"No!" Ciara told her almost immediately. "You aren't on a permanent leave, I'll just leave you to take a break until I'm able to sort everything out."
Sheila wasn't happy with the thought of taking a break from her work, but she was left with no choice to it. She made a grave mistake, and she couldn't deny it, if Brandon had taken a brutal step against the company with the information she foolishly offered him, then it's the end -and it'll all be on her.
In as much as she wants to be selfish and keep her job and position in the company, Sheila could only hope Ciara's concluded decision was letting her go forever-she's only being considerate by letting her on a leave.
"I really don't want to leave, ma'am, but it's only right that I pay for my mistakes." She uttered in agreement. "I don't know how long this would last, I'll assure you that on any judgement you come up with later on, I'm ready to accept and trust yourjudgement with no two minds on it."
"I know, Sheila..."Ciara enunciated with a heavy breath out afterward. "I'm only doing this because I felt it's the only right thing to do, if it were to be anyone else, my punishment for that person would have been severe -I'm only letting you off the hook due to your past dedication and hard work."
Sheila forced out a smile -not the usual calm or relief smile, but a sad one. "I'm sincerely grateful, Ms. Ciara!" She said as she stood up from her seat, taking a few steps away from the desk and bowed slightly to Ciara. "I think it's time I leave."
Ciara wanted to say something, but she did not trust herself to it, she slowly clamped her mouth and could only watch Sheila exit her office. Ciara felt it wrong letting go of Sheila all of a sudden, even if it's for the main time, but on the other hand, she knows she couldn't withstand her presence.
As long as she's still carrying her uncle's grudges in her, it's better if Sheila stays far away since she also did contribute and made her own mistakes too -each and every one of them who contributed will surely have their cake served hot!
With Sheila involved, Ciara felt she has never had such difficulty making decisions in the past few years. Since Sheila's stay in the company, she has proved herself worthy of her trust and had herself and time dedicated to the company's growth.
Ciara knew she mustn't forget all those hard work of hers, but on the other hand, she can't trust her new self. Her uncle's grudge had grown deep inside her, and it's only better if it wears off soon -if not, she might forever want Sheila to stay very far away from her.
But then to Ciara, it's better than inflicting pains on her as she has done to those serial killers who had themselves called her uncles...
*******
Ciara gestured for Milan to take a seat, and the young woman obeyed, her hands trembling slightly as she sat down in the chair across from her boss -she has faced her boss countless times , but the atmosphere this time was strange and unfathomable.
"I have something important to discuss with you." Ciara began, her voice calm and measured. "As you know, Sheila was recently let go from her position as my secretary -even if it's for the main time, but only time will tell whether she'll get back or not."
Milan nodded, a flash of concern crossing her face. "I understand, ma'am." She replied cautiously, since that's her only thought of response.
"I've decided to offer you her position, at least at this time." Ciara continued, watching Milan's reaction carefully. "I know it's a lot to ask, but I need someone I can trust in this role, and you've always been so reliable and dedicated, just as Sheila proved herself to be."
Milan's eyes widened in surprise, and she hesitated before replying. "I'm flattered, ma'am, but I don't know if I'm qualified for such an important position." She said, her voice shaking slightly. "What about my current responsibilities? I don't want to let anyone down." "I appreciate your concern, Milan." Ciara enunciated with a reassuring smile on her face.
"But I wouldn't offer you this position if I didn't think you were up to the task. And I'll make sure your current responsibilities are covered while you're filling in as my secretary."
Milan hesitated, still unsure. "But what about Ms. Sheila? I feel like I'm betraying her by taking her job." She muttered in a low tone, her gaze fixated on her fingers.
Ciara's expression turned serious. "Sheila made some poor choices, and she may no longer be eligible to be employed here. I need someone who's trustworthy and reliable, and I believe that's you." She told her, her voice laced with authority and doing her best to tame her annoyance.
Milan bit her lip, feeling torn between her loyalty to Sheila and her desire to please her boss -the fact that Sheila has always been good to her made her seem to be in a very tight position at the moment.
But after a long moment and thorough thinking, she finally speaks, realizing the post can't be vacant for long; it'll take a huge toil on her boss. "I'll do it..."She gave in, her voice trembling slightly. "I'll take on the role of your secretary, and I'll do my best to be worthy of your trust."
Ciara's blank face broke into a wide smile. "Thank you, Milan. I know this is a big change, and I appreciate your willingness to take on this challenge. I promise to support you in any way I can." She uttered, though her smile managed to fade within seconds, but her face was still bright.
Ciara took her time to brief Milan on her roles and steps she'll be taking as she fills in the space as the secretary., Milan in return, was sure to listen with rapt attention so as not to miss any details in her words.
"There's one more thing I need to mention." Ciara enounced, her tone growing more serious once again. "You'll be handling some sensitive information in this role, and I need to know that you'll be able to keep it confidential. I'm sure you understand the importance of discretion, but I want to be clear that this is not something to be taken lightly."
"I understand completely." Milan replied, her voice firm. "I know how important it is to keep confidential information private, and I'll do everything in my power to ensure that no information is leaked."
"I appreciate your dedication." Ciara vocalized slowly, a look of relief on her face. "I want to be clear that this isn't just about keeping secrets from the public but also from our competitors. We need to be sure that no one gains an advantage over us by getting their hands on our information."
"I understand." Milan assured her boss, nodding her head. "I'll do everything in my power to keep our information secure."
"Good..."Ciara said, a satisfied smile on her face. She had to insist on her words so as not to give the chance for the same mistake to be made again...