Chapter 25

Chapter 25
Amelia gathered the last of the files from the table, stacking them neatly. She had been careful, working diligently for the past few weeks. This job was new, and she wasn’t going to let anything jeopardize it. Not even Morgan.

“You think you’re better than me, don’t you?” Morgan’s voice was sharp, laced with something close to amusement but edged with hostility.

Amelia barely glanced at her. "I'm just doing my job, I suppose."

Morgan snorted, leaning back against the desk, arms crossed. "You're too proud, you know that?"

Amelia sighed. She didn't have time for this. She stacked the last file and turned towards the door. "I have work to do."

The moment she moved to walk away, a cruel tug on her scalp jerked her back. Pain was immediate, her head jerking backward as files clattered to the floor.

Amelia's breath hitched, but she clenched her fists, making herself not panic. This was her first month. She couldn't afford a scene.

Morgan sneered. "Where do you think you're going?"

Amelia swallowed her anger and knelt, picking up the files one by one. She could feel Morgan standing over her, watching, taunting.

“You’re not even going to say anything?” Morgan mocked. “How boring.”

Amelia remained silent, focusing on the papers. Just breathe. Just get through this.

Morgan let out an irritated huff. “So, you’re just going to ignore me now?”

Amelia had not a chance to respond before a second tug, this one more forceful, pulled her up by the hair. This time her scalp tingled from the stress.

Her patience ran out.

In a swift motion, Amelia shoved Morgan back—not forcefully, just enough to put a space between them.

Morgan staggered but didn't fall. Her eyes widened, then constricted with calculated mischief.

And then, just as Amelia was about to pick up the remaining files, the door opened.

Dominic stepped in.

Morgan was the first to see him. In a split second, she reeled backward theatrically, arms flailing before she gasped and fell to the floor as if she'd been pushed across the room.

Amelia stiffened, her heart sinking.

Dominic's gaze swept over the scene, his expression unchanging.

Morgan clutched her arm and whined. "She—she pushed me!"

Amelia exhaled sharply, her back stiffening. "I hardly touched her."

Morgan let out a dramatic sniffle, her head shaking. "She lost her temper! I was merely trying to talk to her."

Dominic's eyes darted back and forth between them. He was silent for a moment, and the piercing quality of his stare made Amelia's skin squirm.

"Amelia?" His voice was soft but commanding.

Amelia met his gaze, not flinching. "She pulled my hair. Twice."

Morgan's gasp was one of feigned surprise. "That's not true! Why would I do that?"

Dominic exhaled, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Enough."

Amelia tightened her grip on the files. This was ridiculous.

"Was anyone else witness to this?" Dominic scanned the room.

Silence.

Morgan sniffled again. "I—I just don't know why she's so aggressive. I was just trying to be nice. "

Amelia let out a humorless laugh. "Nice?"

Dominic's stern look silenced her.

"We'll discuss this in my office. Both of you." His tone allowed no dissent.

Morgan gave Amelia a victorious look as she stood up and had the blouse straightened.

So Amelia swallowed her frustration, no way she was going to lose her job over this.

She followed Dominic out, taking a deep breath.

She would not allow Morgan to win.

\---

Towards the office, the walk was tense. Amelia kept her shoulders straight and her face down, Morgan following her carefully as if she wanted to make sure she continued her fine routine, Dominic in front of them as if a steel wall was keeping them apart.

Inside Dominic shut the door and propped himself up against his desk, arms folded. His face was still opaque, but Amelia knew he was thinking, assessing.

"Sit," he ordered.

Morgan self-righteously leaped back into the chair in a soft fragile manner, her hand still resting at the top of her arm as if it were in a cast. Amelia took a moment and sat back straight.

Dominic's gaze bounced between them. "Someone explain."

Morgan dived in without a second thought: "I was just giving her advice, but Amelia has always been mean to me, since the day she came here. Today I was giving advice, and she just... "she took a huge deep breath, " lost it. She pushed me, Dominic. I almost caught myself. "

Amelia clenched her fists to the desk. "That 's not what happened. "

Dominic turned to her. "Then tell me what did."

"She 's been mean to me since the beginning, " Amelia whispered. "Today she actually pulled my hair. Twice. I just ignored her, but when she pulled it again for the third time I just picked her up lightly. She pulled the other one when you came in. "

Morgan gasped. "I would never—"

"Enough, " Dominic said, then shook his head, closing the door on them. "I can't talk anymore, Morgan, " he sighed. "If you were really wanting to be 'friendly, ' why was there any physical contact at all?"

Morgan pulled back, but looked surprisingly calm. "I -- I got it wrong. I was not trying to get it right --"

Dominic's eyes turned hard. "Amelia is new here. I expect professionalism from all staff. If there are personal issues, they don't belong in this office."

Morgan's mouth opened, then shut, clearly surprised at his own lack of instant defense.

"As for today," Dominic continued, "I will have no further incidents. From either of you." His voice was stern.

Amelia's jaw tightened, but she nodded. Morgan hesitated, then nodded as well.

"Dismissed," Dominic said.

Morgan was out of the chair in a flash, casting Amelia a glare as she exited the office. Amelia stood more slowly, her heart still calm but her mind spinning.

She had a feeling this wasn't finished. Not by a long shot.