Empire of Ash — Episode 10

She started in the cargo base? Vivian nodded, cleaning outside Mr. Romano's office. Three months later, Mr. Romano personally requested she be moved to the front desk. Six months after that, she was already his private secretary.

That was when she started making her own house rules, including the elevator one. I stared at Clara's promotion dates in silence, especially the first jump. Cargo bay to front desk. It happened right after Julian and I got married.

I'd just suffered a miscarriage. My body gave out, and I spent weeks recovering at home. After that, Julian started disappearing for nights at a time. When I asked, he said he was entertaining dangerous clients to build our future.

He wore grief so well, I believed he hurt over the child too. So before I had even healed, I forced myself back into the field. I thought if I stood again, he wouldn't have to suffer so much. Now I knew where those nights had gone.

To Clara. Then came the second promotion. Front desk to private secretary. That was when I led my first overseas operation.

It was nothing more than a few dates on a screen. But each one felt like another knife to my heart. If Clara hadn't made a scene today, I would have kept believing Julian. That was my mistake.

I rubbed the bridge of my nose before looking at Vivian. Starting today, strip Julian, Romano, and Clara of every position tied to this house. Reason. Abuse of authority. Unauthorized appointments. Breaking family rules.