Chapter 46: Humiliation from the Mistress
In the open-plan office of Omni Group's design department, the clatter of keyboards and the low murmur of conversations buzzed annoyingly in Evelyn's ears.
Evelyn walked toward her workspace, the coveted spot by the window with a view of a small patch of sky. But it was not empty.
A strange young woman sat there, excitedly directing an administrative assistant to set up her brand-new monitor. Evelyn's own computer, drawing pad, and little succulent plant were gone.
A feeling of dread seized her heart.
“Evelyn, there you are.” Laura, the design department manager, approached her. “I was just looking for you. The company is restructuring, and your desk... well, it’s been moved slightly.”
Evelyn followed Laura’s gaze. Laura was pointing toward a narrow corner next to the break room. It was formerly a storage area for old files and discarded printers, now forcibly occupied by a creaking, old desk.
The desk was swamped by stacks of abandoned design archives, years of accumulation piled higher than a person. The air reeked of moldy paper and choking dust. It wasn't a workstation; it was a junk heap.
“Those are all the discarded drafts since the company started, nearly three years' worth,” Laura said. Her finger, coated with bright red nail polish, tapped dismissively on the heap, stirring up a cloud of dust. “You need to sort these, categorize them, and create a digital index. Don’t lose anything; some of it is 'very valuable' information.”
A look of undisguised mockery hung on Laura’s face. This was naked humiliation: forcing a once-talented designer to sort through waste paper.
Was this Damian’s decision, or Sienna’s instruction? Evelyn was too weary to care. She said nothing, just walked silently to the desk and began gathering her few personal items.
Just then, the girl sitting at Evelyn’s old spot approached. Dressed in designer brands, flawlessly made up, she radiated undisguised superiority and challenge.
“You must be Evelyn?” The girl sized her up. “I’m Lillian, the new Assistant Designer.”
Laura quickly introduced her. “Lillian is a priority newcomer in our department. She’ll be taking over the ‘Autumn/Winter Collection Auxiliary Design’ project.”
The Autumn/Winter collection was originally Evelyn's project. Now, it had been effortlessly snatched away and handed to this girl, Lillian.
Evelyn looked at the girl. She seemed familiar. Lillian, Sienna’s sister. Everything clicked.
Evelyn remained silent, heading toward the file-clogged corner.
The office was quiet. Everyone's eyes darted between Evelyn and Lillian, filled with a mix of pity, schadenfreude, and indifferent detachment.
Evelyn did not look up. She pulled her sketchpad from a pile of junk and wiped the dust off its cover with her sleeve.
During the lunch break, Evelyn went to the break room to get water. Lillian sauntered in after her. She leaned against the coffee machine, scrutinizing Evelyn.
“Hey, Mrs. Greene. You really can endure. How does it feel to be kicked out of the office and made to work in the trash room?”
Evelyn ignored her, focusing on the stream of water filling her cup.
“My sister was right. Women who only stay home are completely out of touch.” Lillian sneered. “You think you can be a designer? Stop dreaming. Omni Group doesn’t keep deadwood, especially not a discarded wife.”
Discarded wife. The word was like a dagger, slicing precisely into Evelyn’s heart. Her hand, holding the water cup, trembled slightly. A few drops of hot water splashed onto her hand, making her flinch.
She looked up, her gaze icy. “Watch your mouth. You might regret your words.”
“Oh, you dare threaten me? With what? Your husband who no longer loves you? Don’t be stupid. His heart and eyes are only for my sister now.”
Just then, Sienna walked into the design department, wearing a perfectly tailored Chanel suit and cradling a white poodle. All eyes were drawn to her, especially to the dog’s collar. The diamonds set into it glittered harshly under the office lights.
Evelyn’s breath froze. She recognized the diamonds. They were from the “Starlight” bracelet, the one Damian had bought for Sienna at the auction. Now, the expensive jewelry, meant for a woman’s wrist, had been transformed into a dog collar. The irony was devastating.
Sienna walked straight toward Evelyn’s corner, her smile sweet yet malicious. She stopped by the mountain of files, bent down, and set her small dog on the floor.
“Careful, my dear,” she murmured to the poodle, then looked up at Evelyn.
The poodle curiously sniffed the stacks of paper on the floor, then lifted its leg and urinated on the corner of the papers.
Evelyn’s pupils narrowed sharply.
“This is ‘Pearl.’ Isn’t she cute?” Sienna smiled, stroking the dog’s soft fur. “Damian finally agreed to let me bring her to the office. See how much he spoils me.”
She paused, her gaze settling on Evelyn’s frozen face, and her smile deepened. “I remember... didn't you want a dog too? Too bad. Damian always said the house wasn't suitable, that it would bother him. But now that I’m here, he's willing to break all his rules.”
It was true. She had desperately wanted a dog. During her loneliest years, she had mentioned it to Damian countless times, only to be refused again and again.
“The house isn't suitable.”
“I hate dog hair.”
“Pets are too much trouble.”
It wasn't about convenience, hate, or trouble. It was just that Damian cared for Sienna, not her.
Lillian stepped up, playing her part. “Exactly. Some people just don’t have the luck. Not everyone can win the President’s affection. You're so lucky, sis.”