chapter 7
The office buzzed with its usual morning rhythm: phones ringing, keyboards clicking, and murmured conversations floating through the air. Yet, as Rita stepped into the building, it was as if time itself hesitated to catch its breath.
Dressed impeccably in a bold red dress that radiated confidence, Rita strode past the rows of desks with a radiant smile on her lips. She exuded an air of triumph, a stark contrast to the defeated figure some had expected after the previous night's ordeal. Heads turned as she made her way to her desk, her poise unshaken by the whispers that rippled through the office.
Margaret, seated near the corner office, froze mid-sentence when her eyes landed on Rita. The blood drained from her face, leaving her with a pale, almost ghostly complexion. She had been certain that the events of the previous night would leave Rita broken, disheveled, or better yet—missing entirely. How could she possibly be standing here, grinning as if nothing had happened?
Rita's eyes locked onto Margaret's, and for a fleeting moment, their gazes collided like lightning against steel. The corners of Margaret’s mouth twitched in an attempt to suppress her growing discomfort. She quickly turned her attention back to her computer screen, pretending to be engrossed in work. But the sweat forming on her brow betrayed her.
Rita didn’t stop at her desk. Her heels echoed through the room like a war drum as she changed course, heading straight for Margaret. The energy in the office shifted, and an almost tangible tension settled over the air. Employees exchanged nervous glances, unsure whether to lean in closer or retreat into their cubicles.
“Good morning, Margaret,” Rita greeted, her voice as sweet as honey yet sharp as glass. She leaned against the edge of Margaret’s desk, her smile never faltering.
Margaret looked up, feigning calmness. “Rita,” she said, her tone clipped. “You’re…early today.”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” Rita replied, tilting her head slightly. “After all, I wouldn’t want to disappoint the team by not showing up. I’m sure my absence would have delighted some, though—maybe even you?”
Margaret straightened in her chair, her fingers gripping her pen tightly. “I don’t know what you mean,” she said, forcing a tight-lipped smile.
Rita’s expression didn’t waver, but her eyes burned with an intensity that sent shivers down Margaret’s spine. “Oh, come now, Margaret,” Rita said lightly. “There’s no need to play coy. I was just curious if you were disappointed…disappointed that I didn’t die in there last night.”
The room fell deathly silent. Every pair of eyes was now glued to the unfolding scene. Rita’s words cut through the air like a dagger, their weight impossible to ignore. Margaret’s facade cracked, her mask of composure giving way to panic. Her knuckles turned white as she clutched her pen, unable to meet Rita’s unrelenting gaze.
“I…I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Margaret stammered, her voice lacking the confidence it usually carried. “If you’re implying something, perhaps you should think twice before making baseless accusations.”
Rita let out a soft chuckle, the sound sending chills down the spines of those watching. “Baseless accusations? Oh, Margaret, you misunderstand me. I’m not implying anything. I’m simply asking a question. But if you’d like me to clarify, we could always watch the surveillance footage together—after all, the cameras tell quite an interesting story.”
Margaret’s eyes widened, her carefully constructed armor of lies crumbling under the weight of Rita’s words. Her breath hitched as the reality of the situation dawned on her. The surveillance footage. She hadn’t accounted for it.
“You’re bluffing,” Margaret hissed, her voice low and desperate.
Rita leaned in closer, her tone remaining calm but lethal. “Am I? Why don’t we find out? Oh, and Margaret,” she added, her voice dropping to a whisper that only the two of them could hear, “you might want to start packing your things. I doubt you’ll be needing that desk much longer.”
Without waiting for a response, Rita straightened and turned on her heel, her smile never wavering as she walked back to her desk. The tension in the office lingered, but there was a newfound spark of admiration in the eyes of those who watched her. Rita had proven once again that she was not someone to be underestimated.
Margaret sat frozen at her desk, her heart pounding as her mind raced. The realization that her schemes had been exposed left her paralyzed with fear. She knew this wasn’t over—not by a long shot.
Rita, however, had already moved on to her next task. With every click of her keyboard, she reaffirmed her resolve. She wasn’t just here to survive—she was here to thrive. And anyone who dared to stand in her way would learn the hard way just how unstoppable she truly was.
The office was abuzz with chatter, the kind that thrived in hushed tones and sly glances. Phones vibrated with notifications as employees shared the latest scandal circulating in the company’s private groups. The image was striking: Rita stepping out of a sleek, expensive car, her posture elegant and composed, while a butler held the door open for her. The caption beneath the photo read: “Our secretary or a secret sugar baby? You decide.”
The whispers began almost immediately, spreading like wildfire through the office. Groups of employees huddled together, their voices low but their laughter unmistakable.
“She’s probably using her father’s name to get favors,” one woman sneered, her tone dripping with envy. “Or maybe she’s got some rich boyfriend funding her lifestyle.”
“Rich boyfriend? More like a string of them,” another chimed in, her smirk widening. “You don’t get that kind of treatment without some serious connections—or compromises.”
A man leaned back in his chair, chuckling. “I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s climbing the corporate ladder in more ways than one. You know how these spoiled types are.”
The gossip grew louder, emboldened by the anonymity of their group chats. Rita, oblivious to the storm brewing around her, entered the office with her usual grace, her head held high. She greeted her colleagues with a polite smile, unaware of the judgmental eyes following her every move.