Chapter 18 - The Promotion
At work, the clouds that had hung over my career for years suddenly parted.
With my credit fully restored—thanks to Nathan’s tireless work with the credit bureaus and the formal criminal affidavits—the institutional black marks disappeared.
In October, the board of directors at our construction firm announced an executive restructuring. Our chief financial officer called me into his corner office overlooking the Scioto River.
"Claire, your forensic work on the municipal subcontract audits over the summer saved this firm nearly four hundred thousand dollars," he said, sliding an official promotion agreement across his mahogany desk. "We’re creating a new position: Director of Internal Compliance and Payroll Governance. We want you to head the department."
The salary increase was substantial—more than double what I had made two years prior. It came with full executive stock options, a private office, and complete autonomy over departmental hiring.
"Thank you, Mr. Henderson," I said, accepting the pen. "I accept."
When I walked out of the office, Nathan was waiting by the elevators, leaning against the wall with his hands in his pockets, a proud, crooked smile playing across his lips.
"Director Vance," he said, stepping into the elevator beside me as the doors slid shut. "Has a nice ring to it."
"You knew?" I asked, laughing.
"I might have written the job description for the board," he admitted, pulling me close by the waist. "But you earned every inch of it, Claire. Nobody works harder than you."
May you like
He leaned down and kissed me—a deep, lingering kiss that tasted of sweet autumn air and a future that belonged entirely to us.
***
