Chapter 108 One Hundred & Eight
The next morning, Izzy woke up feeling a little heavier than usual, the weight of last night’s emotions still lingering. She stretched, blinking against the sunlight filtering through the curtains, and slowly got out of bed. Dressing for work felt automatic, her mind preoccupied with thoughts of Dominic, Maya's words and the tangled mess of her heart.
By the time she stepped into the kitchen, Maya was already there, humming softly as she prepared breakfast. The smell of fresh coffee and toasted bread filled the apartment, and for a moment, Izzy felt a small, comforting pull. She sure had missed her.
Maya placed a steaming mug of coffee in front of her and handed her a perfectly browned slice of toast. “Hey honeybee,” she said with a soft smile. “Fuel for the day. You need to face the world with a little caffeine and carbs in your system.”
Izzy managed a small laugh, taking the coffee in both hands. The warmth seeped into her fingers and spread slowly through her chest, calming some of the lingering anxiety. “Thanks, Maya,” she murmured, her voice quieter than usual.
Maya leaned against the counter, watching her friend carefully. “Hey… don’t let him ruin your day, okay? You’re too good to let anyone make you feel less than you are.”
Izzy nodded, a bittersweet smile tugging at her lips. She took a sip of her coffee and bit into the toast, savoring the simple comfort. “I’ll try,” she said softly. “I really will.”
Maya gave her a small, encouraging nod. “That’s all I ask. One step at a time, okay go girl you've got this.”
She smiled as she took her seat at the dining table.
Izzy finished her toast slowly, staring out the window at the city waking up. The streets were busy, people rushing past, oblivious to the storm in her heart. She wrapped her hands around the warm coffee mug, letting it steady her, letting it anchor her for the day ahead.
Maya watched her quietly, giving her space but staying close. “You know,” she said softly, “whatever happens with him, you have to remember your worth. Don’t ever let anyone make you question it.”
Izzy nodded, her eyes tracing the skyline. She took a deep breath, the scent of coffee and toast mixing with the crisp morning air coming through the open window.
“I… I think I can do this,” she murmured, more to herself than to Maya.
Maya smiled, squeezing her shoulder lightly. “That’s all I needed to hear.”
Izzy stood, grabbing her bag, feeling a little steadier. She knew the day would be long, but somehow, she felt a small, quiet strength settling in her chest.
Izzy walked into the office, her heels clicking softly on the polished floor, but the usual hum of work was gone. Instead, a strange tension hung in the air. Papers were scattered, phones ringing unanswered, and whispers bounced off the walls. Her heart skipped a beat when she reached her desk.. it had been cleared. Everything, down to her pen holder and family photo, was gone.
Her colleagues were gathered in a loose circle, staring at her as she approached, their eyes wide and unsure. “What… what’s going on?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
No one answered. She felt a chill run down her spine. Something wasn’t right.
Swallowing hard, she straightened her back and headed toward Dominic’s office. Maybe he knew. Maybe he could explain.
She knocked lightly. “Dominic? Are you here?”
The door swung open… and her heart sank. It wasn’t Dominic. It was Miranda Steele, his mother, standing there perfectly composed, her sharp eyes fixed on Izzy like a hawk sizing up prey.
“Ah… Isabella, finally you decide to show up. Late of course a very classless behaviour” Miranda said smoothly, her tone polite but icy. “We need to have a little talk.”
Izzy froze, every instinct screaming that this was going to be bad. She forced herself to stand tall, though her chest tightened with anxiety. “About… what?” she asked cautiously.
Miranda’s lips curved into a small, controlled smile. “About your place… here… and your future.”
The office, the cleared desk, the silent colleagues… all of it hit Izzy at once. She realized she had walked straight into a trap she hadn’t even seen coming.
Izzy took a cautious step inside, her heels clicking softly against the office floor. Miranda didn’t move from the center of the room, her posture rigid, hands clasped in front of her as if she were already judging every inch of Izzy.
“I… I don’t understand,” Izzy stammered, her voice small. “Why… why is my desk cleared? What’s happening?”
Miranda’s eyes flicked toward the empty space where Izzy’s belongings had been. “Your position here… is no longer tenable,” she said smoothly, each word deliberate and cutting. “Dominic has responsibilities… expectations. And it’s clear that your presence here complicates things. I’m afraid… you cannot remain in this office.”
Izzy’s chest tightened, and a flush of panic rose in her throat. “You… you can’t just… this is my job! I work here, I’ve earned this…”
Miranda raised a hand, cutting her off. “Earned? Perhaps with sex if that's what you call earning. But some things… are bigger than whatever you think merit is. Dominic’s future, the reputation of this company… they come first. You… are a distraction.”
Izzy felt heat rise in her cheeks… not just anger, but disbelief. “A distraction? You mean because I’m dating him?”
Miranda’s sharp gaze didn’t waver. “Exactly. And for his sake, I won’t allow complications. You have options, Isabella, but remaining here… is not one of them.”
Izzy’s hands trembled at her sides. Her mind raced. Dominic had promised her, had fought for her.. but his mother… his mother had just undone all of that with a few cold words.
“I… I need to talk to him,” Izzy said finally, her voice firmer now, though her heart was pounding.
Miranda’s smile widened, almost cruelly. “You may speak to him… but I assure you, my decision stands. By the end of today, your desk will be empty. Your choice, Isabella… leave gracefully, or leave quietly.”
Izzy’s legs felt weak, but she squared her shoulders. “I… I won't let you walk all over me,” she said, though inside, fear and fury tangled like fire.
She stepped back, eyes still locked on Miranda’s, and left the office, the whispers of her colleagues brushing past her like ghosts.