Chapter 5

Sophia's POV

Victoria continued to stare at me, a smirk playing on her lips. I froze.

"Unless, of course, you'd prefer to explain to Alexander why you're prioritizing your personal life over an important client."

I felt my face burn with anger. She was doing this on purpose. She knew I couldn't afford to displease Alexander any further.

"I'll do the slides," I conceded, hating myself for it. "But I won't stay late at the office. I'll work from home."

Victoria seemed to consider for a moment, then nodded. "Fine. But I want the files in my inbox by 8 a.m. tomorrow. No delays."

She walked away, the sound of her heels echoing through the nearly empty floor at that hour. I sighed, sending a quick message to Michael.

'Need to reschedule. Last-minute work.'

The response came almost instantly.

'It's really important, Sophia. I can come later. 10 p.m.?'

I hesitated. What could be so urgent that it couldn't wait until Monday?

'Ok. 10 p.m. then.'

I arrived home exhausted, both physically and emotionally. After a quick shower and a makeshift sandwich, I dove into redoing all the presentation slides. As I suspected, there was nothing wrong with the previous version. Victoria was just flexing her power, showing she could control my time, my life.

I was so absorbed in my work that I barely heard the doorbell ring at exactly 10 p.m. Michael Carter was punctual, as always.

I opened the door, surprised by his appearance. Normally impeccable in his expensive suits, Michael looked tired, with deep dark circles under his eyes and slightly disheveled hair.

"Sorry to come so late," he said, entering when I invited him in. "But I needed to make sure no one from the office would see me."

I frowned, intrigued. "What's going on, Michael?"

He looked around my small apartment, seeming uncomfortable. It wasn't luxurious like the places he probably frequented, but it was cozy and mine.

"May I?" he asked, indicating the sofa.

I nodded, sitting in the opposite armchair. "You're worrying me."

Michael took a deep breath, as if gathering courage. "I came to warn you, Sophia. Things are going to get worse at the office."

A chill ran through my stomach. "Worse how?"

"Alexander and Victoria are planning a complete restructuring of the marketing department. They're going to fire half the team and replace them with people recommended by Victoria's father."

My eyes widened, shocked. "He can't do that! Some of those people have worked there for years. They're talented, dedicated professionals..."

"He can and he will," Michael interrupted, his tone grave. "The decision has already been made. The announcement will be on Monday."

I stood up, too agitated to sit. "Why? The department is doing well, the results are excellent..."

"It's not about results," Michael explained, running a hand through his hair in a nervous gesture. "It's about power. Victoria wants her own team, people loyal to her, not to you."

I felt as if I'd been punched in the stomach. All those people would lose their jobs because of me. Because of this silent war between me and Victoria.

"And me?" I asked, dreading the answer. "Will I be fired too?"

Michael hesitated, and that was answer enough.

"Alexander wants to keep you," he finally said. "But in an even more downgraded position. Junior marketing assistant, reporting to one of the new hires."

I laughed humorlessly. "He really wants to break me, doesn't he?"

"Sophia..." Michael stood up, approaching me. "There's more."

Something in his tone made me shiver. "What?"

"Victoria isn't satisfied with just taking your job and your team. She wants to destroy your professional reputation."

"What do you mean?"

Michael seemed genuinely uncomfortable now. "She's spreading rumors in the industry. Saying you falsified results, that you took credit for others' work, that you slept with executives to climb the corporate ladder."

I felt my face burn with indignation. "That's slander! She can't just make up lies about me!"

"She can when she has the company's CEO backing every word," Michael replied darkly. "Alexander is using his contacts to ensure no major company hires you after you leave Reed Group."

I fell back into the armchair, stunned. It wasn't enough to humiliate me within the company; they wanted to ensure I'd never get a good job in New York again.

"Why are you telling me this?" I asked, suddenly suspicious. "You're Alexander's best friend."

Michael sat down again, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. "Because what they're doing is wrong. Because you don't deserve this."

I studied his face, looking for signs of lies or manipulation. I found none.

"How long have you known about... us?" I asked, referring to my relationship with Alexander.

"From the beginning," he admitted. "Alexander told me after the first time you... well, you know."

I felt my face burn with shame. The idea of Alexander discussing our intimacy with Michael was humiliating.

"And you never said anything."

"It wasn't my place," he replied simply. "Besides, I thought he genuinely liked you. I'd never seen him so... alive as when he talked about you."

His words reopened a wound I was desperately trying to close. "Clearly you were mistaken."

"Perhaps," Michael said, his tone enigmatic. "Or maybe there's more to this story than meets the eye."

I frowned, confused. "What do you mean?"

Michael hesitated, as if weighing his next words carefully. "Victoria isn't who you think she is. Nor is her relationship with Alexander as... spontaneous as it seems."

My heart raced. "Explain."

"Victoria's father, Senator Pierce, is one of Reed Group's largest investors. In recent months, he's been pressuring Alexander for a merger with his own companies. A merger that would give him significant control over Reed Group."

"And the engagement is part of that deal," I concluded, the pieces falling into place.

Michael nodded. "A corporate marriage, essentially. Victoria gets status and power, Senator Pierce gets influence at Reed Group, and Alexander..."

"Gets what?" I asked when he hesitated.

"International expansion. The Senator has political connections that can open doors in markets Alexander has been trying to penetrate for years."

I absorbed the information slowly. So it wasn't love. It was business. Somehow, that hurt even more. Alexander didn't trade me for love of another woman, but for pure business calculation.

"Why are you telling me all this, Michael?" I asked again. "What do you gain from this?"

He looked me directly in the eyes, and there was something in his gaze I couldn't decipher. "Because I think you deserve to know the truth. And because..." he hesitated, "because I care about you, Sophia. I always have."

His words took me by surprise. Michael Carter, the cold, calculating executive, Alexander's right-hand man, cared about me?

"You barely know me," I replied, suspicious.

"I know enough," he said simply. "I've seen how you work, how you treat people, how you've maintained your dignity even when they tried to break you. You're... different."

I didn't know how to respond. Part of me wanted to believe him, in the sincerity that seemed to emanate from his eyes. Another part, the hurt and suspicious part, wondered if this wasn't just another manipulation.

"What do you suggest I do with this information?" I finally asked.

Michael stood up, walking to the window overlooking the lit-up city. "Get out before they destroy you completely. Resign, Sophia."

"You know I can't afford the severance penalty."

He turned to me, his gaze intense. "I'll pay it."

My eyes widened, shocked. "What?"

"I'll pay the penalty," he repeated, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Consider it a loan if you prefer. You can pay me back when you get a new job."

"Why would you do that for me?"