Page 18 of In Another Time

Omir’s face flashed in my mind—his smile, the way he looked at me like I was the only thing that mattered. My chest tightened, a mix of longing and confusion swirling inside me.

“Lennox?” Mom’s voice snapped me back to the present.

“Hmm?” I looked up, realizing everyone was staring at me.

“Pass the cornbread,” she said, giving me a curious look.

I handed her the plate, forcing a smile as I tried to shake off the feeling that I was standing on the edge of something I couldn’t quite define.

The following morning, I arrived at the office just before eight, my laptop bag slung over my shoulder. The weekend hadn’t done much to quiet my mind. Dinner at my parents’ house had left me feeling off-balance, and I couldn’t shake my dad’s words.“If she’s happy, that’s all that matters.”

I pushed everything aside as I stepped off the elevator. This was a new week, and I needed to be focused.

“Morning, Ms. Anderson.” The receptionist greeted me with a bright smile.

“Morning, Gracie,” I replied with a nod, making my way to my office.

The air in the building felt charged, like something big was happening. My coworkers were huddled in small groups, whispering excitedly as I passed. I raised an eyebrow but kept moving, determined to get a jump on my emails before the day spun out of control.

I had barely set my coffee down when the CEO, Mr. Harrington, appeared in my doorway. His tailored suit was impeccable as always, and his expression was unreadable. “Lennox, do you have a moment?” he asked, his tone neutral.

“Of course,” I said, standing quickly. “Everything alright?”

“Let’s talk in the conference room,” he said, gesturing for me to follow.

As we walked, my mind raced. Was this about the Crawley account? Had something gone wrong? Or was it something else entirely?

Inside the conference room, I was surprised to see two other senior executives seated at the table. Mr. Harrington closed the door behind us and motioned for me to sit.

“Lennox,” he began, folding his hands on the table, “we’ve been incredibly impressed with your performance over the years. Your ambition, your hard work and your leadership are all top tier. And, your role with the Reynolds merger and the Crawley account, were nothing short of exceptional.”

“Thank you,” I said cautiously, unsure of where this was headed.

“Because of that,” he continued, “we’ve decided to offer you a promotion to president.”

The words hung in the air for a moment before they fully registered. A promotion. President. This was what I’d been working toward for years. “That’s. . . that’s incredible,” I said, a smile breaking across my face. “Thank you so much. I’m honored.”

“There’s just one thing though,” he said, his tone shifting slightly.

“Okay. . .” I said slowly, my stomach tightening.

“The position is based in Chicago,” he explained. “President of our sister company. You’d need to relocate within the next month to the company apartment. Your salary will triple, and you’ll even receive a very generous promotion bonus, along with a company car.”

My smile faltered. Chicago? I loved my city, my home. My life was here in Arbor Hills. Moving to a new city was a monumental change—one I hadn’t even considered.

“I understand it’s a big decision,” Mr. Harrington said, sensing my hesitation. “Take a few days to think it over. We’ll need an answer by Friday.”

I nodded, my thoughts spinning. “Thank you. I’ll let you know soon.”

As I returned to my office, the whispers in the hallway made sense now. News like this always traveled fast. I closed my door and sat at my desk, staring at my computer screen without really seeing it.

This was everything I’d worked for, the next step in my career. But it also meant leaving behind everything—and everyone—I knew. My family, my friends, my life. . . and Omir. Omir. His name hit me like a weight, heavier than I expected. We weren’t even a couple, so why did the thought of leaving him feel like such a loss?

A knock at my door pulled me from my thoughts. It was Adrian. “Hey, superstar,” he said, leaning casually against the doorframe. “Congrats on the promotion.”

“Thanks,” I said, forcing a smile.

“So, Chicago, huh?” he said, stepping inside. “Big move for a big opportunity.”

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