CHAPTER 100: CHAPTER 100 A CAREER DECISION

Caroline’s POV

"Hey Elle, Joseph wanted to see me. What’s up?" I asked, stepping into Eleanor’s office. Rory perked up inside me.

"No idea, Carrie." Eleanor stood, smoothing her skirt. "Let me tell him you’re here."

She went to our boss’s office and came back, waving me in. I fixed my blouse nervously.

"Caroline!" Joseph greeted warmly as I entered his sunlit office. "First, I’m so happy you and Draven worked things out."

I smiled at the mention of Draven. "Thanks, Joseph. I hope he doesn’t mess up again."

"If he does, I’ll deal with him myself," Joseph said protectively.

"Just like you did this time, spying on us and telling him everything," Eleanor teased from her chair.

"Elle, he’s been my friend since we were pups," Joseph laughed. "But Caroline, you can always count on me."

"I appreciate that." And I meant it. He’d helped me when I needed a job and support during my problems with Draven.

Joseph leaned forward. "Which brings me to my next point. You’ve been amazing here. Quick, smart, great with clients. Hiring you was one of my best decisions."

The praise felt good, but I sensed more coming. "Thank you, but what are you trying to say?"

"Caroline," Joseph began carefully, "we both know this position isn’t aligned with your professional background, even though you excel at it. Being Draven’s executive assistant at Thorne Enterprises was a prestigious role with considerable influence. I can’t offer you anything comparable here."

My stomach tightened. "Draven wants me back, doesn’t he?"

Joseph nodded. "He called me this morning. As someone who cares about your future, I have to acknowledge it’s a superior position in your field. The role of CEO’s assistant at Thorne offers excellent compensation, growth potential, and significant respect."

Draven really is a stubborn Alpha, he just won’t give up. I already told him I wouldn’t go back to being his assistant. He actually called my boss about it, which makes me both angry and amused.

"I know that, but I truly enjoy working here," I said honestly.

"And we love having you," Joseph assured me quickly. "I’m not pushing you out the door. But I want you to feel free to make the best choice for yourself without any obligation to me. If returning to Thorne Enterprises is what you want, I’ll support that decision completely. You wouldn’t be leaving me in the lurch."

I fidgeted with the edge of my sleeve. "Joseph, I appreciate your honesty. You gave me tremendous support when I needed it most, and I’d never take that lightly. The position at Thorne Enterprises is better professionally, but..." I trailed off, uncertain how to express my reservations.

"Let me ease one concern," Joseph offered gently. "If you decide to go back and it doesn’t work out, my door will always be open for you. No questions asked."

Relief washed through me. "Thank you. That means more than you know."

"Caroline, there’s no pressure here. Take all the time you need to decide. I just want you to know you have my full support whatever path you choose."

I smiled gratefully as our meeting concluded. Eleanor followed me out of Joseph’s office, and we headed to the break room for coffee.

"Joseph is pretty amazing, isn’t he?" Eleanor remarked, pouring us both steaming cups.

"He really is. What he’s doing for me, giving me this freedom of choice, is incredibly generous."

Eleanor stirred cream into her coffee thoughtfully. "So, are you going back to Thorne Enterprises?"

"I honestly don’t know," I sighed, leaning against the counter. "What do you think, Elle?"

"I think Joseph is right about the professional side. Working directly under Draven would really help your career." She paused, watching me. "But this isn’t just about career advancement, is it? You’ve talked about wanting your own success story."

Her words hit home. I had shared those dreams with her, wanting to build something meaningful, not just support someone else’s success. Even if that someone was my mate.

"You know me too well," I admitted. "Part of me wants to go back because I’d be with Draven every day, but another part worries I’d just be falling back into old patterns instead of growing."

Eleanor nodded understanding. "And do you want my guess about where you’ll be happiest?"

"You have a theory?"

"I do," she smiled mysteriously, "but I won’t share it. This decision needs to be yours alone, Carrie. I’ll support whatever you choose."

We talked a while longer before returning to work. As I worked on a client proposal, I felt better about the decision ahead. At least I had options, and friends who would support me either way.

Later that afternoon, a commotion caught my attention. I looked up to see Ruby hurrying to reception with an unusually bright smile.