurry today. If you would like to take the afternoon off” he said.
“I think I'll stay. I want to complete what I started” she uttered.
“Thats what makes you unique Anabelle.”He remarked
She chuckled quietly. “Everyone is unique.”
“No, it's true,” he said.
“I'll ensure that you never regret giving me the promotion” she said.
“I won’t. You have my utmost trust” he declared.
She stopped by the door, her smile gentle and proud. “Thank you for everything.”
“You’re welcome.” He said, “Once again, congratulations.”
Her chest felt light as she stepped out. Every sound seemed far away and the hallway appeared brighter than before.
Unable to contain her smile she made her way back to her desk. Her coworkers turned to stare at her in interest.
Clara inquired “What happened?”
Annabelle's eyes were still bright as she smiled.
“I was promoted,” she declared.
Clara let out a sharp gasp. “Oh Anabelle!” she exclaimed. “You were?”
“Yes to a Senior Executive Manager” she stated.
Clara gave her a firm hug. “You deserve it.”
“Thanks. I feel like all of my hard work was worthwhile at last.” Anabelle remarked
Her heart was calm but her voice wavered with emotion. Now was her time. The beginning of something more big.
The beginning of the independent life she had always envisioned.