Elena's reflection in the bathroom mirror looked steady enough, pressed blouse, pencil skirt, neat bun, but her insides quivered. Last night's memories had burned into her like a brand. Damien's hand on her, his kiss against her door, the dangerous way he claimed her. And then her friends, pressing until she cracked, until she admitted everything.
She had whispered it out like a confession: We had sex. And I liked it.
Now she could barely stand the thought of seeing him again. She prayed for invisibility. A quiet day. Just one breath of peace.
"Coffee. Focus," she muttered, stepping into Steel & Cross's gleaming lobby. Her phone was tucked against her ear, Nia's chatter filtering through.
"So when do you two plan to have your first real date?" Nia teased.
"There's no date," Elena hissed.
"Sure, keep lying. I can hear the blush through the phone."
Elena groaned. "Goodbye, Nia." She hung up and sipped her coffee, rounding the corner too fast.
The collision was immediate. Her cup wobbled but didn't spill; the files in Julian's arms scattered across the marble floor.
"God, I'm so sorry," Elena said, crouching down with him to gather them.
Julian grinned, brushing hair from his forehead. "That's twice now you've nearly flattened me."
"It's not funny."
"It's hilarious." He stacked the last file into his arms, then gave her a cheeky look. "Tell you what, buy me lunch to make up for it. No, scratch that, you let me buy you lunch. Call it… an apology in reverse."
Elena blinked. "That doesn't even make sense."
"It does in my head." His grin widened. "So, lunch?"
Elena shook her head, flustered. "You're impossible."
"I'll take that as a maybe."
The air prickled at her back. Sophie's heels clicked softly against the floor as she paused by the corner, phone in hand. Her gaze was razor-sharp, her lips curling into a slow, poisonous smile as she snapped two discreet pictures: Julian leaning in, Elena flushed.
Evidence. Fuel.
By the time Elena sat at her desk, Sophie was gone, but Elena's skin crawled as if she could still feel her watching.
Mercy leaned over her divider, lowering her voice. "Careful. Sophie was staring holes through you when you bumped into Julian."
"It wasn't..." Elena began.
"Doesn't matter. She'll twist it."
Priya, from two desks down, popped up. Warm-eyed and thoughtful, she tucked a braid behind her ear. "Don't let her get in your head. Sophie thrives on fear. If she sees you rattled, she wins."
Elena managed a faint smile. "Thanks."
****************************************************
The boardroom was a world away from the assistants' chatter. The long table gleamed under recessed lights, every chair filled with power. Elena sat off to the side with her notebook, praying no one would notice her.
Damien entered last, tall and composed in a dark suit, storm-gray eyes unreadable. His presence was a weapon, filling the room, silencing the low conversations.
The agenda moved quickly: revenue reports, expansion plans. Then the subject shifted to the company's newest acquisition: a sprawling mineral-rich mine overseas.
A senior board member cleared his throat. "The inspection team must be finalized today. Traditionally, Miss Sophie Langford accompanies Mr. Cross to all foreign site visits."
Sophie straightened, a practiced smile spreading on her face. Her father, Victor Langford, leaned back in his chair, his gold cufflinks catching the light. He had the same sharp jaw as his daughter, the same air of entitlement.
Everyone expected Damien to nod and move on.
Instead, his voice cut through the air. "Not this time. Miss Hart will accompany me."
The room froze.
Heads turned. Whispers spread like smoke. Sophie's smile cracked, color draining from her cheeks.
Victor Langford sat forward sharply. "Excuse me?"
Damien's gaze didn't flicker. "Miss Hart will handle the documentation and reporting."
"She's been here mere weeks," Victor snapped. "She knows nothing of our inspection procedures. You'd replace Sophie, who's been at your side for years, with her?"
"Correct." Damien's tone was flat steel.
"This undermines precedent!" another board member protested carefully. "Miss Langford has always..."
"I don't care about precedent," Damien cut in, his voice low, commanding. "What matters is efficiency. I choose who best serves the company's interests."
"And a new hire serves those interests better than my daughter?" Victor's voice sharpened into fury.
Damien's eyes swept the table, chilling. "Miss Hart brings precision, discipline, and the ability to handle pressure. That is what matters. My decision is final."
The silence was electric, humming with tension.
Sophie's hand clenched around her pen so tightly her knuckles whitened. She forced a brittle smile. "Of course," she said, her voice tight. "If that's what you want."
Her father bristled, his glare promising retribution, but even he didn't dare press Damien further in front of the board.
The agenda resumed, but the shift was palpable. Executives exchanged wary glances, some sympathetic toward Sophie, others curious about Elena.
Elena sat stiffly, pulse hammering. She wanted to sink into the floor. Why me? Why here?
But Damien didn't look at her again. Not once.
The meeting finally ended. Chairs scraped. Papers shuffled. Sophie swept past Elena, her perfume cloying. She leaned close, her whisper slicing through Elena's skin.
"You think this means he trusts you? It doesn't. You're just a distraction. A toy. And toys break."
Her eyes glittered, fury barely contained. "Enjoy your little trip, Elena. Because it will be your last."
Then she stalked out, her father following, his hand pressing briefly to Sophie's shoulder as if steadying her rage.
****************************************************
Back in the assistants' section, the air buzzed. Marcy was the first to corner Elena. "Did that just happen? Did Damien really..."
"Pick you over Sophie?" Lily finished, practically bouncing in her chair. "Oh my God, Sophie's head almost exploded."
Priya shook her head but smiled gently. "It's huge. The entire board just watched Damien Cross choose you over Sophie Langford. That's not nothing."
Aria's voice was cool as ever. "It paints a target on her back. Sophie won't take this quietly."
Mercy leaned close. "But it also shows something else: he trusts you. No one, no one, stands up to Victor Langford like that. And Damien did...for you."
Elena's pulse thudded in her ears. She shook her head quickly. "It doesn't mean anything. It can't."
But Sophie's words lingered like poison: Toys break.
And as Elena sat at her desk, her hands trembling on her keyboard, she realized the truth. She had stepped into the middle of a war, and Sophie Langford had just declared herself the enemy.