Regina's POV I barely made it two steps into the office when Jenna cornered me.She didn't say anything at first—just leaned against the wall near the elevator, arms crossed, eyes cool and unreadable. The same expression she wore when she knew something everyone else didn't. And judging by the way she was watching me now, she knew something dangerous."Morning," I said, brushing past her."Regina," she called, low and steady. "You got a minute?"I turned, my hand still on the elevator button. "What is it?"Jenna gave a small smile that didn't touch her eyes. "You should really watch your back."I blinked. "Excuse me?""I'm just saying," she said, her tone syrupy and polite. "There's a lot going on in this office. People talk. Eyes watch. You don't want to be caught off guard."The elevator dinged, but I ignored it. "Is this your subtle way of threatening me?""No, sweetheart." She stepped closer. "It's my subtle way of warning you. I actually like you. You're smart... too smart to ge
Regina's POVThe words stuck with me. "The moment they try to take you down."It wasn't just paranoia. It wasn't Cassandra being bitter or Mary playing office queen. This was deeper—darker.And Nicholas... he knew something. Something he wouldn't say. I didn't sleep that night. My mind spun in endless circles, replaying every look, every whisper, every offhanded comment over the past few weeks. Suddenly, all the subtle shade made sense. I was being watched. Targeted.And I wasn't going to wait around to be blindsided.The next morning, I took the earliest train to meet Peter—the family friend who'd mentioned the startup his cousin was building. A fintech app focused on real estate investments. Small team, smart idea, solid traction. Exactly the kind of side hustle I needed—my backup plan in case the walls at Grantham started to close in."You sure you want to do this?" Peter asked, sliding me a non-disclosure agreement over the table at the café."I'm sure," I said, signing it quickly
Regina's POVThe invitation came in a sleek black envelope, sealed with gold wax. Cassandra was nothing if not dramatic.You're cordially invited to an exclusive evening at the Whitmore Estate.It was less an invitation, more a power move. I could practically hear her purring as she wrote it, imagining me walking into her lion's den, unarmed.But I wasn't unarmed. Not anymore.I wore a dark green velvet dress—elegant, understated, and powerful. My makeup was minimal, my heels sharp enough to kill. I didn't come to impress. I came to intimidate.The Whitmore Estate looked like a castle dropped into the hills—tall gates, glowing chandeliers, and valet boys who looked terrified of scratching a single bumper. I handed one my keys and stepped out.Inside, the crowd was glittering, polished, and fake. Investors, board members, influencers. All sipping champagne and whispering behind manicured hands.And then I saw her."Cassandra?" I rolled my eyes in disbelief.Her dress was blood-red and
Regina's POVIf you've never smiled at someone while plotting their downfall, I highly recommend it. It's oddly therapeutic.Cassandra was perched at her desk when I walked into the office the next morning. Her expression was all sugar and fake sisterhood. The kind that made my jaw tighten."Morning, Regina," she chirped, flicking her sleek ponytail over her shoulder. "Heard about your little weekend project. Busy girl."My smile didn't waver. "You know me. Always building something on the side."She raised a brow. "Is that allowed?"Oh, she was bold now. Cute.I leaned in slightly. "Only when you're good enough to juggle both without screwing up."Cassandra's smirk faltered for half a second. Just enough.Then Jenna appeared, holding two coffees. She passed one to me like a soldier delivering ammo."Thanks for the heads-up," I murmured.She nodded once, her eyes darting to Cassandra. "You're not the only one she's trying to sting."It wasn't much, but it was a silent promise. She was
Regina's POVI was halfway through my second espresso when I got the text.Be ready? What did she mean?I barely had time to dwell on it. My inbox pinged again—this time with a forwarded email. From Cassandra.She'd sent an anonymous tip to HR. Accusing me of "impropriety with upper management" and "possible conflict of interest."I couldn't even be mad.This was the move. She wanted to force my hand. Make me panic. Resign. Beg Nicholas to rescue me.But I wasn't the same woman I'd been weeks ago. I printed out the email, highlighted the phrasing, and walked straight to Jenna's office.She didn't even look surprised."Close the door," she said calmly.I did. I was still so shocked at Nicholas's visit last night and the things he'd said. But now this?She stood up from her desk and faced me. "This isn't your first war, is it?"I blinked. "Excuse me?""You heard me. You're too calm. Most women would be crying or threatening lawsuits.""I did the crying part already," I muttered. "Bathro
