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THE ART OF SABOTAGE
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2026-09-11 03:49:52The luxury cafe smelled like white truffles and money. Elena Brooks wasn’t used to it.
She adjusted her oversized borrowed sunglasses and checked her cheap wristwatch.
Fifteen minutes late.
Perfect.
Two hours earlier, Chloe had shoved a dress into her hands and pushed her out.
“My dad set up another boring corporate date. I’m supposed to behave, but I’m going to the beach. Ruin it for me, EL. Make him lose interest”
No name. No details. Just sabotage
Elena spotted the table.
The man was already seated, scrolling on a tablet, not even looking up as she approached. Sharp profile. Expensive suit. The kind of man who didn’t wait for people.
Too bad.
Elena dropped into the seat across from him and tossed her bag onto the table, knocking the sugar shaker sideways.
"You're late," the man said,
He still didn’t look up.
“Traffic,” she replied lazily, leaning back in her chair. ”And honestly? This place is a bit tacky, too much gold”
That got his attention.
His gaze lifted, sharp, cold, cutting straight through her.
“If you’re uncomfortable, Miss Vance,” he said, voice low, “the exit is right behind you.”
Elena smiled, all fake sweetness. “Oh, I’m not leaving. Not before I order the most expensive thing on your menu. Your father is paying, isn’t he?”
His jaw tightened.
He stood.
“Tell your father the deal is off,” he said calmly.
“I don’t work with liabilities.”
Three crisp bills hit the table.
Then he walked away.
Just like that.
Elena exhaled slowly, the tension draining from her shoulders.
She stared at the money.
Groceries for three weeks.
Chloe would be happy. Her father wouldn’t.
Not her problem.
…..Right?
The next evening, Elena’s small apartment felt nothing like that cafe`
El, check your email,” Maya called from across the room.
Elena frowned. “ Why? Rent issue again?”
“Better”
Maya turned the laptop toward her, eyes bright.
“I sent out your CV last week. Executive assistant roles.”
Elena froze. “You didn’t”
“I did, and you got a response.”
Maya pointed at the screen.
“Subject: Invitation for Immediate Interview …[Executive Assistant role]."
Dear Miss Brooks,
Following a review of your application, you have been shortlisted for an interview at Cross International. Please report to Human Resources.
Cross International.”Elena shouted
Elena’s stomach dropped.
“They’ll laugh at me.”
“They won’t,” Maya said firmly. “You already do this job for Chloe. Guess what? You just don’t get paid for it.”
Elena hesitated.
Maya grabbed her hands. “Just go.”
The interview was intense.
Rapid questions.Crisis scenarios. Pressure.
Elena didn’t flinch.
She’d handled worse.
“What would you do if a client threatened to pull a multimillion-dollar deal at the last minute?” Marcus asked, watching her closely.
“I’d find out what they actually want,” Elena replied without hesitation. People don’t walk away from money without a reason. Fix the reason, you fix the problem.”
Marcus’s brow lifted slightly.
Another question.Another answer.
A pause.
“Turnover for this role is very high,” Marcus said. “The CEO is… demanding. Difficult,”
Elena allowed herself a small smile. “I’m still here.:
Something unreadable passed across his face.
Then.
“You’re hired.”
Elena blinked. “Wait… what?”
Welcome to the team, Miss Brooks,” Marcus said, standing up to shake her hand. You start immediately.
“Let's get you to the executive floor,“ Marcus added.
The elevator ride felt too fast.
When the doors opened, everything changed.
The space was Quiet, sleek. Expensive in a way that didn’t need to show off.
Power lived here.
A man stood close to the window, his back to them, speaking into his phone.
“If the team fails, replace them,” he said coldly.
“ I don’t pay for excuses.”
Elena froze..
Something about this voice...
Familiar.
He turned.
Her breath caught.
Same eyes.
Same man.
The cafe.
Julian Cross.
Recognition hit him just as fast. His expression hardened instantly.
And in that moment, everything clicked.
She hadn’t just ruined a date.
She had just sabotaged her boss.
