Pressure Lines

By the next morning, Rose already knew one thing—

Things were no longer simple.

Not after yesterday.

Not after the conversation in the conference room.

And definitely not after Sophia.

The memory of her still lingered.

That calm smile.

That quiet warning.

I just hope nothing distracts you.

Rose tightened her grip slightly on her pen as she sat at her desk.

It didn’t sound like a threat.

But it was.

And she understood it perfectly.

The office felt different that morning.

Not louder. Not busier.

Just… heavier.

Like something was about to go wrong.

Rose pushed the thought aside and focused on her work.

She had gone over the financial report multiple times already. Every number, every detail—she checked everything carefully.

No mistakes.

There couldn’t be.

Not today.

“Everyone to the conference room.”

Rose picked up her file and stood up immediately.

As she walked in, her steps slowed slightly.

Jason was already there.

And so was Sophia.

Standing beside him again.

Like she belonged.

Sophia’s hand rested lightly on his arm as she said something to him, her expression calm and confident.

Jason didn’t move away.

That shouldn’t have mattered.

But it did.

Rose looked away quickly and took her seat.

Focus.

That’s all she needed to do.

The meeting started.

Jason spoke with his usual confidence, guiding the discussion effortlessly.

Everything was normal.

Until it wasn’t.

“Miss Rose, your report.”

Rose stood up immediately.

“Based on the revised projections—”

Her voice stopped.

Her eyes narrowed slightly at the screen.

That wasn’t right.

She stepped closer.

The numbers displayed were not the ones she had finalized.

Her heart skipped.

She opened her file quickly, flipping through the pages.

Different.

Completely different.

A cold feeling settled in her chest.

“Miss Rose?”

The room was quiet now.

Waiting.

Watching.

“I…” she hesitated.

Then steadied herself.

“There’s an error,” she said. “These aren’t the final figures I submitted.”

A murmur spread across the room.

Jason’s gaze sharpened.

“Explain.”

Rose pointed at the screen.

“These numbers were changed,” she said. “This isn’t the correct version.”

“Are you saying the report is wrong?”

His tone was calm.

But firm.

Rose hesitated.

“I’m saying something is off.”

It sounded weak.

She knew it.

Jason held her gaze for a moment.

Then—

“Sit down.”

The words were quiet.

Final.

Rose sat.

Her chest tight.

Her thoughts racing.

Across the table, Sophia watched silently.

Her expression didn’t change.

But her eyes lingered on Rose for just a second longer than necessary.

Almost… knowing.

The meeting continued.

But Rose barely heard anything.

Her mind was stuck on one question—

What happened?

After the meeting ended, people began to leave.

Whispers followed.

Glances.

Rose stayed where she was, her fingers gripping the edge of her file.

This wasn’t a small mistake.

This was something else.

“Stay.”

Jason’s voice.

She looked up slowly.

The room was empty now.

Except for one more person.

Sophia.

She hadn’t left.

Rose stood.

“I don’t understand what happened,” she said. “I checked everything.”

Jason walked closer.

“Then explain the mistake.”

“It wasn’t a mistake,” she replied. “At least—not from me.”

Silence.

Jason’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“So now someone else changed your work?”

Rose hesitated.

She didn’t have proof.

But something felt wrong.

“Yes,” she said quietly.

Sophia let out a soft, almost amused breath behind them.

Both of them turned slightly.

“I’m sorry,” Sophia said gently. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

Her tone was polite.

But her presence changed the entire atmosphere.

Rose straightened slightly.

“I’m not making excuses,” she said, looking back at Jason. “Something happened.”

Jason didn’t respond immediately.

But the doubt was there.

She could see it.

And that hurt more than anything.

“You’ve been distracted,” he said finally.

Rose froze.

There it was again.

That word.

She let out a quiet breath.

“Maybe,” she said. “But not because of work.”

Jason frowned slightly.

“What does that mean?”

Rose looked at him.

Then briefly at Sophia.

Then back at him.

“If you don’t understand,” she said quietly, “then there’s nothing to explain.”

The silence that followed was heavy.

Uncomfortable.

Jason didn’t look convinced.

Sophia, however, looked calm.

Too calm.

“Maybe you should rest,” Sophia said gently.

Both of them turned to her.

She smiled slightly.

“You’ve been under a lot of pressure,” she added, looking at Rose. “Mistakes happen.”

The words sounded kind.

But they didn’t feel that way.

Not at all.

Rose held her gaze.

“I don’t make mistakes like that,” she said.

Sophia’s smile didn’t fade.

“Everyone does,” she replied softly.

That was enough.

Rose picked up her file.

“I’ll fix it,” she said.

Then she walked out.

The hallway felt colder than usual.

Or maybe it was just her.

Her thoughts moved too fast now.

The numbers didn’t just change on their own.

And she knew she didn’t make that mistake.

So what was going on?

Behind her, inside the room—

Jason stood still.

Watching the door she had just walked through.

Something didn’t sit right with him either.

But before he could say anything—

Sophia stepped closer.

“You’re being too hard on her,” she said softly.

Jason didn’t respond.

Sophia’s hand rested lightly on his arm again.

“She’s clearly overwhelmed,” she added.

Jason’s jaw tightened slightly.

But he said nothing.

Outside, Rose stepped out of the building, her chest still tight.

Frustration.

Confusion.

And something else.

Something sharper.

Because deep down—

She was starting to realize something.

This wasn’t just pressure.

This wasn’t just a mistake.

This felt intentional.

And for the first time—

Rose began to wonder if Sophia’s calm smile was hiding something much more dangerous.