Chapter 6 - Rumors

ELISHA POV

The next morning, when I arrived at the company, I overheard several employees whispering about me.

"Have you heard the news?"

"What news? I went home early yesterday."

"Our CEO praised his new secretary."

"Really? That's so unusual."

"Right?"

"How did that happen?"

"No one knows... unless there's something going on between them behind office hours."

One of them suddenly noticed me.

Her eyes widened in panic, and she quickly nudged the others.

Too late.

Now they wanted to stop talking after I'd already heard everything?

Typical toxicity.

I walked straight toward them.

"If you're going to talk about me, at least make sure I don't hear it, especially if you don't have the courage to say it to my face."

"Elisha..."

"Oh? Do you still have something to say? Since I've already heard everything, why don't you finish what you were saying? Go ahead. Say it right here in front of me. Don't be cowards."

"Elisha, we were just talking," one of them insisted.

"You think I'm stupid?" I shot back. "I clearly heard all of you talking trash about me. You accused me of something I never did. Then the moment I confront you, suddenly you're innocent? Suddenly you're the victims?"

"I'm sorry..."

"Sorry means nothing to me, especially coming from people like you and your little gossip circle."

I stepped closer.

"If that's how you treat other employees, don't expect me to stay quiet. I'll answer back. Don't bring your hypocrisy anywhere near me because I won't back down. We're all employees here. None of you have the right to speak badly about me. And if you're jealous, then go straight to Sir Caden and complain to him instead!"

No one dared respond.

"If you can't improve your looks, at least improve your attitude. Unfortunately, both are equally unpleasant."

After saying that, I walked away.

I had no intention of staying there any longer.I might end up catching their toxic attitude.

Ugly personalities to match ugly behavior.

Perfect pair.

CADEN POV

I noticed that Elisha seemed unusually quiet the moment she arrived at work.

Several times, I'd caught her staring blankly into space as if something heavy was weighing on her mind.

I'd already told her more than once that if she wasn't feeling well, she could go home and rest.

She'd been working late almost every night for the past couple of weeks.

"Sir, you have a meeting in one hour," she reminded me.

"Alright. Cancel my three o'clock appointment."

She nodded.

"Elisha."

"Yes, Sir?"

"Are you really sure you're okay?" I asked again.

She nodded.

"I'm just a little sleepy, Sir. Coffee will take care of it."

"Make sure it does. I don't want tomorrow's news reporting that one of my employees died."

She blinked.

"Died immediately? Couldn't it at least be dizziness or fainting first? That's a bit dramatic, don't you think?"

I simply shook my head.

ELISHA POV

I knew Caden had noticed since this morning that I wasn't acting like myself.

I just couldn't stop thinking about everything I'd overheard earlier. 

Even though none of it was true...

It still affected me.

Lunch Break

"How are you? How's work?" Yana asked the moment I answered her call.

"It's been okay. I'm just exhausted because we've been working overtime almost every day. Work itself isn't the problem... my coworkers are."

"What do you mean? Are you and your boss still not getting along?"

"It's not him. It's the employees."

"Why? What happened?"

"Typical toxic coworkers."

"How so?"

"They've been talking behind my back because Caden praised my work. They think I'm flirting with my boss."

Yana burst into laughter on the other end of the call.

"You?"

"I barely even talk to him unless it's about work. And now they're saying I'm flirting with someone like him? That's ridiculous."

"You'll never avoid people like that in the workplace. Especially those whose full-time job is being jealous of everyone else."

"I honestly don't care what they say."

We both laughed.

We continued talking until her lunch break ended.

After hanging up, I looked toward the building across from ours.

Earlier, I thought I'd seen someone standing there...

But now...

There was no one.

Maybe I was just imagining things because I was tired.

Or maybe...

Someone had really been watching.

SOMEONE POV

I couldn't help smiling as I looked through the photographs one by one.

Each picture had been taken from a different angle.

I carefully examined every single shot before choosing the best ones.

After selecting the photos, I attached them to a message addressed to an undisclosed recipient.

Before pressing Send, I typed one final sentence.

"This should destroy them both."

My smile widened.

The message was sent.

Before Elisha and Caden realized they were being watched...

Someone had already declared war.