Sienna barely had the chance to take in her surroundings before her attention was drawn toward him.
Benjamin Foster was already seated on the sofa, his posture relaxed, one arm resting casually along the armrest as though he had been waiting for quite so ti. There was an effortless confidence in the way he occupied the space, a quiet authority that did not demand attention yet inevitably commanded it.
But it wasn’t his posture that unsettled her.
It was the way he was looking at her.
His gaze was steady, unwavering, and disturbingly intent. A faint smile lingered on his lips. He looked subtle, controlled, yet unmistakably satisfied, as if her presence had confird sothing he had already anticipated.
A quiet alarm stirred within her.
’Why does he look so... pleased?’ she wondered, the thought slipping into her mind before she could stop it.
Benjamin lifted a hand and gestured toward the seat across from him, his movents smooth and unhurried.
"Co in, Sienna. Sit with . There’s sothing I need to tell you."
His tone was warm and carried a gentleness that, under different circumstances, might have been reassuring. But Sienna felt more cautious.
Still, she stepped forward.
"Sir..." she greeted politely, her voice steady as she lowered herself into the seat across from him, careful to maintain a proper distance.
Her posture remained straight, composed. Her hands rested neatly on her lap, every gesture asured and controlled.
Benjamin studied her in silence for a mont, his gaze lingering just long enough to make her aware of it.
"Why are you looking nervous, Sienna?" he asked casually, one brow lifting slightly in mild amusent.
The question caught her off guard.
For the briefest mont, her mind answered with unfiltered honesty.
’Nervous? I’m not nervous. I’m simply sitting across from a man who doesn’t understand the concept of boundaries.’
But of course, that thought never left her mind.
Instead, she offered a small, composed smile.
"Sir, I’m simply curious why you asked to co here so suddenly," she replied, her tone respectful and even.
Only her fingers betrayed her, tightening subtly against the fabric of her skirt.
Benjamin continued to watch her, his expression thoughtful.
Then, slowly, the teasing glint in his eyes faded, replaced by sothing more serious.
"Congratulations, Sienna," he said at last. "You have been promoted to Room Division Manager."
For a mont, ti seed to pause.
Sienna did not move. She simply looked at him, her mind struggling to process what she had just heard.
’Promoted...?’
The word echoed faintly in her thoughts.
’Room Division Manager...?’
She had been aware that the position would soon be vacant after Angie Feliz’s departure. She had even wondered, briefly, who might take over.
But she never considered herself capable of taking over that role.
’Why ?’
The question echoed imdiately in her mind, repeating itself with quiet insistence.
’Why now?’
Her heartbeat began to quicken, not with excitent, but with sothing far more complicated, confusion and suspicion.
And then another thought ford.
’No way! Benjamin... was he the one who recomnded ?’
A chill ran through her, her palms growing cold as her body reacted before her thoughts could fully settle.
Because if that were true, then this promotion was not simply recognition. It was sothing with a price.
Sienna swallowed, her throat suddenly dry as she forced herself to et his gaze again.
Benjamin leaned back against the sofa, entirely at ease, his expression calm and composed. That sa gentle smile remained on his lips, a smile that might have reassured anyone else.
But not her. She recognized it too well. That expression was the sa as the one on the face of the man who had once offered to "support" her career, so long as she agreed to beco his woman.
Sienna shook her head, as if trying to clear away the thoughts crowding her mind.
’Calm down,’ she told herself, forcing her breathing to steady. ’Don’t assu the worst. This could still be legitimate.’
"Sienna."
Benjamin’s voice broke through her thoughts.
"You’re supposed to be surprised," he continued, watching her with quiet amusent. "Perhaps even happy."
She t his gaze.
’Happy...?’
At that mont, happiness felt like the least accurate word to describe what she was feeling.
Before she could respond, he added,
"Why are you looking at like that? You look as if you don’t want this promotion."
Her fingers tightened again, gripping her skirt more firmly beneath the table. But her face remained calm.
"Sir," she began carefully, her voice steady despite the tension tightening in her chest, "may I confirm... is this an official decision from managent?"
The question was simple.
But the weight behind it was not.
Benjamin let out a soft chuckle, leaning back slightly as if amused by her caution.
"Why would you question that?" he replied, a faint smile returning to his lips. "Of course it’s official."
He glanced briefly at the watch on his wrist.
"I believe the announcent has already been published on the company’s official website."
Sienna remained silent for a mont, but doubt flashed in her gaze.
"You may verify it yourself," he added calmly.
Without hesitation, she reached for her phone. Her fingers moved quickly across the screen, her actions almost instinctive.
It didn’t take long for her to find the announcent. She saw her na and the position, as Benjamin had told her.
’It’s real...’
A warmth spread through her chest, unexpected and overwhelming.
Oh my god! I’ve really been promoted...’
For a fleeting second, genuine happiness surfaced in her heart.
’I’m replacing Angie...’
’Thank God...’
But she did not allow it to show fully.
Outwardly, she remained composed, her expression softening only slightly.
Benjamin observed her closely.
"Now you believe ," he said, his tone gentle.
She nodded faintly.
"Thank you, sir..." she replied sincerely.
And yet, the unease did not disappear.
Because instead of acknowledging her gratitude, Benjamin laughed.
The sound was low, controlled, but it lingered in the space between them.
"Oh, please," he said, his voice calm, almost casual. "Don’t thank with words, Sienna."
A pause.
"You should show it."
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