The applause still echoed in Anna's ears as she shifted uncomfortably under the weight of everyone's attention. She had expected to spend the night blending into the background, not standing at the center of a grand celebration as the so-called woman of the hour.
Mr. Carter finally lowered the microphone, but his approving smile remained. "You've proven yourself, Anna. I'm expecting even greater things from you moving forward."
Anna managed a small nod, though inside, her nerves were anything but calm. Greater things? She had barely survived getting through this project. And now they wanted more?
Before she could dwell on it, someone lightly touched her elbow. She turned to find Ryan grinning down at her. "So, you're the genius behind the big deal. I have to say, I'm impressed."
Anna blinked at him. She had seen him around the office once or twice, but they had never really interacted. Unlike Alex, Ryan's energy was more playful, more charming. The kind of guy who could talk his way into or out of anything.
"You're Ryan, right?" she asked, keeping her tone neutral.
"Ah, so you do know me." His grin widened. "I was beginning to think my reputation wasn't as grand as I imagined."
Anna huffed a quiet laugh. "Oh, trust me. I've heard plenty."
"Good things, I hope?"
Anna smirked. "I'll let you guess."
Ryan let out a dramatic sigh. "Why do I feel like I don't want to know the answer?"
Before he could tease her further, a sharp voice cut in.
"That's enough, Ryan."
Anna turned her head, and there he was—Alex, his cold gaze fixed on his brother, his lips pressed in a thin line.
Ryan smirked, clearly enjoying the irritation he was causing. "Relax, bro. Just making conversation."
"Find someone else to entertain."
Anna frowned at Alex's dismissive tone. He hadn't even looked at her properly, yet somehow, he was acting like he had the right to decide who she talked to.
She crossed her arms. "Excuse me? Since when do you control who I speak to?"
Alex's gaze flicked to her, unreadable as always. "You're not here to chat. You're here because of work."
Anna scoffed. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize I signed up for silent standing at this event."
Ryan chuckled. "I like her. She's feisty."
Alex shot him a glare, but before he could say anything, Mr. Carter called out again.
"Let's get started on the main announcement of the night!"
The guests murmured in anticipation as Mr. Carter took center stage once more. Anna seized the opportunity to take a step back, hoping to disappear into the crowd. She had had enough attention for one night.
But then—
Mr. Carter's next words made her freeze.
"This project is monumental for our company's future, and I'm putting my trust in the next generation to lead it. With that in mind, I am officially appointing Alex as the new CEO of our marketing division. He and Ryan will be working together to oversee this contract from start to finish."
The room erupted in applause, but all Anna felt was a strange, sinking sensation in her stomach.
Alex. Her boss. The same man who already drove her crazy on a daily basis.
And now, he was going to be in charge of everything.
Great. Just great.
As the applause died down, Mr. Carter wasn't done.
"Of course, they won't be doing this alone. They'll need a strong, capable team." He turned, his eyes locking onto Anna. "And that's why I'm appointing Anna as the lead strategist for this campaign."
Anna's heart nearly stopped.
What?
All eyes turned to her again, but this time, her brain was too frozen to process anything.
Did she just hear that right?
Ryan let out a low whistle. "Well, things just got interesting."
Alex, however, remained silent. His jaw tightened, his expression unreadable. But one thing was clear—he hadn't expected this either.
Anna swallowed hard. This wasn't just about a big project anymore.
This was about working closely with Alex.
And something told her that wasn't going to be easy.
A Private Conversation
The moment the celebration started winding down, Anna knew she needed air. Her head was spinning, and her heels were beginning to feel like torture devices.
She slipped away to the balcony, the crisp night air instantly cooling her overheated skin. The city lights stretched out in the distance, offering a much-needed distraction.
What had just happened? She had worked hard, sure, but lead strategist? That was a whole new level of pressure.
"Escaping already?"
Anna tensed at the familiar voice. She didn't have to turn to know Alex had followed her.
"I needed some space," she muttered, gripping the balcony railing. "Is that a crime?"
Alex stepped beside her, his posture as composed as ever. "No. But it's not like you to run away from a challenge."
She let out a dry laugh. "Oh, I don't know. Maybe I just realized I'm in over my head."
Alex was silent for a moment before speaking. "You wouldn't be here if you weren't capable."
Anna turned her head slightly, eyes narrowing. "Was that a compliment?"
He didn't respond right away, his gaze fixed on the skyline. "Just a fact."
Something in his voice made her stomach flip. She hated that he could say the simplest things and somehow make them feel… different.
She sighed, looking back at the city lights. "This whole night feels surreal."
Alex glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "Get used to it. Things are only going to get more intense from here."
Anna let out a breath, her mind racing with the weight of what lay ahead.
Lead strategist.
Working under him.
She had no idea how this was going to go.
But one thing was for sure—this was just the beginning.