const request = require('request');

function createRequest() {
  return new Promise(function(resolve, reject) {

    // Setup request
    // ...

    request(options, function(error, response, body) {
      if(!error && response.statusCode == 201) {

        // If the resolve() is done at this point, the then() clause is executed

        uploadFiles(files)
          .then(handles => {
            console.log('handles: ' + handles); // This is printed

            resolve('ok'); // (A) Then clause in call to createRequest is not called
          });
      }
    });
  });
}

function uploadFiles(files) {
  return new Promise(function(resolve, reject) {
    // Upload files
    // ...

    resolve(handles);
  });
}


createRequest()
  .then(message => console.log(message) /* This never executes */);