Chapter 017

17.

THE SALVADOR GROUP

Samantha walked into the building of the company that was finally in her control. She dressed elegantly, her tailor made suit hugging her curves in all the right places. With Linda beside her, she exuded an aura of authority and dominance. Her heels clicked on the marble floor as she made her way to the elevator, her confidence, and poise radiating from every step. She was no longer the timid and lost girl who had once been trapped in a life she didn't want. She was now the CEO of the Salvador Group, and she was ready to take on the world.

As she stepped into the elevator, she was greeted by the familiar face of her new secretary, James. “Good morning, Ms. Salvador. Congratulations again on your new position,” he said with a smile.

“Thank you, James. I'm excited to get started,” she replied, her eyes shining with determination.

The elevator doors opened on the top floor, and Samantha walked out into the luxurious office that was now hers. The view of the city skyline was breathtaking, and she felt a sense of pride and accomplishment as she gazed out at the sprawling metropolis below.

Her phone buzzed, and she saw a text from Aiden. “Good luck today, Samantha. I know you're going to crush it.”

She replied with thanks and sat on her chair, her eyes holding nothing but gratitude. Linda watched as Samantha smiled and couldn't help but smile on her own as well. She knew what Samantha had been through. Even though she didn't know everything and was only able to know half of it, the weight loss and the look on Samantha's face the day she returned to the family mansion was enough to tell her she had gone through hell.

“Linda,” Samantha called in a cheerful voice. “You are my personal assistant. Isn't this lovely? I didn't know I was finally going to come back and take over this company one day. It feels like a dream.”

“I know, Sam,” Linda replied with a warm smile. “You deserve it. You've worked so hard to get to this point. And I'm honored to be by your side throughout this journey.”

Samantha nodded, her eyes shining with appreciation. “I couldn't have done it without you, Linda. You've been my rock, my confidante. I don't know what I would have done without your support and encouragement.” she looked at Linda gratefully, moving her.

Linda blushed, her face softening with emotion. “You know I would do anything for you, right? All I want is your happiness, and I'm just glad I could be there for you.”

Samantha nodded with a smile and leaned back in her chair, her gaze drifting out the window as she took a deep breath. She felt a sense of peace wash over her, a sense of closure. She had finally found her place in the world, and she was ready to make the most of it. No more bad memories, no more problems, just her and her little world.

“Okay, Linda,” she said, her voice snapping back to business. “Let's get started. I have a lot of work to do, and I need your help to make it happen.”

Linda nodded, her expression turning professional. “Of course, ma'am. What's the first order of business?” she threw a salute and Samantha chuckled, a plan already forming in her mind.

“I want to call a meeting with the board of directors. I need to introduce myself for the sake of those that weren't present, and for courtesy’ sake as well, and I also want to lay out my vision for the company's future.”

Linda nodded, her fingers flying across her iPad as she started typing out an email. “I'll send out the invitations right away. Shall I schedule it for today?”

Samantha nodded, her eyes gleaming with determination. “Today would be impromptu for them. Who knows if they have their schedules for the day drafted out already? Make it tomorrow, and I want Mr. Johnson and Mrs. Thompson to be present as well.” she instructed with a serious expression on her face and Linda nodded.

“I will do just that.” she walked out of the office and Samantha released a long breath.

*

As the day went on, Samantha settled into her new role, meeting with various department heads and getting briefed on the company's current projects and challenges. She was impressed by the team's expertise and enthusiasm, and she could feel the weight of responsibility on her shoulders.

“You all have done exceptionally well. I'm so proud of you.” she commended them, and they bowed to her, their chest swelling with pride. They felt they were really going to enjoy having Samantha as their new boss. She seemed down to earth and gave them the opportunity to share their own ideas and creativity.

They had always wanted to contribute their expertise personally and try new things but haven't been given a chance. After discussing with Samantha, she decided to give their ideas a try, and they couldn't be more grateful. They were determined to make her proud of them.

They left and Samantha glanced at her watch. “Wow! It's already evening?” she couldn't believe how fast time had run. It was just like a few minutes ago when she walked into the company. She stood up and left the hall. “Well, time to return home.” she headed to her office, arranged her table and picked up her handbag.

Just as she was about to leave for the day, Aiden walked into her office, a smile on his face. “Hey, how was your first day?” he asked, leaning against the door frame.

Samantha creased her brows, wondering what he was doing at her company, but decided to answer his question first. “It was great, thanks for asking. I'm still getting used to being the boss, but I'm loving the challenge.”

Aiden nodded, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “I knew you'd be a natural. You're going to do great things, Samantha.”

“Yeah, so what are you doing here?” she asked.

Aiden pushed off from the door frame and walked towards her, his eyes locked on hers. “Why are you asking? Aren't you happy to see me?”

Samantha's heart skipped a beat as he reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. It was a simple gesture, but it sent shivers down her spine. She tried to speak, but it looked like her words were stuck in her throat.

Aiden withdrew his hand and sucked in a breath. “I'm your partner, remember? So I have the right to come into the company and your office whenever I like. Besides, we will be working together, so you're going to be seeing more of me. You won't have to miss me too much.”

Samantha scoffed, throwing a glare his way. “You really do think highly of yourself, don't you?”

Aiden smirked. “Yes, I do.”

“Narcissist.” she muttered to her hearing alone, and walked out while he followed her.

She was about to head to her car, but he pulled her into his instead. “What are you doing?”

“What does it look like I'm doing?” he asked, and she looked at him, confusion etched into her features. “I'm driving you home, silly.” he rolled his eyes.

“You don't have to. I can drive, besides, my chauffeur can take me home.” she protested, but Aiden wasn't ready to have any of it.

He turned the car on and looked at her. “You can ask your chauffeur to take the car home. I want to accompany my fiancée home.” he didn't wait for her to say anything, and drove out.

Samantha sighed and wondered why he would never listen to her. He always did whatever he wanted. She huffed and looked out the window.

“Jerk.” she muttered under her breath again.