LIANA Nothing sucked more than going back to work. “Stupid Mondays. Why do these exist in the first place,” I grumbled as I closed the file and slammed it on my desk. “I swear, I didn’t know James was this terrible at his job. Why didn’t Zaylen fire him before? If I was the boss, I would’ve fired him on day-one.” “You know that Zaylen believes in keeping a friendly work-environment. He wanted to give James a chance to improve,” Kiara told me, but I rolled my eyes. “A chance? More like, a million chances,” I deadpanned. “Besides, why are you replying to me, instead of doing your work? I wasn’t even talking to you, but you ended up giving me some logical reason I didn’t ask for. Go back to work, or else, I will complain to your department's director.” Kiara chortled and shifted her gaze to her laptop. “As you say, Miss. Cranky-pants,” she muttered. It was so loud for me to hear. I walked to Kiara’s desk and stood in front of her with my hands on my hips. There was a deep annoyed

LIANA As I scrolled through my social media feed, my heart sank at the onslaught of negative comments and accusations directed towards Zaylen's company. Each post seemed to paint a darker picture than the last, with rumors swirling about illegal termination and unethical business practices. One article caught my eye, titled "Scandal Rocks Fournier: Allegations of Illegal Termination Surface." The headline alone was enough to send a chill down my spine, and as I clicked on the article, I braced myself for the onslaught of negativity that awaited me. The comments section was a battleground, with users hurling accusations and insults with reckless abandon. "I always knew there was something shady about that company," one user wrote. "This just proves they can't be trusted." Another comment read, "I can't believe I ever supported Fournier. I'm boycotting their products from now on. #ShameOnFournier #ShameOnCEOZaylenFournier." As I read through the comments, my frustration grew with ea

ZAYLEN As I watched the stock prices plummet and the protests against the company intensify, a sense of hopelessness washed over me like a tidal wave, threatening to engulf me entirely. For two days straight, I had witnessed the relentless onslaught of negativity and backlash, unable to do anything to stop it. The news of James's termination spread like wildfire as well. On top of that, he had just disappeared into thin air. How could he just vanish without a trace, leaving behind a trail of chaos and destruction in his wake? I sat at my desk, poring over the details of his sudden disappearance, trying to make sense of the situation. James hadn't even bothered to attend the court trials for his debt to Liana or the unfair termination case against my company. It was as if he had orchestrated this entire debacle purely for the sake of creating drama before saying, “bye, bitch.” The implications of James's actions were staggering. Not only had he caused irreparable damage to my

LIANA I blinked my eyes open, feeling slightly disoriented as I stirred from my nap on the couch. As my gaze adjusted to the dim light of the room, I noticed Zaylen sitting on the other couch, his eyes fixed on me with a gaze that felt intense yet gentle at the same time. A small flutter of surprise and curiosity stirred within me as I met his gaze, wondering what had brought him to the break room and why he was staring at me so intently. His presence felt both comforting and unsettling, like a warm blanket on a chilly night. "Hey," I said, my voice slightly hoarse from sleep. "What are you doing here?" Zaylen's expression softened into a faint smile as he replied, "Just keeping an eye on you. You looked like you needed some rest." "Thanks," I said softly, offering him a grateful smile. "I appreciate it." All of a sudden, I noticed the soft blanket draped over my body. I knew it was Zaylen who did this. “No need to thank me. I am just admiring the woman who saved my entire com

LIANA As I navigated through the mountain of tasks on my desk, I couldn't shake the feeling of pressure weighing down on me. With James's sudden disappearance, the workload had surged, leaving me to pick up the pieces and manage the chaos. But amidst the frenzy of deadlines and responsibilities, there was a sense of satisfaction simmering within me. For what James had done to me, his absence now felt like a small victory. James may have fled and become a fugitive, but the consequences of his actions were finally catching up to him. With Zaylen suing him for defamation, James was facing the repercussions of his deceit, and it brought a small measure of justice to my heart. Knowing that James was now struggling without access to his resources brought a sense of vindication. After all the pain he had caused me, seeing him face the consequences of his actions felt like a form of poetic justice. He was reaping what he had sown. Despite the overwhelming workload, I found solace in t