Bitcoin Billionaire: I Regressed to Invest in the First Bitcoin!-Chapter 331: Good to be Back

The doors of the executive elevator which had been specially customized with gold opened after the ding.

Darren and Rachel stepped out, then Beth followed. She was a little nervous as it was her first time up here on the executive floor.

She couldn’t believe how quiet it was. All that chaotic noise of the lower levels had just disappeared. What was left was this thick, intimidating silence.

Beth walked a few paces behind Darren and Rachel, her sensible heels clicking as her mind raced out of her own control.

Why am I here? She thought, staring at the backs of the boss and his secretary. Did I log a visitor wrong? Is he mad about something I said? I’m just a receptionist.

They reached the grand doors at the end of the hall and Darren pushed them open, revealing his office, which was basically all windows, the whole city spread out below like a painting.

Darren walked straight in, and the moment he crossed the threshold he stopped being the public-facing billionaire and just became a guy in his own space.

He let out this tired exhale, reached up and shrugged off his Tom Ford blazer, tossing it over the back of a leather chair like he didn’t care where it landed.

Beneath the jacket, his dress shirt was tight across his shoulders, the fabric stretching over his back muscles in a way that was hard not to notice.

By the door, both women blinked. Beth felt her breath catch, and even Rachel—who was usually a machine—let her eyes linger for half a second before she looked away and cleared her throat.

Darren rolled up his sleeves like he hadn’t noticed either of them reacting, then sat down behind his massive desk and gestured to one of the guest chairs.

"Sit down, Beth."

Beth scurried forward and perched on the edge of the seat like she was ready to bolt at any second. Rachel took her usual spot beside the desk.

"So," Darren said, leaning back, his dark eyes studying her. "How long have you been working here at Steele Investments?"

"Thr-Three months, sir," Beth stammered, her voice tiny.

"And your qualifications? What did you do before sitting at my front desk?"

Beth swallowed hard and tried to sound professional even though her stomach was in knots.

"I graduated last year with a degree in Communications, sir. I worked a few admin jobs at smaller firms to help pay off my student loans, but Steele Investments was my first major corporate position. I... I really love working here."

Darren nodded slowly, his expression plain. "You were on shift this past weekend. When me and the other main employees weren’t around."

Beth nodded, heart pounding loud inside of her. This is it. He’s going to fire me.

"Tell me exactly what happened with Mr. Caldwell and the two agents," Darren said. "Leave nothing out."

Beth took a shaky breath. "Well, sir, a man and a woman came in. They said they were from Morris & The Scottish Capital. They wanted to buy stocks. I told them you were away, the executives were out, and that company policy strictly forbade those kinds of negotiations without appointments."

She gripped the armrests, her nervousness spilling. "They got pushy. I was actually reaching for the phone to call security when Mr. Caldwell walked in. He... he overruled me, sir. He invited them up to the meeting room. I knew I wasn’t supposed to argue with a major sponsor, but it felt wrong. It smelled like a setup."

"So what did you do?" Darren asked softly.

"I waited until they got in the elevator," Beth admitted, her voice trembling because she was terrified she was confessing to something bad. "And then I called Ms. Baker. I knew she’d know what to do."

Darren sat in silence, just looking at her.

Internally, his mind was turning. The business world was full of wolves like Caldwell and snakes like Scotland. But true, unprompted loyalty? Someone willing to risk her own low-level job to protect the company? That was rare in the business.

’I need more people like her. With that kind of loyalty, you can build an empire that doesn’t crumble.’

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk, his hands clasped together.

"Beth," he said smoothly. "I want you to leave your position in the reception office."

Beth’s heart immediately plummeted into her stomach. Her worst fears were realized. He thought she was responsible. He thought she should have tackled Caldwell.

’He’s firing me.’

Even Rachel looked confused. She turned her head sharply toward Darren, her eyes widening, and she opened her mouth to speak, maybe to defend the girl, but Darren raised a finger and silenced her.

"Oh," Beth stammered, a single tear threatening to spill. "O-okay, sir. I understand. I’ll go pack my things."

Darren looked up at her. "Good. Because I want to offer you the position of my Assistant."

Beth froze. She stopped mid-rise from her chair, her brain short-circuiting as it tried to process the words. "Wh... what?"

The shock on her face was absolute, followed immediately by this dizzying wave of relief.

"You’re not fired, Beth," Darren said with a warm voice. "You did exactly what you were supposed to do. In fact, you did more. You protected this company when the people paid millions to do so tried to sell it out. You’re being promoted."

Beth fell back into her chair, dumbfounded, her mouth slightly open.

Darren gestured to his side. "Rachel is my Secretary and Chief of Staff. Her duties have expanded. She handles my high-level executives, coordinates the board, and manages the macro-logistics of the company. It’s too much for one person. I’m freeing her of the day-to-day duties."

Rachel smiled.

He looked directly into Beth’s eyes. "You will be my personal Assistant. You will manage my immediate schedule, handle my personal logistics, and serve as the direct gatekeeper to this office. You will work closely under Rachel, and you will answer directly to her. Do you understand the difference?"

"I... yes! Yes, sir!" Beth beamed, the tears finally spilling over, but this time from sheer joy.

"Do you accept?"

"Absolutely, Mr. Steele! Thank you! Thank you so much!"

"Good," Darren said, opening a leather-bound ledger on his desk. "Go clean out your desk downstairs. Then meet Rachel. She’ll set you up with your new mini-office just outside these doors and get you started on your clearances."

Beth practically leaped from the chair. She bowed her head deeply, wiping her eyes. "I’m on it right away, sir. You won’t regret this!"

She hurried out of the office, closing the heavy oak doors behind her with a soft click.

The room fell into a comfortable silence. Darren continued flipping through his ledger.

Rachel remained standing by the desk. She didn’t say a word, but she was beaming at him, this rare, radiant smile lighting up her usually stern face.

Darren caught the look from the corner of his eye. He paused. "What?"

"I know what you’re doing," Rachel joked, admiration in her feminine voice. "The lawsuits filed this morning... and now this promotion. You’re making a point. You are actively rewarding those who stuck their necks out for you, and severely punishing those who betrayed you."

Darren smiled, gently closing his book. He leaned back, looking up at his fiercely loyal Secretary.

"Well," Darren said, sighing as he rested his back on his chair. "I’m always an open book with you around, aren’t I, Rachel?"

Rachel’s smile widened. Looking at him—seeing the brilliant, unyielding leader who she had put her faith in front the very beginning—her heart filled with this profound sense of renewal.

After the stress of the weekend, it felt like the sun was finally rising on a new era for Steele Investments.

"Welcome back, sir," she said softly.

Darren looked at her and a smile formed on his face as well, the weight of the coming battles resting easily on his broad shoulders.

"Good to be back, Rachel."