FAZER LOGINAlthough I was sleepy, the morning was more productive than I had imagined. When I left the apartment, the sun was already high in the sky, and the city felt strangely alive. I grabbed my bag, took one last look at the boxes stacked by the door, and locked it. In the office, yesterday's silence had transformed into something heavier. People were working, but their voices were low, and their glances shifted to me when they thought I wasn't looking. I walked down the hallway, the heels of my bo
Although I was sleepy, the morning was more productive than I had imagined. When I left the apartment, the sun was already high in the sky, and the city felt strangely alive. I grabbed my bag, took one last look at the boxes stacked by the door, and locked it. In the office, yesterday's silence had transformed into something heavier. People were working, but their voices were low, and their glances shifted to me when they thought I wasn't looking. I walked down the hallway, the heels of my boots clicking on the floor, and felt the weight of their stares.On my desk, a folder I hadn't left there was waiting for me. No note, no explanation; just neatly arranged papers. I opened it cautiously: copies of contracts, financial statements, and a sheet with my name circled in red. My pulse quickened.I looked up and, through the glass of my office, saw someone turning around too quickly. Had someone seen the person who brought this here?&nbs
The workday ended abruptly, much quieter than usual. The music that usually filled the office was gone, as were the lively conversations that creative teams typically had. It was just a silence of uncertainty that gnawed at my conscience. I had started this business to provide a safe haven for creatives so they could feel they belonged and that their talents were valued. Now, all that remained was a bittersweet mix of what would happen and what could and couldn't be.Back home, the apartment was quiet, almost too quiet. For the first time in days, there were no meetings, no anonymous messages, no voices demanding answers. Just me, a stack of boxes, and the sound of tape closing another.I sat cross-legged on the floor, sorting through clothes I hadn't worn in years. Some items went into bags for donation, others into boxes labeled as essential. Each garment felt like a fragment of the past, pieces of a life that no longer belonged to me.
“Everyone’s heard the rumors,” I began, my voice firm despite my racing heart. “About me, about the company, about what happened last week. I won’t deny it: there’s some truth to it. I was targeted. My accounts were frozen. And yes, my personal life has been caught up in this mess.”A murmur rippled through the room. I raised my hand to silence it.“But here’s what you need to know: I’m still here. This company is still here. And I won’t let rumors or fear destroy what we’ve built together.”I scanned the room, meeting each person's eyes. "If you want to leave, I won't stop you. But if you stay, you'll be with me against anyone who tries to destroy us. And if I can swear anything to you, it's that they will fail."The silence that followed was thick, but different now. Less fearful, more thoughtful. Kathe nodded slightly, her expression firm. Some employees exchanged glances, uncertain but attentive.
I closed the file and leaned back in my chair, gently drumming my fingers on the desk. Carlos was gone, but his shadow lingered, an echo of a past connection long since turned to ash. Any bond we'd ever shared was buried, and now only a fragile alliance based on necessity remained.Outside, the murmur of the office reminded me that the storm hadn't waited; it was already here. Employees leaving, rumors spreading, trust evaporating. My company was bleeding out, and I had no choice but to stop it.The email notification kept flashing on my screen: the appointment for the DNA test. Proof that the past wasn't finished with me yet. Proof that there were still secrets to unearth.I exhaled slowly, a faint smile playing on my lips. Let them think I'm falling apart. Let them think I'm weak.They had no idea what was coming.When 11:30 arrived, I finally made the decision and gathered my
Carlos leaned slightly toward me, his smile seeming more like a mask than a genuine gesture.“Rumors, contracts, employees leaving… it’s all just noise. The important thing is that you and I keep going.”His words made me clench my teeth. Outside, I could hear the office murmur, the echo of hurried footsteps, as if distrust had become a virus spreading through the hallways. Every resignation was a reminder that my world was crumbling, and Carlos knew it.“If someone is behind this,” I thought, “they don’t just want to destroy my reputation, they want to break my company from within.”I turned to him, my gaze steady, a sincere smile on my face. “Don’t mistake noise for danger, Carlos. Rumors can be more lethal than bullets.”For a moment, his smile faded. And in that silence, I understood that the storm was o
I was walking down the street with a bottle of soda, my feet moving with a rush I hadn't felt in a long time. My heels clicked against the pavement, one after the other, with a rapid, sharp click.I hadn't fallen asleep, but I had relaxed a little too much before leaving home for the office. Finally, I reached the door, and the security guard greeted me with a slight smile, which somehow seemed sad. I frowned and straightened up to ask him,"Is everything alright?"He shook his head. "Miss Sofia, you should come in."Those words made me feel nauseous. I felt like the world was about to collapse on top of me, and I didn't even know what was going on yet. I entered the office with a touch of impatience and uncertainty about what was happening that even the guard was in such a mood.The silence in the office grew heavier. Outside, the city was still alive, but inside me, the storm t







