Chapter Five

On the other hand, Stella, already in her office, stood there for a moment, her chest rising and falling with anger. After a brief pause, she slammed the door behind her, the sound of it reverberating through the room. The sleek, polished interior of the office suddenly felt suffocating. Her hands clenched into fists at her sides as she paced back and forth, the sharp click of her heels on the marble floor breaking the tense silence.

'How dare he?' she muttered under her breath, the betrayal burning hotter with every thought. She had come to Mars Corporation full of excitement and hope, only to find out that the man she trusted, the man she had quietly grown to love, had unknowingly hurt her with his actions. She hadn't openly admitted her love for Peter, but she had shared some secrets with him. She had told him how she would want to get a job to support her man. She perceived that Peter understood that she was referring to him but pretended not to. She was afraid that he might have mocked her for saying that because he was a rich business mogul and not an ordinary provision store owner. Unintentionally, Peter had hurt her with his actions, even though his intentions were to make her feel comfortable. But in doing so, it felt like he was playing a cruel game, as his silence had only deepened her insecurities.

When she reached her desk, she froze. Her computer screen glowed softly, displaying her to-do list for the day. A small, handwritten note was placed neatly next to the keyboard:

I turned this on for you. Welcome aboard once again…Magnus.

For a brief moment, a wave of gratitude washed over her, only for it to be quickly swallowed by her growing frustration. None of this mattered now. In a fit of anger, she grabbed the stack of papers and flung them onto the floor. The documents scattered across the room like shattered pieces of her trust. She felt as though she was trapped in a job that had suddenly lost its meaning because of Peter's actions.

'Personal Secretary to the CEO,' she scoffed, her voice dripping with contempt. 'He made me his personal secretary just to keep me close? What kind of twisted plan was that?'

Her thoughts swirled as she sat down heavily in her chair, burying her face in her hands. She had spent years pushing her feelings for Peter aside, refusing to let herself fall for him completely. She had wanted to find a job to support him, to make him fill needed. And now, he wasn't a store owner as he had claimed. He was the CEO of Mars Corporation, a billion-dollar company where she had landed her first job, and the realisation twisted the knife of betrayal deeper into her heart.

She lifted her head, staring blankly at the phone on her desk. 'I need to quit,' she whispered, though the words felt heavier than she expected. Walking away from her job wouldn't solve anything. She wanted to be strong, but how? As his personal secretary, she would be close to him every second, every minute. Caught in a dilemma, she wondered whether to quit or find the strength to continue in her position.

'Stella?' a voice came from the door, Magnus stepping in cautiously. He must have heard the commotion. His eyes darted from the scattered papers to her flushed face, concern lining his features. 'Are you all right?'

Stella straightened up, pulling herself together. 'I'm fine,' she snapped, though her voice betrayed her. She quickly softened her tone. 'I just need a moment.'

Magnus nodded, his face unreadable. 'If you need anything... just let me know.' He left, the door clicking quietly behind him.

Alone again, Stella's anger simmered. She leaned back in her chair, staring out of the office window at the sprawling city below. The grandeur of Mars Corporation no longer impressed her. It was just a façade, like Peter's carefully constructed lie.

Her phone buzzed with a new message. She glanced at it, her heart sinking as she saw Peter's name on the screen.

'Can we talk? Please.'

Stella let out a bitter laugh, tossing the phone aside. Talk? What was there to say? He had broken her trust, and now he expected her to sit down and listen to more of his lies? She stood up abruptly, her resolve hardening.

She wasn't just Peter's secretary. She was Stella Adams, a capable, intelligent woman who didn't need a man or a job like this to define her. With that thought, she turned off her computer, reached for her bag, determined to walk out of Mars Corporation for good.

But as she reached the door, she paused. Could she really just leave? Was it fair to walk away without hearing Peter's side of the story? Emotions waged war inside her—anger, betrayal, love, confusion. She felt trapped between the urge to run and the need for closure.

Her hand lingered over the door handle, her mind racing. But then, she made her mind to be strong. She was his personal secretary, she would work like she was a stranger, and not like someone that was in love with him. She wouldn't let her feelings show. She was a professional, and she would act like one. But for how long?