C110 Samantha’s New Position

The next morning, I woke up earlier than usual. Although yesterday had been one of the happiest days I'd experienced in a long time, reality quickly returned the moment I opened my eyes. Today I still had to report to work. That meant facing Team Leader Josh once again... and whatever new schemes Ben had prepared for me.

After freshening up, I headed downstairs. Mom and Dad were already seated at the dining table waiting for breakfast. What caught my attention wasn't the food. Mom was holding her phone with a bright smile on her face. She was watching Alicia's cooking video again. Every now and then she would pause the video, replay a section, then continue watching. I couldn't help laughing. "Mom, you've already watched that video several times." Mary didn't even look at me. "Quiet." "I'm learning." She called Dad over excitedly. "Quinton, come and look."

Quinton walked over with his cup of tea. "What is it this time?" Mary pointed at the screen. "Look how beautiful Alicia is." "And she's wearing the bracelet and earrings I gave her." Her smile widened. "It's obvious she treasures them." Quinton nodded after watching for a few moments. "Our daughter-in-law certainly has excellent manners." I nearly choked on my tea. "Dad..." "What daughter-in-law?"

Both of them looked at me at the same time. Mary folded her arms. "Then why isn't she your girlfriend yet?" I blinked. "Huh?" "You've known her for almost 2 years." "She's beautiful." "She's intelligent." "She can cook." "What exactly are you waiting for?" Quinton nodded in agreement. "I've been wondering the same thing." I sighed helplessly. "Dad, Mom..." "It's not that simple." Mary looked disappointed. "It would be such a waste if someone else confessed before you."

I quickly changed the subject. "I should get ready for work." Quinton smiled knowingly. "As for Josh and Ben..." "Don't let them pressure you." Mary nodded. "Just focus on your work." "We believe in you." I smiled. "Thanks." After breakfast, I picked up my bag and rode my bicycle to work. When I reached the company parking area, Chris was already there. He leaned casually against his bicycle waiting for me.

The moment he saw me, he waved. "Morning, brother." "Morning." We parked our bicycles together. Only a few seconds later, Alicia also arrived. She greeted us with her usual gentle smile, though today she seemed unusually distracted. Chris immediately noticed. He smiled teasingly. "Alicia..." "You've been looking confused every single day lately." "In fact, today you look even more confused than yesterday."

Alicia laughed softly. "It's nothing." She paused before looking at Chris. "You look very happy." Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Did you finally confess?" Chris grinned proudly. "Yes." "I confessed." Alicia's eyes lit up. "What?" "She accepted?" Chris nodded dramatically. "She did." "And guess what?" Alicia blinked. "What?" Chris folded his arms. "You know I can't tell you unless you guess." Alicia rolled her eyes. "You know I can't read people's minds." Chris laughed. "Oh?" "But somehow you always manage to read Mike's."

I finally snapped out of my thoughts. "What about me?" Alicia smiled. "You've been thinking about Laura." "And you're worried about how difficult her father is going to make your life." I stared at her. "How did you know that?" Chris burst into laughter. "See?" "I told you." "You really can read his mind." The three of us laughed together.

Chris suddenly cleared his throat. "Sarah told me a secret." He looked at both of us. "But don't spread it around..." "...like someone spreading pictures of his girlfriend." I looked at him speechlessly. "Brother..." "You're becoming bolder every day." Chris laughed before lowering his voice. "Sarah thinks she might be pregnant." Both Alicia and I froze. "What?!" Alicia almost shouted. Chris nodded. "She missed her monthly cycle." "We'll know for sure in about two weeks."

I looked at him in disbelief. "You look awfully happy for someone who's about to get himself into serious trouble." Chris scratched his head. "I thought you two would congratulate me first." Alicia laughed. "Where were you when contraceptive pills were invented?" She looked at him suspiciously. "Or was that your plan all along?" Chris immediately shook his head. "Of course not." He looked at us pitifully. "So neither of you is happy that I might become a father?"

