Chapter 7 - THE NEW DIRECTOR
Monday morning arrived with crisp autumn sunshine washing over downtown Chicago.
The Moretti Foundation occupied the entire thirty-fifth floor of the sleek glass-and-steel Moretti Tower overlooking the Chicago River.
Chloe stepped out of the private elevator wearing a sharp, tailored navy-blue pantsuit that had cost more than her entire wardrobe from the previous year combined.
Her office was vast, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows, a mahogany desk, and a private balcony overlooking the city skyline.
On her desk sat a single, flawless white orchid in a crystal vase.
Attached to it was a handwritten card in crisp, elegant ink:
“Competence is rewarded. Welcome to your new life, Chloe. — V.”
She traced her fingers over the card, feeling a strange mixture of awe and nervous excitement.
For twenty-four years, her life had been defined by scarcity, hospital waiting rooms, and calculating whether she could afford eggs or milk.
Now, she had an office, an army of medical professionals reporting to her, and an endowment fund large enough to rebuild healthcare access for every working-class family on the south side.
The intercom on her desk buzzed softly.
"Miss Bennett?" a crisp professional voice announced. "Mr. Costello is downstairs in the lobby and requests five minutes of your time before his board meeting."
May you like
Chloe’s heart did a small, traitorous flutter against her ribs. "Send him up."
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