Chapter 6

Sophia's POV

Michael took a few steps toward me, stopping just an arm's length away. "Because it's the right thing to do. Because I can't stand seeing what they're doing to you. Because..."

He didn't finish the sentence, but something in his eyes made my heart race in a way it hadn't since... well, since Alexander.

"I need to think," I replied, too confused to make any decision at that moment.

Michael nodded, understanding. "Of course. Take your time. But don't take too long. The restructuring starts on Monday."

He walked to the door, pausing with his hand on the knob. "One last thing, Sophia. Whatever you decide, be careful. Victoria is more dangerous than she seems. And Alexander..." he hesitated, "Alexander isn't as simple as you think."

With those somewhat enigmatic words, he left, leaving me there alone with my swirling thoughts and a new set of unanswered questions.

I returned to the computer, trying to focus on the slides I needed to finish, but my mind was elsewhere. What Michael had said churned in my head, leaving me feeling a little scared, I admit.

At 3 a.m., I finally finished the presentation and sent it to Victoria, knowing she would probably find something to criticize, some excuse to humiliate me again.

Lying in bed, exhausted but unable to sleep, I made a decision. I wouldn't resign. Not yet. If Victoria and Alexander wanted war, they'd get war. I might have lost a battle, but I wouldn't lose the war.

With that thought, I finally fell asleep, unaware that the worst was yet to come.

*****

Monday arrived with a sense of inevitability. I woke up before the alarm, after a night of restless sleep filled with nightmares where Alexander and Victoria laughed while I sank into quicksand.

I dressed with special care – a tight black dress I rarely wore to the office, higher heels than usual, impeccable makeup. If I was going to face the day Michael had predicted, I would do it with dignity.

The atmosphere in the office was tense when I arrived. Groups of employees whispered amongst themselves, stopping abruptly whenever a director passed by. Everyone seemed to know something big was about to happen.

Victoria wasn't in her office – *my* old office. She was probably in the executive meeting where the fate of the marketing department would be sealed.

I sat at my cubicle, turning on the computer and pretending to work while my stomach twisted in knots. At 10 o'clock sharp, an email arrived summoning the entire department to an extraordinary meeting in the main auditorium.

It was beginning.

I followed the others, keeping my head held high despite the pitying looks some colleagues gave me. Did they already know? Had the rumors about my supposed firing already spread?

The auditorium was almost full when I entered. I chose a seat at the back, wanting to observe without being observed. Minutes later, the executives filed in – first the vice presidents, then Michael, who avoided looking in my direction, and finally Alexander and Victoria, side by side, the perfect image of a successful executive couple.

Alexander took the microphone, his face a mask of professional seriousness. "Good morning, everyone. Thank you for coming on such short notice. As you know, Reed Group is always evolving, always seeking ways to stay at the forefront of the market."

Empty words, I thought. Preparing the ground for the massacre that would follow.

"In recent months, we've conducted an in-depth analysis of all departments, seeking opportunities for optimization and growth. And we've concluded that some significant changes are necessary."

He made a dramatic pause, his eyes scanning the audience. For a brief moment, our gazes crossed, and I thought I saw something – hesitation? remorse? – flicker across his face. But it was so quick I might have imagined it.

"The marketing department will undergo a complete restructuring," he continued. "Our new Vice President, Victoria Pierce, will present the details."

Victoria stepped forward, radiant in her red pantsuit, the color of the blood about to be spilled.

"Thank you, darling," she smiled, her honeyed voice echoing through the auditorium. "As my fiancé mentioned, we conducted a detailed analysis of the department and identified several areas that need... renewal."

She began detailing the new structure, exactly as Michael had predicted. Half the positions would be eliminated, replaced by a new team she had personally selected. The criteria for who stayed and who left were vague, subjective, clearly designed to justify any arbitrary decision she wanted to make.

I watched the faces around me – shock, fear, indignation. People who had dedicated years of their lives to the company, who had worked nights and weekends to deliver exceptional results, now discarded like broken machine parts.

"The full list of affected positions will be emailed this afternoon," Victoria concluded, her smile unwavering. "Those who will not continue with us will receive a generous severance package and outplacement support."

Lies. The "generous package" would be the legal minimum, and the "outplacement support" would be a generic recommendation letter not worth the paper it was printed on.

"Any questions?" Victoria asked, as if she were genuinely open to dialogue.

A heavy silence fell over the auditorium. No one wanted to be the first to speak, to stand out, to potentially land on the blacklist.

Before I could stop myself, I stood up. All eyes turned to me, including Alexander's, who frowned slightly.

"Miss Morgan," Victoria acknowledged, her false smile unwavering. "Do you have a question?"

"Not a question," I responded, my voice firmer than I expected. "An observation. This restructuring has nothing to do with optimization or growth. It's a political purge to replace competent professionals with personal appointments."

A murmur ran through the auditorium. Victoria kept smiling, but her eyes hardened. "I appreciate your... perspective, Sophia. But I assure you every decision was made based on objective performance criteria."

"Really?" I challenged, unable to stop now that I'd started. "Then why are the names of the new hires already defined? Why do they all have connections to the Pierce family?"

The murmur grew louder. Victoria shot a quick glance at Alexander, who stepped forward, taking control of the situation.

"Miss Morgan, your concerns are understandable but unfounded," he said, his tone cold and authoritative. "Every new hire has gone through a rigorous selection process."

"Conducted by whom?" I asked, looking directly at him. "By your fiancée, who's been in the role for less than a month?"

Alexander narrowed his eyes, and I recognized that look. It was the same one he directed at competitors before crushing them. "This is neither the time nor the place for this kind of discussion, Miss Morgan. If you have specific concerns about the process, I suggest you address them to the Human Resources department."

The same HR department that reported directly to him. What a joke.

"Of course," I replied, my tone laden with sarcasm. "I'm sure they'll give it due attention."

A tense silence fell over the auditorium. No one dared speak to Alexander Reed like that. No one.

"The meeting is adjourned," Alexander declared abruptly. "The emails will be sent by the end of the day."

People began to rise, still in shock, whispering agitatedly. I turned to leave, feeling Alexander's gaze burning into my back.

"Miss Morgan," his voice reached me. "A moment, please."

I took a deep breath before turning around. Alexander and Victoria stood side by side, him with an unreadable expression, her with a barely disguised triumphant smile.

"In my office. Now," he ordered, before turning and walking out, Victoria in tow.

I felt everyone's eyes on me as I followed the couple out of the auditorium. Some were pitying, others held a veiled admiration for my courage – or stupidity, depending on the perspective.