bChapter /bb208 /b

    Like the stubborn person she is, she didn’t turn back and run like her head and heart was begging her to do.

    Worse things will happen as long as you’re here… but Mia didn’t listen. She needed this job…. She needs the money.

    She has already started, at least let her get her first sry.

    After spending fifteen minutes in the bathroom trying topose herself and steady her breathing, she was ready to face the day.

    She does what she does best, push everything to the back of her mind and forge ahead.

    She walked into her open office

    The ce was always so quiet in the mornings, too quiet. She was the first person around.

    Her eyes drifted to the stack of files sitting neatly on her desk. The ones her co–workers had dropped for her yesterday with no shame, expecting her to pick up after them again. The papers sat there, untouched.

    Good..

    Mia sighed. Her body already felt drained, even though the day hadn’t started yet.

    Her mind tries to bring him up but she pushes it down forcing herself to think of something else.

    She pulled her chair back, the sound scraping across the floor, she sat down with heaviness in her chest. She brushed her fingers lightly across the desk, sweeping away the trail of dust as if that would make this environment feel better, less suffocating.

    But it didn’t.

    For a moment, she closed her eyes. All she wanted was some quietness in her head.

    Minutes passed before the silence began to break. Voices low at first, then louder as more of her co–workers filed in. The office slowly filled with chatter.

    It wouldn’t be long before Mr. Cruz came storming in, demanding everyone’s previous work.

    Mia leaned down, unlocked her locker, and pulled out her own neatlypleted work. Her fingers lingered on the folder, almost

    protective.

    One by one, her co–workers started to move. They started walking towards her desk to pick up their files. Mia noticed the small details, how they avoided her gaze.

    No greeting. No acknowledgement. Nothing. Just like yesterday.

    Her lips curved into a smirk. She wanted to see what would happen when they realized she had not done their tasks for them this time. She wanted to see the moment it clicked.

    She waited.

    It didn’t take long. The whispers started first. Quiet curses under their breath. Then sharper words that carried across bthe /broom.

    “What the hell?” someone muttered loudly enough for her to hear.

    E

    bfil /b

    insert

    delete

    home

    end

    pg up

    P

    b11:48 /bFr, 22 Aug BOD

    Mia’s heart picked up, but she forced herself to stay calm. She kept her face smooth, her hands folded bneatly /bbon /bbher /bbdesk /bas though she were the picture of innocence. She waited.

    And then it began.

    “Miss Rivers,” one of the guys called out, his voiceced with irritation.

    At least they remembered her name.

    “This file is exactly how I gave them to you yesterday.”

    Mia lifted her eyes slowly, met his re with steady calm. “Correct,” she said simply.

    The audacity in her tone only made the tension scream louder. Another co–worker muttered, “The audacity…i” /itheir words dripping with anger.

    Mia pushed back her chair and stood up, moving slowly, deliberately. She let her gaze sweep across them, her silence pulling their attention like a ma.

    “Why would you not do our jobs for us?” another girl demanded, her voice sharp, eyes narrowed.

    Mia blinked, taking in her face. She really needed to learn their names, she realized.

    This is absurd, these people expected her to ve for them in the name of being the new employee, who the fuck set that rule…

    Her voice came out smooth, steady, with sweetness “Well, I couldn’t. The first day that I did, I ended up not being able to pick my child from school.” She paused, letting the weight of her words settle. “That can’t happen again.”

    She smiled then. Not a warm smile. Not a real one. It was the kind of smile that looked sweet on the surface but didn’t touch her

    eyes

    at all. A mask.

    “I want to close and leave just like everyone else,i” /ishe continued, her voice almost gentle, though her wordsnded like blows. I’ll suggest everyone just focus on the job they are getting paid ifor/i.”

    The fake sweetness in her tone clung to the air.

    Mia watched. She saw their faces tighten, their jaws clench, their eyes narrowing into sharp res. The anger grew. Their hatred was so thick she could feel it piercing into her skin.

    Her heart pounded, but she didn’t flinch. She stayed still, her smile never faltering.

    And then-

    “What’s themotion here?” a voice cut through the tension, sharp andmanding. “Is this an office or a market ce?”

    Everyone froze. Heads turned instantly, the anger on their faces faltering into something else, shock.

    They scramble for excuses..

    Standing there, alive and well, was Esther ckwell.

    It was a nightmare, she knows it was./

    A nightmare she needed to stop.

    bfil /b

    f12

    Insert for $2)

    doloto

    home

    band /b

    bpg /bbup /b

    Pg

    11:48 Fri, 22 Aug 0

    04354

    How? She doesn’t know…

    Their eyes met and all Mia could see was something different, she wasn’t seeing the beautiful lively woman standing in front of her, but the image of her lifeless body lying in a pool of blood.

    She can’t let that happen, she has to warn her…

    “All of you in the sub conference room now!”

    “Miss Rivers?”