chapter642
Thalassa shook her head with a resigned smile, her voice rising to cut through the morning haze. “Dreams are fine, Hertha, but they don't pay the bills. If you want a future with someone like Alaric, you need to be at the top of your game. Reality requires action, not just imagination.”
Hertha mumbled into her pillow, “Just let me enjoy the thrill for a few more minutes.”
“Fine, but remember: the longer you sleep, the further Alaric gets from your reach. Don’t you want to build a life that matches your aspirations?” Thalassa used her ultimate motivational tactic.
That did the trick. Hertha sat up, eyes bright with sudden energy. She pumped her fists in the air. “You’re right! I’m going to chase that dream, build a career, and prove I’m worthy of the best. Let’s go!”
The two women scrambled out of bed, moving through their morning routine with synchronized precision. They skipped makeup to save time, relying on their natural energy to carry them through the day.
“Don’t call a cab,” Hertha offered as they rushed out. “I’ll drive you. You have that ten o’clock meeting, and I don’t want you risking your position.”
Thalassa arrived at the office at 9:55, her heart pounding. As she entered the secretarial department, she found Ethan already there, his presence radiating an undeniable authority. Betty, the department manager, stood nearby, looking uncharacteristically somber.
“Mr. Ethan,” Thalassa greeted, trying to steady her breath.
Ethan checked his watch. “You’re nearly an hour behind schedule, Ms. Everhart. A half-day’s deduction will be applied to your record. Any objections?”
“None,” Thalassa replied quickly. She respected his adherence to the rules; it ensured a level playing field for everyone.
Once Ethan left, Betty breathed a sigh of relief and turned to Thalassa. “Hurry and gather your files. Mr. Ethan just promoted me to Department Manager—I share responsibility for your performance now, so don't let me down.”
Thalassa offered a genuine congratulations. She knew how hard Betty had worked for this recognition. With a quick nod, she gathered her documents and followed Betty to the conference room to discuss the Crawley Group’s urgent 20,000-unit smartphone order.