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That night, Elena couldn’t sleep.She turned onto her side and stared into the darkness; her hand drifted toward her phone before she stopped herself and placed it back on the bedside table.It wasn’t that she suddenly believed Julian didn’t love her.What keeps bothering her is the contradiction.Julian had apologized to her.He’d admitted he’d felt something for her.And he’d kissed her.Yet Anastasia had stood in front of him with that confidence and called herself his fiancée.Elena closed her eyes.The scene returned in fragments.Anastasia’s confidence.Julian’s silence.The way everything had seemed to happen around her as though she had walked into a conversation she wasn’t supposed to hear.Elena’s fingers tightened around the edge of the blanket.Why was Anastasia so certain of their relationship?That was the question she couldn’t shake.What exactly had happened between Julian and Anastasia?If they weren’t together, why hadn’t Julian denied the engagement?And what had Ju
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Julian’s phone rang before he had finished his first cup of coffee.He glanced at the screen.Father.He considered letting it ring.He already knew why Arthur was calling.The moment Anastasia’s return was confirmed, Julian knew his father would expect him to be involved.He answered.“Yes?”“Where are you?”“The office.”Julian’s expression hardened.“Why?”“You need to leave.”Julian frowned.There was a brief silence on the other end.“Where?”“The airport.”Julian leaned back in his chair.“I have a meeting this morning.”“Cancel it.”Julian’s jaw tightened.“Why?”“Anastasia’s flight lands in an hour.”There was another brief silence.Julian closed his eyes.“Of course.”Arthur continued.“I expect you to be there when she arrives.”“I’m not her welcoming committee.”“You’re her fiancé.”“Don’t make this difficult, Julian.”Julian almost laughed.“You’re the one making it difficult.”“I’ve already made arrangements. She’s expecting you.”Julian stared out the window.He could re
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Some days had passed since Elena decided she would return to Cross International.She had spent most of those days at home, trying to convince herself that walking back into the building would be easier than it actually felt.Maya had asked her more than once if she was sure.Every time, Elena gave the same answer.I need the job.But needing something and being ready for it were two different things.That morning, Elena sat at the dining table with her laptop open in front of her.She scrolled through another job posting.Executive Assistant — Position Filled.She moved to the next one.Application Unsuccessful.Another.We regret to inform you that your application was not successful.Elena sighed and leaned back in her chair.She had lost count of how many applications she had sent over the past few days.Some never received responses.Others sent polite rejection emails.She stared at the screen for a moment before closing her eyes.Maybe she wasn’t meant to start over somewhere e
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The Cross estate was quiet when Julian arrived.He stepped through the front door, loosened his tie, and dropped his keys onto the marble counter.Usually, coming home was the one part of his day he looked forward to.Tonight, it felt different.No employees. No distractions.Just silence.And the silence only made his thoughts louder.He walked into the living room and dropped onto the sofa.His thoughts immediately returned to Elena.Then to the man who had walked out of her apartment.Julian frowned.He had no reason to care who the man was.At least, that’s what he kept telling himself.But Marcus’s voice from earlier refused to leave his head.“Figure out whether you’re chasing the truth…or chasing Elena.”He picked up his laptop and opened it.Several people were working for him. Someone inside Cross International had leaked confidential information, and Julian intended to find out who.But tonight, the investigation wasn’t the only thing occupying his mind.Nothing made sense.
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The morning sun bathed the streets in golden light, mocking the storm inside.Julian sat behind the wheel of his black SUV, parked across from Elena’s apartment building.He contemplated whether to see Elena or leave. He barely noticed. He hadn’t slept.Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Elena walking away from him at the restaurant.His hands tightened around the steering wheel. He knew he shouldn’t be there. After everything that had happened, he had no right to see her. Yet he couldn’t bring himself to leave until he knew she was safe.Maybe she was finally happy without him.The apartment door finally opened.Julian instinctively straightened.The warmth drained from his face.A tall man stepped out behind Elena, adjusting the sleeve of his jacket with the casual ease of someone who belonged there.He smiled.“Take care of yourself…” Call me if you need anything,” Leo said.Julian couldn’t hear the reply, but he watched the man wave casually before walking away.Something sharp
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