The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven)

Sage stayed quiet for what felt like forever. I could sense something was off with her.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"I'm sorry, Annalise. I'm not good enough," she whispered.noveldrama

"What happened? Did someone give you a hard time?"

There was a hint of hurt in her voice when Sage spoke. "No. Everyone's been doing their best to help me settle into the company. They're worried I won't be able to get the hang of my role, so they've been guiding me, hoping I'll catch on faster.

"But I still can't grasp it even when they break things down to the basics. They saw how stressed I was and wondered if this job was right for me, so they tried shifting me to other tasks. But I still can't handle it."

Her voice softened even more. "And now, you're paying me all this money monthly, and I'm not pulling my weight. Annalise, I feel like I've let you down."

Even though we were on the phone, I could feel the heaviness of her emotions coming through.

"I fully own up to not understanding what you needed from the beginning. I apologize for that. Could you tell me what kind of work you'd find rewarding?" I asked.

I wanted to find her a position she'd truly enjoy. Even if we didn't have the perfect

fit within our company, Huxham Corporation offered a wide range of opportunities, and I was confident we could find something that would work for her.

"Do you have anything that's more hands-on? Or maybe something that doesn't require too much mental effort?" Sage asked.

I didn't need to check with anyone else to offer her such a role.

"Actually, I'm in the process of setting up an amusement park. If you're interested, you could come by and help out," I said.

Sage was so thrilled she nearly jumped out of her seat. "That sounds amazing!"

I smiled. "I'll get in touch once everything's ready." "Deal!"

The thought of never having to endure the daily grind of a job she despised filled Sage with relief. Her colleagues gathered around, curious to find out what was happening.

Sage began by apologizing, admitting that she hadn't been able to grasp the skills they'd worked so hard to teach her. Then, she delivered the news that she'd soon be moving.

Though her colleagues were sad to see her leave, they understood this job wasn't the right fit for her. Alt they could do was wish her the best, hoping she'd find her footing quickly in whatever came next.

Sage felt a twinge of sadness, too, realizing she'd miss them. But she knew she couldn't keep holding the team back. To make it easier, she suggested meeting up every now and then.

It was only then that they reluctantly let her go.

...

Since Sherry left, Yvette had spent endless hours lost in her thoughts, and

suddenly, it hit her all at once—maybe Sherry had been right.

For years, vette had stuck by Gavin like his constant shadow, always following him around, and over time,

Gavin had grown used to her."

presence. He had become so certain she'd never leave. '

But what if she told him she wanted to find a boyfriend, too? Would that be the moment he realized he had feelings for her after all?

Yvette's heart raced, and it took her a while to calm down. She pulled out her phone and called her mother, Grace Burnett.

"Mom."

It had been a long time since Grace had heard from Yvette, and the call caught her off guard. "What's got you reaching out to me?"

A sharp pang of guilt hit Yvette. She realized how much she'd let her parents fade

into the background. Everyone her age had already tied the knot except her.