C60 You Are Family

The entire morning passed in an unusually cheerful atmosphere. Very little actual work was done across the three departments because almost everyone was still talking about the company's announcement.

Laughter echoed through the hallways, congratulations were exchanged every few minutes, and even the senior employees seemed to enjoy the excitement surrounding the three newly promoted employees.

In the Cybersecurity Department, I spent most of the morning answering questions from my colleagues about how I felt. James Courington, the Strategic Engineer I would officially replace after his retirement on Friday, patiently explained several responsibilities that would soon become mine. Every now and then he would point toward the small office beside our department, smiling proudly.

"You'll get used to it," he said warmly. "At first you'll think the office is too quiet, then after a month you'll wonder how you ever worked without it." Everyone laughed while I simply scratched my head awkwardly. It still didn't feel real.

Only two months ago I had entered Wood IT Company as an intern who was trying to prove himself. Now everyone kept calling me "Strategic Engineer." The title sounded so distant that every time someone addressed me that way, I instinctively looked behind me, expecting another person to answer instead.

Across the corridor in the Information Systems Department, Alicia was experiencing a similar morning. Unlike her usual serious and intimidating appearance, she wore a bright smile that never seemed to disappear. Her colleagues continuously stopped by her office to congratulate her, while Steven Carl, the Special Analyst she would replace spent almost the entire morning introducing her to confidential reports and explaining how the department operated.

Meanwhile, in the Business Administration Department, Chris was having the exact opposite experience. His promotion had made everyone excited except himself. Every five minutes someone entered his new office asking whether they should now call him "Manager Chambers."

Each time he responded dramatically. "Please don't remind me." His colleagues only laughed harder. By noon, everyone naturally headed toward lunch. As always, Alicia was the first to leave her department. This time, however, she practically skipped through the hallway toward the Cybersecurity Department. She looked happier than I had ever seen her.

Bright Gomez, who had admired Alicia from afar ever since she joined the company, finally gathered enough courage to approach her. He straightened his tie before speaking. "Congratulations, Miss Mooney... on your promotion."

Alicia stopped walking and looked at the short young man standing nervously before her. For a brief second Bright thought she hadn't heard him. Then she smiled politely. "Thank you very much." She even extended her hand. Bright's eyes widened. He quickly shook it. "It's... it's an honor." "Thank you."

Before Bright could think of another sentence, Alicia had already continued walking toward my desk. Bright simply stood there staring at his hand. Alex nudged him from behind. "Why are you smiling like that?"

Bright looked down at the hand Alicia had shaken. "I... I finally shook Miss Mooney's hand." His coworkers burst into laughter while Bright completely ignored them. To him, that handshake alone had already made his day.

Alicia eventually arrived beside my desk. She folded her arms and smiled. "Strategic Engineer, it's lunchtime." I looked up from my monitor. "Hearing you call me that feels strange." "Better get used to it." James laughed from behind me. "She's right." The entire department laughed again. Embarrassed, I grabbed my phone before walking beside Alicia.

As we crossed the hallway, employees from different departments greeted us. "Congratulations!" "Well deserved!" "Looking forward to working with you." The attention felt overwhelming. By the time we reached our usual meeting spot, Chris was already waiting.

The moment he saw us he burst into exaggerated laughter. "Hehehe... who would've thought? The three interns getting promoted at exactly the same time!" We couldn't help laughing with him. Soon the three of us walked toward our favorite café outside the company building.

After ordering lunch, our conversation immediately shifted toward the morning's events. "My department nearly gave me a heart attack," I admitted. "I thought something terrible had happened." Chris laughed. "At least yours was peaceful." "I've had people walking into my office every five minutes asking if I can approve this or sign that."

Alicia giggled. "Congratulations, Team Manager." Chris groaned dramatically. "Please don't call me that." We laughed again. I then explained how James would officially retire on Friday and that beginning Monday the office beside our department would become mine. "I still can't believe I'll have my own office."

Alicia immediately nodded excitedly. "Same here." "When I reached my department this morning someone else was already sitting at my desk." "I honestly thought I'd been fired." She opened her handbag before proudly placing her new identification badge on the table. "Look." The badge read, "Special Analyst Alicia Mooney"

Chris examined it before sighing. "You two received offices." "I received responsibilities." We burst into laughter. "I still don't understand why they picked me." I looked at him thoughtfully. "Brother... I think I know why." Alicia tilted her head. "How would you know?" "You're in Cybersecurity while he's in Business Administration."