I smiled before placing my hand on his shoulder. "We're happy." "Really." "But trouble is coming too." "When Director Wood finds out..." "When your parents find out..." Chris's smile slowly disappeared. "My parents..." He had been so focused on Sarah's family that he hadn't even considered what David and Valeria would think. Alicia smiled gently. "Whatever happens..." "You won't face it alone." The two of us hugged him. "Congratulations." Chris finally smiled again. "Thanks."

Then Alicia suddenly looked at me. "So..." "What did you do with Laura yesterday?" I nearly stumbled. "Huh?" She laughed. "You wouldn't have insisted we leave you alone if you didn't already have plans." I rubbed the back of my neck. "She came over to my house." "We played a few games." "Then we talked." My expression gradually became serious. "We discussed everything that's waiting for us." "Her father..." "...is now Ben's ally." "They're working together." "To destroy me." Chris frowned. "So Josh is following Ben's orders now?" I nodded. "I'm afraid so." A heavy silence followed before we finally entered the company.

After separating from Chris and Alicia, I walked toward my office. The moment I opened the door, I stopped. Josh was comfortably sitting in my chair. He looked up calmly. "So..." "Why didn't you attend yesterday's wedding?" "The entire department was given permission to attend." I placed my bag on the table. "I had my driver's license examination." Josh narrowed his eyes. "Weren't you with my daughter yesterday?" I looked at him calmly. "You don't approve of our relationship." "So why would she be with me?" Josh became speechless.

Without another word, he stood up. He tossed a thick stack of documents onto my desk together with a USB drive. "This is our company's newest partnership project." "You'll develop a complete banking security defense system." I looked at the documents. "By myself?" Josh ignored the question. He reached the door before suddenly stopping. "Oh..." "The wedding went very well."

He turned halfway around. "Mrs. Samantha Wood officially became the company's Second Vice Director today." "She'll be working together with Ben from now on." The moment those words reached my ears... Everything around me seemed to stop. My breathing became heavier. A sharp pain spread across my chest. Forgotten memories surfaced one after another. The countless times Samantha had helped me... The promises we'd once shared... The distance that now separated us.

Josh quietly observed every change in my expression before giving a satisfied snort. "Finish that project today." He walked away. After he left, I slowly sat down. "As expected..." "One day..." "She was destined to lead this company." I took a deep breath and forced myself to open the project documents. Work came first.

A few minutes later, my phone rang. It was a video call from Alicia. The moment I answered, she immediately spoke. "Mike." "Did you hear?" She paused after seeing my expression. "You already know." "Who told you?" "Josh." Alicia sighed softly. For the next few moments, she comforted me, reminding me not to let the past affect my work. Only after making sure I was alright did she end the call.

Meanwhile, Samantha officially reported for her first day as Second Vice Director of Wood IT Company. Dressed in a professional black business suit, she carried herself with quiet confidence as she toured the departments alongside her newly assigned secretary. Although many employees smiled respectfully, whispers followed wherever she went. "So young..." "She's already Vice Director." "I heard she's Chairman Wood's daughter-in-law. No one was quite sure how much authority she truly possessed. But everyone knew one thing. Her arrival had changed the company's internal balance.

Before lunch, I was completely immersed in the banking security project when someone knocked on my office door. "Come in." The door opened slowly. A young woman wearing a secretary's uniform stepped inside. "Good morning." "Are you Mr. Mike?" I nodded. "Vice Director Samantha would like to see you." I looked at her in surprise. "She specifically requested that I inform you this concerns official company business." Official company business? I slowly stood up from my chair.

As I followed the young secretary through the hallway, countless thoughts filled my mind. Why was Samantha calling me? Could it have something to do with the project Josh had just assigned me? But... Today was only her first day. How could she possibly know anything about it? With those questions running endlessly through my mind, I quietly followed the secretary toward the office of the company's newest Vice Director.