Skylar
I stared at the bar manager in disbelief, my heart pounding in my chest. Did he just say two hundred thousand dollars?TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS!!!For a second, I thought I had misheard, but the stern expression on his face, the way he glared at me, told me otherwise. My mouth went dry. I didn’t have that kind of money—not even close.Before I could react, Amber stepped forward, her voice firm. “I’ll pay for it.”I turned to her, eyes wide with both relief and concern. Amber had always been bold, never one to let anyone look down on her. I could tell she didn’t want Paul or his friend to think we were helpless. With a determined look, she pulled out her card and handed it to the bar manager.I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. At least the situation was about to be resolved.But then, the manager’s expression didn’t change as he handed the card back. “Declined.”Amber frowneSkylar"Skylar McLair."Ethan's voice was calm, but each word felt like a slap across my face. "The entire board of directors and I are very disappointed in you."I turned toward him as my heart began to race. There was a pin-drop silence in the room, the kind that only came before a storm.He sat there, his expression unreadable as he announced in a cold voice,"As the managing director of this company, I cannot—will not—tolerate this injustice. For stealing and presenting your colleague's work and attempting to pass it off as yours, you will be removed as the lead designer for this event."The floor beneath me felt like it gave way. But he didn’t stop there."Additionally, for bringing the company this kind of shame and disgrace, you will be stripped of your position as the Senior Creative Manager, and Ivana, in turn, will become the acting Senior Creative Manager."No. No, this can't be happening."What?! Ethan, no! You can't do that! She's lying!" I finally managed to scream, my v
SkylarI stood there, still as a statue, my heart thudding in my chest, hands lightly clenched at my sides. Everyone in the conference room was staring at me, but I couldn’t understand why. Ethan, who had been smiling earlier, suddenly cleared his throat.I looked at him, waiting for feedback, hoping maybe he had questions or minor suggestions—something to fine-tune the work I’d spent so many nights agonizing over."Skylar," he began in a sharp voice, "What exactly is the meaning of this? Did you come here just to waste everyone’s time?"I blinked, confused. A low murmur started somewhere in the back of the room."Excuse me?" I asked politely, furrowing my brows. "I'm... not sure what you mean. I spent a great deal of time creating this design. If there’s anything you feel needs improvement, I’m more than willing to make the necessary corrections."Ethan let out a short, dry scoff that sent a wave of unease through me."Corrections?" he asked mockingly. "Why would I correct a plagiar
SkylarThe past few days rushed by like a blur. With each ticking second, the pre-launch event for the biannual collection drew closer. I could feel the pressure mounting, but I didn’t let it weigh me down. Instead, I poured myself into my work with everything I had. This wasn’t just another jewelry design for me—it has to be the one. I wanted to create something that would leave a mark, something timeless, something people would talk about long after the event.I barely had time to look up from my work, but now and then, I caught glimpses of Ethan around the company. He still worked here, obviously, but ever since Mrs. Popeye, the sharp-eyed and all-business representative from the headquarters, had arrived to oversee things, Ethan had completely backed off. He no longer came close, never tried to chat or talk to me outside work hours, and most importantly, he couldn’t interfere with my work anymore. That alone gave me peace of mind.Finally, I could breathe. With Ethan out of the
Skylar It wasn’t until Ivana stepped out of the office that I finally reached for my phone,and dialed Cole's number.He picked up after the first ring. “Skylar,” he said in that familiar voice of his, smooth and teasing, “did you like your gift?"I smiled instantly, my eyes softening as I leaned against the edge of my desk. “I did. very well. It was perfect. Thank you so much, Cole.”He chuckled lightly. “Don’t mention it. I just knew you’d need it today. How did it go?”I breathed in deeply, feeling the weight of the day slowly lift. “Better than I expected. I wanted to thank you… for always believing in me. You always find a way to pull me through.”There was a pause on the line, followed by a soft sigh. “You’re stronger than you think, Sky. I just help you see that sometimes.”I bit my lip, caught off guard by the sudden warmth that surged through me. The way he had called me ‘Sky’— so effortlessly, so familiarly— made my heart skip a beat."Will you be coming back home today?" I
