The Billionaire's Unexpected Proposal by Samantha

Chapter 95

mskipped a

The shrill ring of Evelyn's phone shattered the quiet of her office, palling her out of her reverie. She glanced at the screen, and her heart så

beat Susan.

She had been dreading this call all day since her encounter with Derek's Mom, a call she thought

might come but still hoped it wouldn't

For a moment, she considered not answering it, letting it ring until it stopped, but that would only delay the inevitable. With a deep breath, she siriped so answer and brought the phone to her ear, hoping that she was wrong; and Susan was only calling to find out her plans for Derek's Intendew that week.

"Hello, Susan," she said, trying to keep her voice calm despite the anxiety bubbling inside her.

"Evelyn," her boss's voice came through, uncharacteristically seilt, and Evelyn inurediately knew something was wrong. "T. I'm sorry to do is over. the phone. You're a great employer, and if it were up to just me, this wouldn't be happening, but unfortunately, the board has made their decision." Evelyn sat up straight, her pulse quickening. "What decision?" she asked, though a part of her already knew to let you go

Susan passed before she spoke again, and that brief hesitation felt like a hammer waiting to drop. "The board has decided to

The words hit Evelyn like a blow to the chest, but she didn't react immediately. She sat frozen, her mind racing, trying to make sense of it. "Let me go?" she repeated slowly as if hearing the words again might change them. "Susan why are they doing this? Why am I being punished for doing my job?"

There was another pause. "I'm really sorry. Evelyn. This decision wasn't mine. There's nothing I can do. Wes will be stepping in to take over."

felt a surge of anger rising within her. Her grip tightened around the phone as she hit back her initial response. After all the hard work, the loyalty, the sacrifices,

brand like Empowered protect its employees? I did everything you asked of me, Susan I dedicated years to this company, and this is how I'm repaid? Fired for doing my

do," Susan's voice wavered with guilt. "But my hands are tied.

hold back her frustration any longer. "This is

again, but Evelyn had already heard

a sharp thud. The silence that followed was deafening, but it didn't last long. The anger swelled inside her, hot and sharp, until it bubbled over. She grabbed the edge of her desk, forcing herself to take deep

this coming. It shouldn't have been so surprising, seeing as the board had always

frustration and anger, there was no sorrow. She wasn't devastated. Instead, a calm realization began to

resolving things with her father anyway, hadn't she? She had always known that one day, she would return to her family's company and take her rightful place there. This this was just life's way of pushing her out of her comfort zone and

felt deliberate and final. As she looked around the office one last time, she fel a surprising sense of closure. Thankfully, she hadn't worked in this office long enough to be attached to it. And although Empowered Magazine had been her life for so long, in was

her steps felt ligler than expected. It was over. She was free. Now, they had nothing more to hold over her. No one would exercise such control over her

She checked the time and realized that Maya had already left to pick Samantha

the couch and headed straight for the kitchen to get

water. After taking a long sap from

she decided to freshen up and get some rest before she focused on

Chapter 95

stood under the stream for a long time, letting the

moment, thinking about everything that had happened in the past few days. Losing her job was the final push she needed to focus on herself, her family, and her future. She was going to make sure Sandra regretted every move

frowned, wondering why Maya would be ringing the bell instead of just

way to the front door. When she opened it, her eyes widened