Hey! Chapter 63 is ready—here it comes.Regina's POVI stared at my phone, trying to breathe, trying not to lose it. The email was short. Just five words."Let's talk. Midnight. Parking lot."And it was from Cassandra.I should've deleted it. Blocked her. Told Nicholas. But instead, I slipped my phone into my purse and got back to work like I hadn't just received a message from the woman who wanted me destroyed."Regina," Mary called, fake sweet. "Can you send me the updated portfolio deck? The one you accidentally messed up last time?"I looked up slowly. "It's already in your inbox. I corrected your numbers too." She blinked. Her little smile faltered. Not today, Mary.I powered through the rest of the day like I was made of steel, but inside, I was unraveling. Cassandra wanted to talk. That meant she had something. Something new. Something worse.Or maybe... maybe she was bluffing. Playing another game.By the time midnight came, my nerves were shot. I parked in the far corner of t
Regina's POV The next morning, my phone buzzed nonstop, but I ignored it all—except one message from Nicholas: We need to talk. Now.!My gut twisted upon seeing that message. After Jenna's warning last night, I wasn't sure if I should run to him or run from him. But I knew I couldn't wait.I met him in the conference room—the one that had become a battlefield more than a place for business. He looked different: tired eyes, clenched jaw, a man juggling too many secrets."Regina," he said, voice low, "we don't have much time. Mary's playing for keeps, and Jenna's right — you're in the crosshairs."I bristled. "Thanks for the heads-up. You think I don't know? You're the one who keeps quiet when she tries to humiliate me in meetings."His eyes flashed with something I didn't expect—regret? "I'm handling it in my way. Publicly punishing Mary would only make things worse. You're smarter than I thought—you see the chessboard, but you don't see the pieces I'm protecting."I crossed my arms,
Regina's POV The office felt heavier than usual, like the air itself was thick with tension. I noticed the stares the moment I walked in. Some eyes were curious, some cold, and some downright hostile. Mary, of course, gave me that smirk—like she was waiting for me to slip up. She was patient, dangerous.I buried my head in my work, trying to focus. But my nerves betrayed me. That mistake on the finance report... it wasn't huge, but it was bad enough to almost cost us a major client deal. I spotted it just in time, fingers shaking as I recalculated everything. I fixed the numbers, rechecked, triple-checked. It was right now. But the thought that I could have blown this made my stomach twist.Mary's victory smirk got worse as the day went on. She whispered to colleagues, and I caught her saying, "Guess Regina's not as perfect as she thinks." Perfect? I never claimed to be. But I was damn good at my job.At lunch, I caught a glimpse of Kimberly across the room, her lips curled into a sl
Regina's POVI didn't sleep that night.The image of Cassandra and Nicholas replayed in my mind on a sickening loop. Her perfectly manicured hand on his arm. His smile—lazy, familiar, like he wasn't hiding anything.I couldn't stop thinking: Had he planned this? Had she? Was I the fool in the middle, again?By morning, I looked like I'd gone three rounds with insomnia and lost all of them. But I still showed up to work in my best blazer, heels sharp enough to stab egos.Because no one would see me crumble. Not Mary, Not Jenna. Definitely not Cassandra.And especially not Nicholas.I was halfway through reviewing a quarterly report when my phone buzzed.Nate texted, Meeting confirmed. 7pm. Excited to talk more.My stomach did a tiny flip. This consulting gig could be more than a side hustle—it was a parachute. A way out of the Walton vortex. Out of being the girl who got tangled in office politics and someone else's drama.Maybe even a way to start over."Regina." Jenna's voice pulled