Chapter 106 Cracks Beneath the Calm

Chapter 106 Cracks Beneath the Calm
Maureen’s POV
~continuation~

The following week, I dragged myself to work as though my feet were weighed down by stones. Every step felt forced, every breath heavy. I did not feel like going in at all, but I had a job to do, didn’t I? Responsibility did not care about heartbreak.

By the time I arrived at the office building, the sadness was written plainly across my face, carved into my expression like an open wound. My shoulders sagged, my eyes were dull, and even the way I held my handbag lacked its usual purpose.

As I walked past familiar desks, I noticed my colleagues pausing, glancing up at me, their whispers following me like shadows. Lips moved behind cupped hands. I caught fragments of their murmurs as I passed by.

“Did her man break up with her?”

“Yes,” I muttered under my breath, the word slipping out before I could stop it. I lowered my head and quickened my steps, my heels clicking sharply against the floor as I hurried into my office, shutting the door behind me with more force than necessary.

I had barely settled into my chair, my fingers just brushing the stack of files on my desk, when the door flew open with a loud bang. Alexa barged in without knocking, just as she always did. Her sudden entrance made me flinch, my shoulders tensing instantly.

“What the hell?” I snapped, shooting to my feet. My hands curled into fists at my sides. “Don’t you have manners? You should really learn how to knock. You don’t just barge into people’s offices like that.”

She squealed dramatically, her nose wrinkling as her eyes dripped with disgust. She scanned the room exaggeratedly, her gaze darting to every corner. “Is this what you call an office?” she asked, her lips curling as she looked around as though the place offended her.

I opened my mouth, ready to lash out with words sharp enough to cut, but anger surged through me so intensely that I forced myself to stop. I inhaled deeply, pressing my lips together until they formed a thin line.

“By the way,” I said stiffly, sitting back down and fixing my attention on the files before me, “why did you call me on Sunday?”

She scoffed loudly. “I don’t even have your contact saved on my phone.”

I did not reply. I had not expected a reasonable answer anyway, and unsurprisingly, she had nothing sensible to add. Silence stretched between us, thick and uncomfortable. She remained standing right in front of my desk, and I could feel the weight of her stare burning into my face. Slowly, I lifted my head. Just as I parted my lips to speak, she cut me off.

“So…” she drawled theatrically, dragging the word out as her eyes travelled from the crown of my head down to the soles of my shoes. “I heard our little Miss ‘I’m engaged to a billionaire’ is sad.” Her voice dripped with sarcasm.

I ignored her, focusing harder on the papers in my hands, even though the words on the page blurred together.

She stepped closer, planting both hands firmly on my desk and leaning forward. “Oh, poor little thing. I guess he dumped you. He can clearly see now who you are, and that you can never be in his league.”

Something inside me snapped. I stood up so abruptly that my chair scraped loudly against the floor. “Look, whatever you think this is, I don’t care,” I said, my voice shaking with restrained fury. “Just leave me the fuck alone. Jeez! What the hell is wrong with you?” I paused, swallowing hard, forcing back more words that threatened to spill out. “I am not in the mood for your shenanigans. Excuse me.”

I brushed past her, storming out of my own office and leaving her standing there, stunned, like a washed-up puppy left in the rain.

Before I fully realized where I was going, I found myself on the balcony of the office building. I stepped closer to the railing and rested my hands on it, my fingers gripping the cold metal tightly. I stared out at the city below. People walked past each other in a rush, cars moved endlessly along the roads, horns blaring, life continuing without pause. I watched everything happen, yet my mind felt detached, far away, lost in its own storm.

I already had enough on my plate, and now Alexa wanted to pile her cruelty on top of it. Frustration twisted painfully in my chest.

“Why won’t she just leave me be?” I whispered aloud, my voice trembling. “What did I ever do to her? She’s so mean.”

After standing there for several minutes, my thoughts slowly drifting back to the present, I released a long, shaky sigh and turned away from the balcony. I walked back to my office, only to find that Alexa was finally gone. True to her nature, she had left my door wide open, as though she lacked the basic decency to close it behind her.

Moments later, Laura and Matthew rushed in, their footsteps hurried and their expressions animated.

“Oh no, not again,” I muttered under my breath, rubbing my temple.

“Oh yes, again,” Laura replied cheerfully.

I had not realized I spoke loudly enough for them to hear.

“Well, guess what?” Matthew said, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

Before I could ask, Laura cut in, clapping her hands together. “Congratulations!” she exclaimed, her grin stretching from ear to ear.

I stared at both of them, completely confused. My posture stiffened, and I shook my head slightly. “I was only proposed to once, not twice. So… what is happening?” I asked, my brows furrowing.

“You’re being promoted!” Laura announced.

I froze, my breath catching in my throat. “Promoted? Me? For what? I haven’t even spent up to three months here. Thanks for the joke anyway.”

“It’s not a joke,” Matthew said quickly. “You’ve outdone yourself and caught the attention of the higher-ups. They’re very pleased with your work. Plus….the CCTV footage captured Alexa tampering with the project you handled last time. She’s been demoted, and you’re being promoted. You’re now our team leader.”

“I’m jealous of you, though,” Laura added with a playful pout.

I stared at them for a moment, then burst out laughing. The sound surprised even me. It felt good, warm, real. I realized then that I had not smiled genuinely in days.

“Oh, please,” I said, waving my hand lightly. “Look, guys, I’m a bit indisposed right now, and I’d like to be alone.”

“Are you chasing us out of your office?” Laura asked, her brows knitting together.

“What? No, no,” I said quickly, laughing softly. “I just need some alone time.”

“You don’t believe us,” Matthew said knowingly.

“Yes, I don’t,” I admitted. “How do you even know I’m being promoted when I don’t know myself?”

“Well,” he began, scratching the back of his neck, “I went to see one of the executives this morning and overheard them discussing it.”

“Oh, I see. Thanks for the information anyway.”

Just then, a soft knock sounded on my door.

“Come in,” I called.

“Miss Maureen, the director wants to see you now,” the director’s secretary said politely.

Laura and Matthew exchanged looks, then turned to me with identical expressions that clearly said, ‘We told you so’.

“Okay, thank you. I’ll be there shortly,” I replied.

After she left, I cleared my throat, stood up, and adjusted my clothes carefully. “Dear colleagues,” I said, gesturing toward the door, “if you’ll excuse me, I have to see the director.”