LOGINGwen POVFriday soon came.“Hurry up! Hurry up!” Lisa was yelling at me. She was standing at the door to the conference room where the meeting was going to be held.I just got in, and she was already harassing me with her demands.There were no signs of the investors yet, but she was already in a frenzy.If she could growl, then that was short of what she was doing to me. She was trying to intimidate me and make me dance to her tune.“It’s still early,” I commented when I stopped in front of her. My gaze was all on my tablet, checking my list and schedules.“Where are the caterers?” She cried.“They’re on their way up,” I told her calmly. She gave me a side eye.“You don’t even look tense. Why? Aren’t you worried that something might go wrong?”A frown formed and creased my forehead.I did not know what she was getting at. We already made preparations until almost midnight last night.I made sure that all the departments that were going to report had their files on the hard drive. I a
Gwen POVIt was Monday morning. Actually, my second week here. My training period has officially ended, and I was absorbed as a regular member of the staff.After familiarizing myself with the company system and the work entrusted to me, I began to become confident in my performance.It’s not always a walk in the park, but at least I am getting the hang of it.When I arrived at the office, I found my coworkers in a panic.When they saw me, everyone talked at once. They did not even wait for me to reach my table. They all flocked toward me.“Gwen! Thank God you are here!”“Gwen, I need your help.”“Gwen! You need to do this first thing.”I do not know what’s making everyone in a frenzy, but I signalled with my palm up and called them all to order.“Wait! One at a time!”A crowd began to form a semi-circle around me. Not long ago, I remembered how these same people seemed to avoid me. They even make fun of me, but now, they look at me as if their lives depended on me.“What’s with all t
Gwen POVI walked to my department and felt their eyes on me. It was undermining my newfound confidence.I faltered on my way in, seeing their gazes fixed on me like a piercing stab.I almost turned around to leave, but the thought that I do not have enough money in my pocket to survive even a week of joblessness, I began to grit my teeth and walked inside.I walked slowly, feeling the weight of my co-workers’ eyes on me.Even Lisa, who was already in her seat, snorted when she saw me coming in.“I thought you already gave up.” She told me, but I ignored her.There was no sense in forcing myself to respond when I knew that nothing I would say mattered to them.These people were here not only to undermine me. It was clear that day that they wanted to break me to submission if I wanted to continue working here.I bowed my head to let her think that I was submitting to her, but in my head, I reminded myself to be wary of everyone around me. No one here can be trusted, except Lorry. She
Gwen POVI brushed off my embarrassment. If I let anger take over and snapped at everyone mocking me, I knew my job could be at risk.I was new, friendless, and saddled with a potential lifelong enemy in my work-station neighbor, Lisa.I can’t add to the list.Antagonizing my co-workers on my first day on the job would be a big no.There are many things much crucial to the job, and that is the company culture. As a newbie, I needed to understand it first to be able to navigate my workplace effectively. The performance of the job is one thing. It was how to fit in and get the respect of your co-workers that hang on a lot of things.I dusted off my pants, went out in search of logistics, and asked if I could have my chair replaced.In the meantime, I endured standing while working.I saw several people from the office raise their brows at me, but I ignored them.Lunch break came. No one approached my desk to invite me to join them for lunch.That was okay. I was used to being alone. I w
Gwen POVLisa brought me to my desk.“This is your place.” She told me, grinning, while showing me to a cubicle that looked like it had been run over by a bus.It not only looked deserted, but there were chips on the edge of the makeshift table, and the chair that accompanied it looked like it would give out any time soon.I looked at it, and then at the grinning Lisa, thinking that she did this on purpose.But I kept thinking hard, “What for?” Was she one of those employees who were threatened when a new co-worker came on board? Jealousy in this type of setting seemed astounding. I reminded myself to be more alert in the future.I kept wracking my brains, thinking if I had seen her in the past, and we had a disagreement or a spat, but that would be impossible because I had only been here for almost two months. And I haven’t drifted far from the office.I looked at her.But she had this disdainful look on her face. She wanted me to react, but I couldn't. Not on my first day here. Bes
Damian POVAt the airport, we queued at the check-in counter and walked back to the lounge to wait.I chose to stay in the seats reserved for waiting passengers and pretended to sleep, but I was not asleep.“You did the right thing,” Mason said when he sat beside me.He pulled his laptop from his backpack and began tapping away.“Do you want to know what she is doing right now?”I turned my head sharply in his direction. An idea was forming in my head, but I found it so hard to digest.“Did you put a tracker on her?” I do not believe that Mason would resort to underhanded measures. He kept telling me that I should let go. That I should let Gwen well enough alone.But why is he telling me now that he put a tracker on her? Was he testing me?Mason already knew that I am a man of my word. I never backed out on my decision.I pushed through even when it was hard.I shook my head and glared at him. He grinned at me.He was teasing me. I knew it, but I also knew that if there was anyone who
Gwen POVAfter I left Grandpa Ryan’s house, I found myself standing outside Lou’s apartment. I had been shuffling my feet, feeling reluctant to press the buzzer.I looked down and saw my meager belongings stuffed inside a small suitcase and sighed.I really need a place to stay.I wanted to berate
Gwen POVI woke up feeling the sun’s rays hitting my cheek.When I looked at the window, I realized it was morning. The sun’s been up for hours, judging from the intensity of the heat it was emitting.I glanced at the bedside table and gawked at the time. I’d overslept.Damian must have left for th
Gwen POVHe left me after that.I was staring off into space because he was right. Life is not fair, and because it is not fair, I am now implicated in a crime that I didn’t commit.Urgency fueled my feet as I ran to follow him. He was already out of the door when I pulled him back.“What will happe
Gwen POVCome morning, I haven’t heard anything from Damian.He did not come for breakfast, and when I asked Lucille, she told me that Damian left at dawn. She had no idea where he had gone, but he had made arrangements for me to leave the house today.I felt sad that Damian didn't even make time t







