LOGINSOFIAI scrolled through my contacts until I found Guido as I pressed call.It rang twice before his voice came through, smooth and lazy like melted whiskey. “Sofia,” he said, dragging my name like he was tasting it. Behind him, the sound was wild. Music, laughter, heels clicking on the floor, the clinking of glasses. I could almost smell the smoke through the phone. “Didn’t expect you to call me this late. What’s the matter, angel? You miss me?”I leaned back on the couch, letting my fingers trace the seam of the cushion. “You’re drunk.”“Tipsy,” he said, his voice smooth, teasing. “And surrounded by women who wish they were you. You should come over. I’ll save you a seat, right on my lap.”I smirked. “I’m sure you would. But that’s not why I called.”He chuckled low and dark, a sound that made my chest tighten. “You always sound so serious. I’m starting to think you don’t like me.”“I like useful people,” I said, letting a faint edge curl into my words.The noise behind him faded.
THIRD PERSON The office buzzed earlier than usual that morning. Word had already spread that Marco had given the green light to test Sarah’s new review system. The idea had come quietly from her during the meeting the day before, almost as an afterthought, yet it caught everyone’s attention. Now, the whole floor wanted to see if it would actually work.Sofia stood by the glass wall of her office, one hand around her coffee cup, the other resting on her hip. Through the reflection, she could see Sarah walking through the hallway, calm and collected. People greeted her with a tone Sofia had never heard them use before. Even the IT head, a man who rarely bothered to smile, gave her a respectful nod.Sofia’s jaw tightened slightly. Her own suggestion had been called “smart” by Marco, but nothing had come of it. Meanwhile, Sarah’s was being implemented the very next day. The memory of Marco’s approving tone the day before played in her head like a quiet taunt. That small nod he gave Sarah
SARAHThe house was quiet that night. Too quiet. Marco’s voice carried faintly from the study, low and controlled, the kind he used when he was talking business. I sat on the couch, staring at the dark TV screen, my mind running in circles.Sofia’s face wouldn’t leave my head. That fake, polite smile after the meeting. The kind of smile that meant she thought she’d won something. And that missing file — it didn’t just disappear. Someone wanted me to notice it was gone.The call in the study ended. I heard his chair move, then footsteps down the hall. Marco appeared in the doorway, jacket off, sleeves rolled, a faint frown on his face. He looked exhausted, but my patience had already thinned.“You busy?” I asked quietly.He rubbed the back of his neck. “Just finished. What’s wrong?”I hesitated, trying to keep my tone calm. “A file from my drawer’s missing. The one for the new client reports. I double-checked before we left the office. It was there.”Marco walked closer, standing behin
SARAHThe room was silent. Every eye turned to me, waiting. I could feel Sofia’s stare, sharp and expectant, like she wanted me to choke on my own breath. I didn’t. I sat up straight, let the quiet stretch a bit longer, then spoke.“I have a suggestion.”My voice sounded steadier than I felt. Marco leaned back in his chair, his gaze calm but focused. A few staff members shifted, pens still in hand, waiting to hear what I had to say. I caught Sofia’s smirk from across the table, the one that said she was already convinced I’d embarrass myself.“I’ve been thinking about the problem with document security,” I said, keeping my tone even. “Instead of assigning files to one department head, we could use a rotation system. Each week, two staff members from different teams review sensitive files together. That way, no single person has full control, and mistakes or leaks are easier to trace.”A few murmurs went around the table. One of the older managers, Pietro, nodded slightly. “That’s… act
SOFIAThe next morning came with a clear sky and sharp sunlight spilling through my curtains. I woke up before my alarm, already feeling that quiet rush of energy that came with knowing the day was mine to shape. I took my time in the mirror, choosing a fitted black dress and tying my hair neatly. I wanted to look untouchable. Power came in many forms—mine started with how I walked into a room.While eating breakfast, I scrolled through the office group chat. A message from Marco’s assistant caught my attention. Emergency staff meeting at noon. Topic: breach of client information. I stared at the words, a slow smile growing. Someone had messed up, and now there was chaos. Chaos always created openings.“Perfect,” I said under my breath, taking a sip of my coffee. “A room full of people, and Sarah pretending she belongs there.”I leaned back in my chair, thinking of her—her quiet act, her polite tone, how she always looked like she was holding her breath whenever I spoke. It was only a
SOFIANight had already swallowed the city, leaving the streets below glowing with quiet lights. I sat on my sofa, still in my work clothes, one heel kicked off, the other dangling from my foot. The silence in my apartment felt good, familiar. It gave space for my thoughts to breathe, to replay everything that had happened these last two days.I thought about Sarah’s face when she couldn’t open that office file yesterday. The tiny crack in her confidence, that hint of frustration she tried to hide. It played over in my mind like a sweet replay, and I smiled to myself. Then the coffee incident today. I almost laughed out loud remembering how she tried to hold her calm when it spilled. Everyone saw it. Everyone saw me “helping” her clean it up. Perfect timing, perfect performance.And Marco. He didn’t say a word against me. He just stood there, calm as ever, that look on his face that never gives away too much. But silence can say plenty, and I knew what his meant. He was watching, weig
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