The hum of the office returned as everyone drifted back from the meeting. Papers shuffled, keyboards clicked, phones rang softly. Elena slid into her chair, still clutching her notepad like a shield.
Marcy leaned over with a reassuring smile. "You did fine. Don't let Sophie's claws get to you."
"Fine?" Elena muttered. "She practically accused me of sabotaging Julian's reports in front of everyone."
"Which everyone saw through," Marcy reminded her gently. "Trust me, people notice the difference between Sophie's games and actual mistakes. You handled it. That's what matters."
From across the aisle, Lily grinned. "Handled it and stole Sophie's thunder. Did you see her face when Mr. Kline gave you the assignment? Priceless."
Elena's cheeks warmed. "I didn't steal anything. Marcy volunteered me."
Marcy smirked, unrepentant. "And I'd do it again. You need to prove you can stand your ground. This was the perfect chance."
Priya adjusted her glasses, her tone even. "Mr. Kline respects efficiency. As long as you deliver, you'll be fine. Just don't pull an all-nighter."
"Speak for yourself," Lily piped in. "I once stayed up till three color-coding charts for him. He didn't even look at the colors."
Aria's dry voice floated over. "That's because you used pink and purple on a financial spreadsheet."
"Excuse me, those were aesthetic choices," Lily said indignantly, making Priya chuckle under her breath.
Elena laughed softly, the tension in her chest loosening. For the first time, she felt a strange warmth threading through the office noise, support, even friendship.
*****************************************************
The hours ticked by as Elena threw herself into her assignment. She spread Julian's Shanghai files across her desk, arranging them in neat stacks. Every few minutes, she cross-referenced dates, checked time zones, and color-coded shifts in the calendar.
Her hand cramped, her eyes burned, but a strange determination drove her on. She wanted to prove she could do it, not for Sophie, not even for Mr. Kline, but for herself.
Mid-afternoon, Marcy appeared at her desk with two cups of tea.
"You looked like you were about to fall into the papers," she said, setting one down.
Elena smiled gratefully. "You're a lifesaver."
"Don't thank me yet. It's office tea." Marcy wrinkled her nose. "Tastes like boiled cardboard."
Elena laughed, taking a cautious sip. She coughed, grimacing. "Oh God. You weren't kidding."
Lily popped her head over the divider. "That's why I smuggle in my own coffee pods. Priya calls it cheating, but I call it survival."
Priya didn't even look up from her screen. "Cheating."
Aria murmured, "Resourceful."
Elena chuckled, shaking her head. "You all sound like you've been through war together."
"Steel & Cross is a battlefield," Marcy said solemnly. "We're just the survivors."
Around three, Sophie strutted past, her heels tapping sharp against the floor. She paused at Elena's desk, glancing at the spread of files.
"Busy?" she asked, her tone dripping with false sweetness.
Elena kept her voice even. "Just organizing the Shanghai schedule for Mr. Kline."
Sophie's smile tightened. "Well, don't make mistakes. Those time zones can be… tricky. I'd hate for Mr. Kline to think you can't handle something simple."
Her eyes flicked to the messy pile of sticky notes and highlighters, her scowl faint but cutting, before she swept away.
Elena let out a slow breath.
"Don't mind her," Marcy murmured, typing briskly beside her. "She's just mad she didn't get the assignment."
"Understatement," Lily whispered loudly.
Elena bit back a smile.
*****************************************************
The last hours of the afternoon blurred into quiet concentration. Elena typed, checked, and rechecked until the calendar glowed on her screen: neat, color-coded, efficient. Her chest swelled with a flicker of pride.
At five-thirty, she leaned back, stretching her aching shoulders. She had a draft ready, polished enough to show Mr. Kline in the morning.
Lily clapped softly from across the aisle. "Survived day three. How do you feel?"
"Like I just ran a marathon," Elena admitted.
"Welcome to Steel & Cross," Aria said, slipping her blazer on.
Priya closed her laptop. "Don't forget to actually go home. Burnout is Sophie's favorite weapon. Don't hand it to her."
Marcy gave Elena's arm a gentle pat. "See you tomorrow. And good work today."
Elena smiled, warmth filling her chest. "Thanks. Really."
She packed her bag slowly, savoring the small victory of surviving another day. As she walked toward the elevators, her phone buzzed.