I smiled. "Think about it." "Ever since we joined the company, everyone in his department kept asking Chris questions." "They constantly interrupted him because he always knew the answers." "Even during our France project, he practically designed the business proposal himself." "He explained everything so clearly that even the French executives immediately understood the plan." "His managers must have noticed all of that." "I honestly think they promoted him because they realized he was already doing work above his position."

Chris became unusually quiet. Alicia slowly nodded. "That's actually... a very reasonable explanation." Deep inside, she found herself admiring me once again. The way I calmly analyzed situations never failed to surprise her. She couldn't understand why every passing day made the strange warmth inside her heart grow stronger. She quickly looked away before anyone noticed.

Finally she smiled. "Very good analysis, Brother." "You connected everything perfectly." Chris scratched his head. "So..." "If I hadn't answered everyone's questions..." "I wouldn't be Team Manager?" "Probably." I shrugged. Chris immediately leaned back dramatically. "That's even worse!" "You mean I caused my own suffering?" "Now those women won't even need excuses anymore."

"They'll simply walk straight into my office asking me every ridiculous question they can think of." "I've created my own prison." Both Alicia and I burst into uncontrollable laughter. Alicia wiped the tears from her eyes before speaking. "Chris." "You're looking at this the wrong way." "This promotion isn't punishment." "It's recognition." "You now have a permanent position with a very good salary." "You've always dreamed of starting your own businesses." "This is the perfect opportunity." "You'll learn management."

"You'll gain leadership experience." "You'll understand how companies operate from the inside." "When you eventually build your own company, everything you learn now will become valuable." Chris stared at her in surprise. "So..." "You of all people are encouraging me?" "I thought you'd make fun of me." "I usually do." She smiled mischievously. "But not today." "I'm actually proud of you."

For a brief moment, Chris simply smiled. "Thanks." The conversation became peaceful until Chris suddenly remembered something. "Brother." "You didn't ride your motorcycle today." "What happened?" "Did it finally break down?" I shook my head. "No." "Laura asked to see me this afternoon." "I took a taxi this morning." "I'll probably use another one later."

The moment Laura's name left my mouth, Alicia became unusually quiet. A strange feeling settled inside her chest. She stirred her drink absentmindedly before finally speaking. "Why am I the only one being left behind?" Chris and I looked at her. "Mike spends time with Laura." "You spend time with Sarah." "What about me?"

Chris laughed. "Should we find you a boyfriend?" I joined him. "I actually have someone in mind." "You even shook his hand today." Alicia instantly glared at me. "My goodness." "I am being serious." "And definitely not someone who looks like a tortoise." The three of us laughed loudly.

After the laughter faded, Alicia's expression slowly became serious again. She lowered her voice. "What if everything works out between you two and your girlfriends?" "What if one day they become uncomfortable because you spend so much time with me?" "What if they ask you to stop seeing me?"

Neither Chris nor I laughed. Her question was genuine. She had carried that worry inside her heart for a long time. I answered first. "Alicia..." "You're family." "Feelings between couples can change." "People fall in love." "Sometimes they fall out of love." "You can go to bed believing everything is perfect and wake up to discover the relationship has ended." "That happens." "But you..." "You'll always be our sister." "You'll always be part of us." "If someone truly loves us, they'll understand that." "And if they can't accept someone who's become family to us..." "Then perhaps they never truly trusted us to begin with."

I smiled reassuringly. "Besides..." "Laura isn't my girlfriend." "I haven't confessed anything." "And Chris keeps insisting he isn't dating Sarah." Chris quickly nodded. "Exactly." "My situation is already complicated enough." Alicia quietly stared at me. My words erased the fear she had carried for weeks. She would not lose us. Not because of another woman. That realization brought comfort to her heart.

Yet at the same time, another problem remained unsolved. If Mike would always see her as family... Then what was this unfamiliar feeling inside her own heart that continued growing stronger every single day? Alicia found herself afraid, not of losing her brothers... But of eventually falling in love with one of them.