CHAPTER FOUR: FIRED

(ELENA'S POV)

"How long are you going to pretend not to see him?" Lana whispered as we stepped out of the coffee shop.

"Who said I'm pretending?" I breathed as I clutched my coffee cup closer to my heart. "I just want to focus on my work."

That was partially a lie. I just couldn't allow Xavier to take the best of me. But there he was smiling down at his new fiancé like she hung the stars for him.

I haven’t had a good sleep for days. Not after everything that’s happened and Alaric’s voice keeps playing in my head like a broken record.

“Marry me, be the mother of my child. I will give you the money for your father’s surgery.” I had laughed then. Who proposed marriage like it’s a business contract? Still my chest tightened I could almost hear him saying it again.

“Or do you want to know what your sister was doing in the club that night before she disappeared?

The last one had carved itself into my brain like a worm. I still don’t know how to react to that—his tone, the way his eyes gleamed when he said your sister. Like he knew something I didn’t.

“Hey, are you okay?” Lana asked worrried. “You look like you have seen a ghost.” “Just tired.” I said forcing a smile.

The moment we entered into the executive lounge I spotted them—Xavier and Sabrina, standing close, too close. He was adjusting her shoes like a perfect gentle man. She was laughing softly, her hands on his shoulders as she steadied herself, all polished charm and poison surgar.

His gaze flickered towards me. Sabrina followed his gaze and instantly her smile dropped and then sharpened.

“Miss Hart.” Sabrina called me, her voice was honey sweet but laced with venom. She looked like she’d walked out of a vogue cover—straight legs, nice curls, diamond ring shaped in a grape size glinted on her hand.

“Miss Josburg.” I greeted forcing a polite smile.

“I have heard so much about you.” She said folding her hand. “ You’re the smart and creative one right? The one... who has trouble keeping things professional with her boss?”

My stomach twisted into tight knots. I saw this coming. What else do I expect when she is in charge of marketing and campaign department, every report goes straight to her table and I'm now convinced she was the main reason Elliot got the promotion. My eyes darted around the lounge and people started pretending to be busy. Phones lifted, fingers hovered, whispers buzzed.

I didn’t take the bait—“if you will excuse me...”

“Not yet...”she cooed. “I mean it’s just so sad isn’t it? Working so hard only for Elliot to get the promotion you were promised?”

Her words hit me like glass shards. Sharp deliberate.

“Just hierarchy in the office, you of all people should know that since you're the head of the department.” I said in a dismissive tone. Walking past her to my office.

“Right.” She said with a smirk. “Or it’s because of the misconduct report that came in this morning.” I stiffened. I turned to face her.

“What report?” I asked confused. I looked at Xavier, his jaw was clenched he didn’t say a word. Typical.

“Oh, I get you’re not aware yet.” She said as she looked mock-surprised. “Oh my darling, apparently someone leaked the company’s data during the last campaign. Quite a scandal all traced back to your credentials. There’s...evidence.” She added.

My eyes widened. My breath caught. “That’s ridiculous! Nothing of such would happen under my—“

“Save it” she snapped, stepping closer, her perfume cloying. “ I don’t want to know what game you’ve been playing with Xavier but it has to end.” She whispered.

I stared at Xavier, my voice slightly shaky. “You believe this?”

He didn’t meet my eyes.”She's the head of the department, it's her office not mine.” He said. “Oh my God!” I exclaimed as the realization hit me like a slap to my face. Xavier and Sabrina set me up in order to kick me out of the company.

“You set me up?”I asked still looking at Xavier.

“Don’t be ridiculous.” He fired back.

Sabrina laughed softly. “Don’t flatter yourself. The department has been watching you since your last campaign. Too many...irregularities.

I didn’t know how to react. Xavier is trying to break the remaining string of confidence I have. Sabrina isn’t even a board member. So why would he give her that chance to speak to me in that manner.

“That campaign was my work! I managed to say. My voice was breaking. I turned to look at Xavier. You stole everything from me and now you’re pinning the company’s scandal on me!”

People had gathered at the entrance whispering and watching. The humiliation crawled up my spine like fire. My throat burned but I kept my voice steady.

“You can’t just accuse her of what she didn’t do.” Lana chipped in.

“Yes, you can’t I will fight this!” I muttered.

“Fight all you want, the board has already made a decision.” Sabrina said as her smile turned cruel.

I turned to Xavier again pleading. “You can’t do this—.”

“This isn’t my decision to make Elena.” He said his tone was flat like he didn’t care as his eyes darted to Sabrina's.

“This is insane—you know I’d never do something like that.” I rasped.

“Do you think I enjoy this?” His voice rise slightly but cold. “You were great with the campaign but this is beyond my control.”

I stared at him disbelief turning into rage. “You’re really doing this. You really want me fired!” I said my voice rising slightly.

“Careful Elena.” He said his jaw tightened.

“No.” I shot back.

“Elena—“ Lana called.

“Stay out of it Lana.” I fired at her. I moved closer to Xavier. “You’re careful. You want to ruin my career over a lie.”

Sabrina exhaled loudly. “Oh darling get the termination done already. I want her out of my sight.” She said as she pushed me out of Xavier’s way and I almost fell flat.

He exhaled sharply pressing the intercom. HR, prepare Miss Hart’s termination.”

The words hurt like two edged sword. I felt the blood drain from my body. “Effective immediately.” He added.

I wanted to scream, throw something, beat up Sabrina and make sure she loses her pretty wicked smile but I just smiled that smile that burned more than it comforted. “You’ll regret this Xavier! You’ve just underestimated me. “ I said my voice almost a whisper.

Lana stood there in shock as I walked pass her. Eyes followed me as I went to my office to grab my bag and coat. Lana stood at the door tears brimming in her eyes. “Elena—“

“I’m fine.” I lied. “It’s just a job.”

But it wasn’t just a job. It meant everything to me. The only way to pay my father’s hospital bills. My chance to prove I can build something of my own. And now. Gone just like that. When I got to the lobby, I saw Alaric standing at the entry, his expectation a perfect example of coordination, his hands inside the pocket, his perfectly tailed armani tuxedo.

As I walked to him, the events that has happened for the past 2 days keeps replaying like a recorder, especially the humiliation that happened a few minutes ago. My mind was made up. Alaric is the only way now to get back my reputation in the company and get my father's surgery done. I stood a few breaths away from him. My eyes sting with tears.

“Yes.” I said my voice was almost a whisper.

“Yes to what Miss Hart” he asked, his tone soft and calm.

“Yes to your marriage proposal. Yes to your plans. Yes to Everything.” I muttered as tears ran down my cheeks. He cleaned the tears with his bare hands and pulled me to a tight hug as I sobbed like a little child.