Her breath caught.
UnknownNumber:You're working hard, sweetheart. I like that.
Her pulse skipped. She swallowed hard, glancing around the emptying office.
The phone buzzed again before she could lock it.
But don't think distance means I'm not watching.
A shiver raced down her spine. She shoved the phone into her bag, stepping quickly into the elevator.
As the doors slid shut, she pressed her back against the wall, her chest heaving.
Damien Cross wasn't here. He was halfway across the world.
And yet somehow, he was closer than ever.
*******************************************************
The elevator hummed softly as it carried Elena down to the lobby. She clutched her bag tightly, Damien's last words still burning on her phone screen.
Working hard, sweatheart. I like that.
Her pulse thudded. She knew she shouldn't respond. She knew she should block the number, pretend it never existed. But her body betrayed her, the memory of his voice threading through her thoughts like smoke.
The doors slid open. She forced herself to walk quickly, head down, out into the cool evening air. The plaza buzzed with the shuffle of commuters, but she barely noticed, slipping into the first cab she could find.
By the time she unlocked her apartment door, the weight of the day finally hit her. Her shoulders sagged, her feet ached, and her head buzzed with too many thoughts.
"Finally!" Tessa's voice rang out the moment she stepped inside.
Elena froze. Her friends were sprawled across her couch again, Nia with a bowl of popcorn, Tessa flipping through a magazine like she owned the place.
"You two have keys, don't you?" Elena asked wearily, dropping her bag.
"Yes," Tessa said cheerfully. "Because you'd starve and die of boredom without us."
Nia tossed a piece of popcorn at her. "Third day. Spill."
Elena groaned, kicking off her heels. "Nothing to spill. Just… exhausting."
"Liar," Tessa sing-songed. "You've got that look."
"What look?" Elena muttered, sinking into the armchair.
"The look of someone who had a dramatic day and doesn't want to admit it," Nia said knowingly.
Elena sighed. "Fine. Sophie tried to humiliate me in front of everyone during the meeting."
Both her friends sat up straighter instantly.
"That witch," Tessa snapped. "What did she do?"
"Hinted I messed up Julian's files this morning. Made it sound like I was incompetent." Elena rubbed her temples. "But I kept it together. And Mr. Kline gave me a task. I did it."
Nia grinned, clapping her hands. "That's my girl. Survived Sophie and impressed the boss."
"It's not that simple," Elena said quietly. "She's not going to stop. I can feel it."
Tessa scoffed. "Then fight back. Don't let her walk all over you."
"I don't even know how," Elena admitted, her voice small.
Nia leaned forward, her tone firm. "By doing what you did today. Show her she can't rattle you. She thrives on fear, El. Don't feed her."
Elena let out a shaky laugh. "Easier said than done."
****************************************************
They ordered takeout, again, and sprawled around the coffee table as the city lights glittered outside the windows. Tessa ranted dramatically about Sophie ("She sounds like a cartoon villain"), while Nia analyzed every move like a strategist.
"Marcy sounds like a real ally," Nia mused, popping a fry into her mouth. "Stick close to her. Build your circle."
"And the others, Lily, Priya, Aria, they don't hate me," Elena admitted. "They even defended me a little."
"See?" Tessa said, gesturing with her chopsticks. "You've already got backup. Sophie's just one person. You'll outsmart her."
Elena smiled faintly. For the first time, she let herself feel a flicker of hope. Maybe she could survive this place. Maybe she wasn't as alone as she thought.
Later, long after Tessa had dozed off under a blanket and Nia scrolled absently through her phone, Elena slipped into her room. She changed into pajamas, washed her face, and sank onto her bed with a sigh.
Her phone buzzed on the nightstand. Her heart lurched before she even picked it up.
Unknown Number: Sweet dreams, Elena. Don't forget whose name you moaned.
Her breath caught. Heat rose in her cheeks, shame and longing colliding in her chest. She set the phone face down, burying her face in her pillow.
She should hate him for the control he had over her thoughts. She should delete the messages, block him, shut it all out.
But her hand trembled, her body ached, and deep down, she knew the truth, Damien Cross didn't need to be in the office to own her nights.
And tomorrow, when he returned… she would have no place left to hide.