SkylarFrom the moment I stepped into the office building, I could instantly tell that something had shifted slightly. The hallway wasn’t filled with murmurs or eyes silently accusing me of things I hadn’t done. It was quiet.I blinked, wondering if I was dreaming or if maybe everyone had decided to take the day off.Had Cole done something? Was this what he meant by a "gift"?I didn’t have long to ponder before Athena, yes, Tara’s sharp-tongued assistant, walked into my office. She knocked lightly before pushing the door open, her expression surprisingly neutral. Not smug. Not irritated.“Miss Tara would like to see you in the boardroom, Skylar,” Athena said.Her voice wasn’t curt or laced with any sort of hidden contempt. There was even a calmness to it… maybe even admiration?I blinked again. “I’ll be there shortly,” I responded softly, grabbing a notepad even though I wasn’t sure I’d need it.Athena gave a small nod before stepping out.I smoothed down my skirt, took a calming br
Skylar I was buried beneath my pillow, trying to drown out the morning light and the buzz of reality that I wasn’t ready to face. My phone had rung three times now, vibrating furiously on the nightstand, but I had no intention of picking it up. I just wanted to stay in bed. Forever, if possible.Work? That was a word I didn’t want to hear.The events of the past few days had worn me out. The promotion—if I could even call it that—felt like a punishment. My colleagues looked at me differently now. No one smiled at me in the hallways. Whispers always followed me wherever I went. Even the work atmosphere felt choking and suffocating, to the point that I couldn't really concentrate anymore.How could I work in such a toxic environment?This morning, I decided enough was enough. I wasn't going back to that office anymore.I pulled the blanket tighter around me, ready to resume sleeping when the door suddenly creaked open."Skylar?" Ingrid's voice came in soft, almost coaxing. "Aren't you
Cole"Fire him," I said flatly.Xavier, who had just stepped into my office, blinked. "Sir?""The guard you assigned to watch Skylar," I repeated, my voice colder now. "If he can’t do his damn job, then why is he employed?"Xavier didn’t even attempt to defend the man. He nodded immediately, his expression tight with regret. "Understood. I’m sorry for the way things have been going. Don’t worry, I'll personally handle it."I leaned back in my chair, fingers drumming on the surface of my desk. I didn’t care for excuses today. Not when everything was already spiraling out of control."And the reporter or blogger, whoever he is?" I asked, looking up at him. "The one who posted the videos and pictures?"Xavier hesitated. "We’re still tracking them down. They’ve covered their tracks well, but we’re working on it."I slammed my palm on the desk, the sharp sound bouncing off the office walls. "A single person, Xavier. One man. I don’t care what he’s done—he is not a ghost. Utilize everything
SkylarI stared blankly at the screen in front of me, my fingers resting on the keyboard but not moving at all. My body was there—sitting at my desk, dressed in work clothes, staring at data I couldn't process—but my mind was far, far away.Since the promotion announcement in the conference room, I felt like a ghost. Whispers followed me like shadows. Stares burned my back. Conversations fell silent the moment I walked into a room. And above it all, Ethan’s smug face lingered in my memory like a scar I couldn’t stop touching.I should have stayed strong. I should have ignored it all and focused on work. But it was so hard to focus when every time I blinked, I saw his eyes—that look of smug victory in the conference room. It made my stomach twist with dread—and a deep, pulsing anger.Ivana never came to check on me… as expected. Rather, she kept her distance, and I never saw her around.My phone suddenly rang.I blinked and looked down. Mom.My heart sank. Slowly, I picked it up and an
EthanI leaned back in my chair, watching the corners of my lips curl in amusement. The image of Skylar’s face back in the conference room was still fresh in my mind—tense, shocked, trying to piece together what had just happened. The memory brought a certain satisfaction, a sense of justice delivered in silence. She had thought herself clever, flaunting Cole in front of me that night, pretending I no longer existed. Well, let her enjoy the heat now.Mason stood across the desk, going through some documents, talking numbers and projections. I nodded now and then, pretending to listen, though my mind was elsewhere—until my phone rang. It was Celeste.“Why did you promote Skylar?” she asked immediately I picked the call, her voice sharp and direct.My grip on the phone tightened slightly. I exchanged a brief glance with Mason, who quietly excused himself, sensing the shift in my mood. I leaned forward and lowered my voice.“Celeste,” I said calmly, “where did you hear that?”“That wasn'