The forty seventh floor was different. It was quieter, luxurious, and more exclusive.
My new office was in a corner, twice the size of my old one, with windows on two sides and a view that made my breath catch.
"This is insane," I muttered.
"For real, though?" Kevin grinned. "I'd literally murder someone for an offcice like this. You must have really impressed Mr. Tan."
"Or, seriously pissed off Ms. Zhang."
"Probably both," he chuckled.
He set down my last box. "Your new team lead is Richard. He's… intense, but fair. You'll meet him at this afternoon's briefing."
After Kevin left, I stood in my new office, trying to process this high speed promotion.
Daniel had moved me. He personally intervened to get me away from Vivian.
It should have felt like a rescue, maybe a soft launch into success.
Instead, it felt like I'd just been marked.
Everyone would know now. The new girl who got special treatment. The one who got promoted after one week.
The one who was clearly sleeping with the CEO.
Even though I wasn't. Even though we only met once for an extremely awkward interview.
My phone buzzed.
Daniel Tan: How's the new office?
Me: Terrifying.
Daniel Tan: Good terrifying or bad terrifying?
Me: Don't know yet.
Daniel Tan: Give it time. You'll settle in.
Me: Everyone's going to think I'm sleeping with you to get this.
Daniel Tan: Let them think what they want. You earned this.
Me: Did I though? I've been here a week.
Daniel Tan: And in a week, you found fraud no one else caught. That's worth more than years of just showing up.
I wanted to believe him. I really did. It felt good to hear I was valued, especially after the shit I went through at my last place.
But as I looked out at the city sprawling below, I couldn't shake the feeling that I'd just stepped into something much bigger than a job.
Something that might consume me whole if I wasn't careful.
Me: When do I actually meet you again? In person?
Three dots appeared. Disappeared. Appeared again.
Daniel Tan: Soon. I promise.
Me: That's not an answer.
Daniel Tan: It's the only one I can give right now.
Me: Why?
Daniel Tan: Because when we meet again this time, everything changes. And I want to make sure you're ready for that.
My heart hammered in my chest. 'What the actual hell he was talking about?'
Me: Ready for what?
Daniel Tan: For the truth.
*******
Richard Mao was exactly as Kevin described. Intense but fair.
He was in his mid forties, sharp eyed, with salt and pepper hair and the kind of presence that commanded respect without demanding it.
"Lulu Wang." He shook my hand firmly. "Daniel speaks highly of you.
"Thank you, Mr. Mao," I replied, trying to sound competent.
"Richard, please. We're not that formal up here," he corrected.
He gestured to the small conference room where three other analysts sat. "Let me introduce the team."
There was Ming, a quiet woman in her thirties who specialized in Asian markets. James, a British man with a dry sense of humour who handled European portfolios. And Belle, flesh faced and eager, who covered emerging markets.
They were professional. And shockingly, very welcoming. No cold stares or whispered gossip about how I got my job.
It was a relief I didn't know I needed.
"We work differently here," Richard explained during the briefing. "Smaller team, higher stakes. You report directly to Mr. Tan through me. Your Singapore fraud case, that's exactly the kind of work we do. Finding what others miss."
"Ms. Zhang seemed… unhappy about my findings," I stated carefully, recalling how Vivian looked at me like she wanted to murder me.
Richard's expression didn't change, but something flickered in his eyes.
"Ms. Zhang runs a good department. But sometimes when you're close to a project, you miss things. That's why fresh eyes matter."
"Is that why I was moved?"
"Partly." He pulled up a document on the screen. 'But also because Daniel wants you on this."
A map of Southeast Asia appeared, dotted with digital markers.
"We're looking at a major expansion. Hotels, resorts, mixed use developments. Billion dollar investments. Daniel needs someone who can spot problems before they become disasters."
My throat went dry. "That's… a lot of responsibility."
"It is. Can you handle it?"
I thought about the Singapore properties. The fraud I had found. The way Vivian had looked at it when I presented it.
"Yes," I said. "I can handle it."
Richard smiled. "Good. Because we start tomorrow."
*******
That evening, I was packing up to go home when Belle knocked on my door.
"Hey! A few of us are grabbing drinks. Want to join?"
I hesitated. The last time I went out with coworkers, it ended in drama and gossip.
"Come on," Belle urged. "It'll be fun. No office politics, I promise."
"Okay. Sure," I followed. Maybe a drink would calm my perpetually racing nerves.
The bar was upscale but casual. It was the kind of place where you could wear business clothes and not feel overdressed.
Ming, James, and Belle were already there, drinks in hand.
"To Lulu!" James raised his glass. "May she survive Richard's intensity and Daniel's expectations."
We laughed, and for the first time in weeks, I felt… normal again.
"So," Ming said, leaning in conspiratorially. "What's your story? How did you end up on the executive team after two weeks? That's wild."
"Pure luck?" I tried.
"Bullshit," James chirped cheerfully. "Nobody gets moved to our floor by luck. Daniel handpicked you. Why?"
I took a long sip of my wine. "I found fraud in the Singapore properties."
Belle's eyes widened like saucers. "The ones Ms. Zhang negotiated?"
"Yeah."
"Oh, shit." Ming whistled. "No wonder she looked murderous when you left. She was giving serial killer vibes."
"Wait, she looked murderous?"
"Girl, the entire forty fifth floor heard about it."
Belle leaned forward, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Vivian called an emergency meeting after you moved. Told everyone that 'personnel changes' were being made for 'strategic reasons.' Such corporate gaslighting."
James snorted. "Translation. Daniel overruled her, and she's pissed, period."
"Is that… normal?" I asked carefully. I knew that Vivian was his Director of Finance.
"Daniel overruling Vivian?" Ming shook her head. "Never. Those two are usually aligned on everything. Like they share one brain cell."
"They're close?" The question came out before I could stop it, laced with stupid amount of curiosity.
"Very," Belle's voice dropped. "The rumor is they were engaged once. Years ago. It's some serious history, maybe before she joined the company."
My wine suddenly tasted sour.
Engaged?
"Just a rumor," James said quickly, noticing my face. "No one knows for sure. But they're definitely close. Lunches together, late meetings. She's the only exec who has his private number."
'Not the only one,' I thought, feeling my phone heavy in my pocket, the screen likely displaying texts from Daniel.
"Anyway," Ming said, sensing my discomfort. "Point is, if Daniel moved you, he had a good reason. And if Vivian's mad about it? That's her problem, not yours. You just do your job and keep securing that bag."
I nodded, but my mind was spinning.
Engaged once…
Close…
What was I to Daniel, besides an expensive new analyst….?