CHAPTER 29
ARIA’S POV
As Elodie and Eva step into the reception, nausea churns in my stomach, threatening to overwhelm me. Despite the rising tide of unease, I force myself to maintain a air of calm. My heart pounds in my chest, a rapid rhythm betraying the turmoil within.
Every step they take closer feels like a weight pressing down on me, suffocating me with apprehension. But I swallow hard, steeling myself against the panic threatening to consume me.
As their eyes lock onto mine, I brace myself for the inevitable onslaught of humiliation. It is as though their gaze alone has the power to strip away any semblance of dignity possess, leaving me exposed and vulnerable.
My breath catches in my throat as I anticipate their cutting words and disdainful glances. A knot forms in my stomach, tightening with each passing moment. Every fiber of my being screams to retreat, to flee from the impending humiliation. But I stand my ground, my outward composure a thin veil concealing the torrent of fear and shame raging within me.
As I meet Elodie’s gaze, I feel a shiver run down my spine, a premonition of the impending humiliation. Her smirk twists her features into a mask of disdain, signaling the beginning of the mockery I knew was inevitable.
My pulse quickens, the sound of blood rushing in my ears drowning out any other noise. I can almost hear the sharp edge to her words before she even speaks, each syllable poised to cut deeper than the last. My defenses falter for a moment, a surge of vulnerability threatening to overwhelm me. But I steel myself against the onslaught, refusing to let her see the extent of the pain she inflicts.
“After leaving Adam’s company, this is what you deserve!”
As Eva seizes the moment, her words slice through the air like a dagger, each syllable landing with precision to exacerbate my already raw wounds. I can feel the weight of her disdain bearing down on me, pressing me further into the depths of humiliation.
It is as though every insecurity I have ever harbored is laid bare before them, ripe for their mockery and derision. A bitter taste floods my mouth; a cocktail of shame and indignation swirling within me. Despite the urge to shrink away, I hold my ground, refusing to let them see the cracks in my façade.
Every part of my being screams for reprieve, for escape from the relentless assault on my dignity. But I remain rooted in place, a silent testament to my resilience in the face of their cruelty.
“And she has the guts to say that she’s friend with Stella Newton!”
Elodie scans me up and down, and chuckle.
“Friend with Stella but couldn’t find a better work than receptionist!”
Their laughter echoes through the room, a cacophony of mockery that reverberates in my ears like a cruel symphony.
As their laughter subsides, I meet their gazes with a steely resolve, refusing to grant them the satisfaction of seeing me falter. Despite the barrage of mockery and humiliation, I stand tall. So let them dream on, for they will find no easy victory in me.
“What brings you both here?”
We’re here to meet the manager, Donatella Lewis.”
Despite their attempts to assert dominance, I know the truth–they are here to meet one of my subordinates, not
+25 BONUS
CHAPTER 29
to lord over me. Yet, their demeanor suggests otherwise, a thinly veiled attempt to assert their perceived superiority.
“Look how afraid she is!”
Eva mistakes my hospitality to visitors as intimidation.
“We’re friends with Donatella… So, are you shitting your pants already?!”
As Eva’s words grow increasingly venomous, laced with profanity and thinly veiled threats, I feel a surge of anger bubbling beneath the surface. How dare she think that her crude attempts at intimidation could make me cower?
My jaw sets in a firm line, a silent defiance against her blatant aggression. Despite the urge to retaliate in kind, to match her venom with my own, I remain composed, refusing to stoop to her level. Let her bark and snarl all she wants; I refuse to be swayed by her attempts to instill fear.
For I know that true strength lies not in aggression, but in resilience in the face of adversity. So let her think what she will; I will not be made to crawl by her base tactics.
“Please have a seat while you wait for her.”
They both do as told, but then, shock me when they expect me to serve them drinks as if I am a waitress
“Sorry. This is not part of the receptionist job profile!”
