C59 What Kind Of Miracle Is This

As the three of us walked through the company's main entrance, we immediately sensed that something was different. The lobby was filled with colorful posters hanging from the walls and glass panels.

Most of them displayed photographs from our successful business trip to France. Some showed us shaking hands with the French partners. Others captured the moment we signed the agreement.

One large banner near the reception desk read, "Congratulations to the International Project Team!" Right beneath it were three enlarged photographs. Mine. Chris's. And Alicia's. The employees walking past us kept glancing in our direction. Some smiled.

Others whispered to one another before politely greeting us. "Good morning." "Congratulations." "Well done." It was becoming increasingly strange. Chris scratched his head. "Brother..." "Something is definitely wrong."

He lowered his voice. "The atmosphere feels... awkward." Alicia nodded in agreement. "I noticed it too." "They're all staring at us." I looked around before smiling. "There's only one way to find out." We exchanged nods before heading toward our respective departments.

None of us realized that while we had been standing outside discussing Ben, Sarah, and the security footage, the company had already posted an important announcement in the official employee group. Our phones had remained untouched the entire time.

As soon as I entered the Cybersecurity Department, I froze. Clap! Clap! Clap! The entire office suddenly erupted into applause. Every single person was standing. Even the three colleagues who had traveled to France with me were smiling and clapping enthusiastically.

I looked around in confusion. "What... is happening?" Bright Gomez laughed. "We should be asking you that." I blinked. "What do you mean?" Everyone looked at me as if I had just asked the world's strangest question. "You don't know?" I shook my head honestly. "Know what?" Laughter immediately spread across the office.

Josh, our team manager, walked toward me while shaking his head. "Michael Smith..." "Don't tell me you haven't checked your phone this morning." Alex pointed at me dramatically. "Look at him!" "He really has no idea!" The office burst into laughter once again.

Feeling more confused than ever, I answered, "No, Team Manager." "I've been busy all morning." "I'll check after I sit down." Josh suddenly reached out and firmly shook my hand. "Congratulations." His expression was unusually sincere. I thanked him, although I still had absolutely no idea what I was being congratulated for.

After placing my bag on the desk, I immediately unlocked my phone and opened the company group chat. The announcement had already been pinned. The title alone made my heart skip a beat. "Three Outstanding Interns Promoted to Permanent Positions Following International Project Success." I quickly opened it.

As I continued reading, my breathing slowed. Then... I saw my name. Michael Smith From: Cybersecurity Intern To: Cybersecurity Strategic Engineer I stared at the screen several times. Surely I had read it wrong. I looked up at everyone. Then back at my phone. Then at everyone again.

Slowly, I stood. "I..." "I don't understand." "I've only been here for two months." I looked toward Josh. "Team Manager..." "What exactly does this mean?" "Will I still be sitting here?" The entire department laughed.

Josh smiled before pointing toward an elderly gentleman standing nearby. "This is James Courington." "Our current Strategic Engineer." James smiled warmly before extending his hand. "It's nice to finally meet my replacement."

I hurried over and shook his hand. "But..." James chuckled. "I'll officially retire this Friday." He then pointed toward a small office located beside the main working area. "The office behind that door has been mine for the last twelve years."

He smiled kindly. "Starting next Monday..." "...it'll belong to you." I followed his finger. There really was a private office. For me. I stood there speechless. "This..." "...is real?" Everyone nodded while applauding again. I still couldn't believe it.

Meanwhile, next door in the Information Systems Department... Alicia had just stepped through the entrance. Bang! Bang! Bang! Several colorful balloons suddenly exploded above her head. She instinctively stepped backward. "What on earth?" Her high heels nearly slipped as she looked around in complete surprise.

The entire department erupted into cheers. "Congratulations!" "Well deserved!" "We're proud of you!" Alicia looked completely lost. "Aren't we supposed to start working?" "Why is everyone celebrating?"

Because everyone already knew she was the Minister of Police's daughter, many employees had always hoped to stay on good terms with her. Today gave them the perfect excuse. One by one, they came forward to congratulate her.

By the time she finally squeezed through the crowd toward her workstation... She stopped. Someone else was sitting in her chair. She frowned. Her first thought was ridiculous. Did they replace me while I was overseas?

She immediately turned toward Jamie, her department manager. Expecting an explanation. Instead... He simply laughed. Alicia looked around helplessly. "Can someone please explain what's happening?" "First balloons." "Then applause." "Now someone is sitting in my seat."

She folded her arms. "If I've been fired..." "...this is a very strange way of telling me." The room burst into laughter. Without saying a word, Jamie simply pointed toward a small office near the end of the hallway. Alicia turned to look. The office door had been decorated with ribbons and balloons.

More importantly... There was a brand-new nameplate. Special Analyst A. Mooney. She blinked. Still confused. Jamie continued pointing. She looked again. Then back at him. "What does the decorated office have to do with me?"

One of her colleagues couldn't hold back anymore. "Miss Mooney!" "Didn't you read the company announcement?" Only then did Alicia pull out her phone. A few seconds later... Her beautiful eyes widened. She had found the same announcement. Alicia Mooney. From: Information Systems Intern. To: Special Analyst. Replacing Steven Carl following his retirement on Friday.

She covered her mouth in disbelief. "This..." "...can't be real." Only yesterday she had been an intern. Today... She had been promoted to one of the department's specialist positions.

At almost the same time, Chris entered the Administration Department. Unlike Alicia's surprise, everyone there seemed to be waiting specifically for him. The moment he stepped inside... The office applauded.

Chris laughed awkwardly. "Come on, everyone." "It wasn't just me." "We all worked hard." Joe, the department manager, smiled. "We're not congratulating you for France." Chris stopped smiling. "We aren't?"

Joe shook his head. "We're congratulating you on your promotion." Chris frowned. "My..." "...promotion?" Joe nodded. "As most of you already know..." "My health hasn't been very good recently." "The doctor has advised me to take early retirement."

He smiled proudly. "So today..." "I'd like everyone to welcome your new department manager." He looked directly at Chris. "Christopher Chambers." Chris's eyes became as wide as saucers. "What?!" He instinctively took a step backward. "Who said I wanted to lead these people?" The entire office burst into laughter.

Unlike most employees, Chris understood how companies operated. Promotions like this rarely happened without powerful recommendations. He immediately asked the question that mattered most. "Who recommended me?" No one answered.

Instead, Rosemary Sydney walked toward him carrying a small box. She smiled shyly. "Mr. Chambers..." "Your new identification badge." Chris recognized her immediately. She was the same colleague who had waved goodbye to him and Mike before they left for France. He accepted the badge with a grateful smile before quietly sitting down.

After the initial shock wore off, excitement slowly replaced it. The first people he wanted to tell were naturally Mike and Alicia. He picked up his phone and opened WhatsApp. Before sending a single message, however, he noticed that their group chat was already filled with unread notifications.

Curious, he opened it first. Within seconds, a huge grin spread across his face. "So..." "...all three of us?" He shook his head in disbelief. "What kind of miracle is this?"