Chapter 56 Chapter 56
Chapter 56
3pm.
The HR stood in front of Ethan with her hands folded carefully, like she was afraid to speak too loud.
“Sir, I only asked for a meeting because I needed your permission before I proceed,” she said quietly.
Ethan didn’t look interested. He nodded once. “Okay.”
She cleared her throat and continued, “I was thinking… Celine the lady in your office…”
The moment he heard her name, his eyes lifted sharply. The HR noticed the shift but didn’t comment.
“She is very hardworking, sir. Very consistent. She barely rests and still meets every deadline. Castellan Enterprise needs people like her,” the HR said with sincere confidence.
Ethan didn’t reply. He only listened.
“So, I was suggesting we move her to the senior staff unit downstairs. She deserves it, sir.”
Silence.
The HR waited. Ethan simply stared at her for a few seconds like he was debating something inside him.
Then he said it.
“No.”
The HR blinked. “Sir…?”
“She’d definitely get promoted,” Ethan said in a calm, steady voice, “but not now.”
“But sir ”
“She’s good where she is,” he continued. “No one handles that work the way she does. There’s no one better than her for that position. She stays in my office.”
The HR nodded quickly, surprised. “Alright, sir.”
Ethan stood. “If that’s all, I’ll be leaving.”
“Yes sir.”
They exchanged pleasantries and Ethan walked out of the HR office, maintaining his usual cold posture.
But inside him, something felt unsettled.
He didn’t even understand why he said no that quickly.
He didn’t want her moved.
Not even one floor away.
Why?
He didn’t want to answer that.
\---
He headed straight to the bursary office.
The account manager, an elderly man with glasses almost slipping off his nose, stood and smiled politely.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Castellan.”
“Afternoon,” Ethan replied.
They shook hands lightly.
“What brings you down here, sir?” the manager asked.
“I need to check something.” Ethan leaned closer. “Search for the name ‘Celine Blake’.”
The man nodded and began typing fast.
“Ah, here she is,” he said.
“What’s her salary?”
“Five hundred dollars monthly, sir.”
Ethan’s eyes narrowed. “That low?”
“That’s the entry level, sir. Most assistants—”
“Make it two thousand.”
The man froze mid-breath. “Sir?”
“Two thousand,” Ethan repeated. His voice wasn’t loud, but there was no room for argument. “Only her. No announcements. No memo. No one needs to know.”
The account manager nodded with a small nervous laugh. “Of course, sir. I’ll make the changes immediately.”
“Do that.”
Ethan turned and walked out without another word.
He wasn’t the type to care about staff salaries. He never cared who earned what, who got promoted, who got transferred.
But today…
He found himself doing things he wouldn’t normally do.
For someone he kept telling everyone was “just an employee.”
He didn’t want to think too deeply about it.
\---
He went back to his office.
Celine was at her desk. Her head rested on her folded arms like she was trying to ease the pain behind her eyes. She didn’t even hear him enter.
He watched her for a short moment.
The way she breathed slowly.
The way her shoulders trembled slightly, like she was holding herself together.
She looked tired.
Really tired.
“Celine,” he said.
She immediately straightened up. “Sir… I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you come in.”
“You should go home.”
She blinked. “Sir?”
“You’re not fine.”
“I’m okay, sir. I’ll finish up.”
He shook his head. “Your hands are shaking. Your voice doesn’t sound right. You need rest.”
She swallowed and lowered her gaze. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to look weak.”
“It’s not about looking weak.” His tone softened slightly without him planning it. “You almost collapsed again.”
She tightened her lips, embarrassed.
“You shouldn’t come to work tomorrow,” he said. “Take a break.”
Celine immediately panicked. “Sir, please don’t misunderstand. I’m not trying to be lazy—”
“I didn’t say that.”
“I… don’t want to give the wrong impression. People already think—”
“I don’t care what people think,” he cut in plainly. “I said take a break. That’s all.”
She stared at him quietly.
He could tell she was scared of disappointing him.
“Sir, it’s fine,” she whispered. “I can manage.”
“No,” Ethan said firmly. “You’re going home. Tomorrow, you’re not reporting here.”
She looked lost. “But… the workload—”
“I’ll handle whatever is urgent.”
“You?” she asked before she could stop herself.
Ethan gave her a small irritated glare because she sounded like she doubted him.
Celine covered her mouth quickly. “I—I didn’t mean—”
“I know what you meant,” he muttered and walked to his desk.
She looked down shyly.
The office was quiet again, but it wasn’t uncomfortable this time.
After a few seconds, she whispered, “Thank you, sir.”
He didn’t reply at first. He just pretended to read something on his laptop.
Then he said, “Just go home.”
Celine stood, took her bag, and quietly headed toward the door.
But before she stepped out, Ethan spoke again—caught off guard by his own voice.
“Celine.”
She paused and turned slightly. “Sir?”
He wanted to say something meaningful.
Something normal.
But the words came out in his usual blunt way.
“…Don’t forget to take your drugs.”
Her eyes softened.
She nodded gently. “I won’t forget.”
And then she left.
Ethan leaned back in his chair, staring at the door she walked through.
He exhaled.
“What am I doing…?” he whispered to himself.
He didn’t recognise this version of himself.
He didn’t recognise how easily she entered his thoughts.
How fast he stood when she fainted.
How restless he felt when she avoided him.
How angry he became when the HR mentioned moving her.
He rubbed his forehead like he could push the confusion out.
He didn’t want distractions.
He didn’t want to feel anything.
He had enough problems in his life.
So why was Celine suddenly creeping into places she shouldn’t be?
He shut his laptop harshly as if that would shut down his thoughts too.
But it didn’t.
Because the truth was simple:
For the first time in a long time…
he cared.
And he hated that he did.
\---
Celine stepped outside the building and exhaled deeply.
She didn’t know what was happening anymore.
Ethan had been confusing since the dinner night.
Confusing since he protected her dress.
Confusing since she woke up with his head on her lap.
Confusing when he panicked and held her face when she fainted.
And today ?
He refused to let her come tomorrow.
He told her to take her drugs like someone who cared too much but refused to show it.
She touched her forehead.
“Why is he like this?” she whispered.
She didn’t know if he was angry with her…
or concerned…
or irritated…
or all at once.
But one thing was clear:
Her heart responded to him in a way she didn’t want to admit.
She walked toward the gate, still thinking.
Still confused.
Still remembering the way he rushed to her earlier.
Still trying to understand a man who didn’t even understand himself.
\---