After Betrayal, the CEO Found New Love
Chapter 2
Business is business, and personal matters should stay separate. Kaleb Gray had emphasized this countless times. Despite being in a romantic relationship, at work, they had to act like mere acquaintances. Even though they lived together, they couldn't leave or arrive at work side by side.
Janelle Thomas often complained about this. Dating wasn’t a crime, so why couldn't they be open about it? However, Kaleb insisted that he didn't want their personal lives interfering with their professional ones. Moreover, if their relationship went public, Janelle would face more gossip than he would. At the time, Janelle appreciated his reasoning, thinking it was his way of protecting her.
That perspective shifted with the arrival of Cataleya Myers. On her first day at the company, Kaleb personally helped her complete her onboarding paperwork. Known for being strict and impersonal with employees, Kaleb's presence in the HR office raised eyebrows. Cataleya, a charming young woman, boldly called him "Kaleb" in front of everyone.
A colleague nudged Janelle discreetly, suggesting that this new girl must have connections, since even Kaleb personally vouched for her. Janelle dismissed the idea. No one knew better than Janelle how Kaleb kept personal and professional matters separate. He never allowed her to use his name at work or even travel in the same car to and from the office.
Kaleb always maintained that business should be conducted professionally, and relationships had no place in the workplace. Even when shareholders and the board pushed to introduce connected individuals into the company, Kaleb remained firm. His stance was clear: if they were not qualified, they should leave.
Janelle fully expected Kaleb to reprimand Cataleya, but instead, he sighed and said, "This is the office. Don't mess around." He then personally introduced her to each department. "This is Cataleya Myers. She's the sister of a family friend, here for an internship fresh out of college. Please show her the ropes," he announced sincerely.
Oddly, Janelle couldn't quite recall how she spent the rest of that day or the exact words exchanged in her argument with Kaleb. However, his earnest expression when he asked everyone to "please show her the ropes" was etched into her mind. That day marked not only her first encounter with Cataleya but also her realization: Kaleb's principle of separating personal from professional matters had exceptions.
Kaleb had a long list of rules for Janelle to follow, yet it became clear that Cataleya was exempt from those constraints. She existed beyond the boundaries of Kaleb's regulations.
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