EPISODE THREE
1412 Words
Emily's POV
All my life, I’ve never known rest, nor peace. I gave up mine, so my younger brother could have both.
Now, I am sitting on the couch of our tiny apartment, arms folded across my chest, tears threatening to fall but stubbornly held back. The silence was heavy, but not heavier than the weight in my chest.
“Emily, say something,” Victor said.
He stood in front of me—arms crossed, face hard. No remorse. No guilt. Just defiance.
“How old are you, Victor?” I asked, trying to maintain a steady voice.
He blinked, scoffed. “What the f**k does that have to do with anything?”
I inhaled quietly, biting back a scream. “Victor,” I said again, lower this time, “Answer the damn question.”
“I’m eighteen,” he snapped. “You know that already.” Just trying to piss me off, huh?”
“Eighteen,” I repeated with a bitter smile. “Eighteen and already ruining your life.”
“And what business do you have with that?” he asked, arms still folded.
“Do you know how much I've sacrificed for you in the long run, I…”
He interrupted.
He threw his arms up. “Oh, here we go again! The ‘I sacrificed everything for you’ speech.
Did I ask you to do it? Did I?”
His words sliced through me like knives. My throat tightened. “You… you can’t be serious.”
“Whatever you’re going through, that’s your problem,” he said, turning toward the door. I’m not living like you. I’m not dying behind some desk pretending it’s a life.”
“You step out that door,” I said, voice shaking, “you’re no longer my brother.”
He paused. Looked over his shoulder.
“Then be my guest,” he muttered and walked out.
The door slammed behind him. And just like that, a part of me I’d been holding together for years finally shattered.
I cried until the night turned into something long and cruel. It felt like time slowed down just to mock me.
By 3 a.m., sleep had long left me.
I got up, opened my drawer, and pulled out the old diary I hadn’t touched in years. It smelled like forgotten dreams. Inside, tucked between the pages, was a to-do list I'd written back when I still believed in hope.
"Things to do after quitting Apex Corporation," it read.
I grabbed a pen and started adding more.
Play online games. Write poetry again. Dance barefoot. Eat dessert first. Breathe.
Maybe this was a blessing in disguise.
With Victor gone, the weight on my shoulders felt lighter. It hurt, but maybe I needed the hurt to wake me up.
And, I'm also sure one day he'll realize his loss and face the reality that bears responsibility.
Morning came slowly, but I welcomed it.
I showered, took my time with my makeup, tied my hair in a sharp ponytail. Then I picked a sleek black dress that hugged my body perfectly. The heels I bought years ago and never wore on then went. Lipstick, perfume, confidence—I layered them all like armor.
Today, I wasn’t the errand girl. I wasn’t invisible.
Today, I was Emily.
It took more than a minute to get there. The traffic made it slower, but here I was, seated,
unbothered.
I stepped into Apex Corporation with my head high. People turned, confused. They didn’t recognize me.
I smiled.
The elevator doors nearly shut before someone slid in.
Mr. Lucas.
I bowed slightly. “Good morning, sir.
He gave his usual icy nod. His dark suit looked impeccable, but he seemed tired, pale—haunted, even. Then his phone rang.
“Yes, Thomas,” he said, his voice low and grave.
I couldn’t hear all the details, but the sharpness in his tone hinted something wasn’t right.
The elevator opened on my floor. I walked out without looking back.
The moment I stepped into my department, everything stopped.
People stared.
Some whispered. Some gawked.
I walked straight to my desk, where a stack of documents waited like punishment.
I picked them up calmly.
One by one, I returned them to their owners.
“I think you forgot this on my desk,” I said sweetly.
One woman glared, Elwan, “Are you stupid?”
I tilted my head. “If anyone here’s stupid, I think it might be you.”
Gasps. Eyes wide. Mouths open.
She folded her arms, lips curled. “You got wasted last night or something? Forgot your place?”
I laughed. Loud and shameless. “No, darling. I think you forgot yours. I’m not your errand girl.”
“You’re a nobody,” she snapped. “A slave.”
“Funny,” I said, “because I don’t know any slaves getting paid more than their masters." You know what your real problem is? You think you're untouchable. But I know your little secret.”
“You don’t know s**t,” she spat.
“Oh, don’t I?” I laughed again. “You think I don’t know how you got into this company?
Sleeping with Mr. Ford wasn’t exactly subtle.”
She turned red. Furious.
“You won't get away with this b***h”. She said in an almost high pitch.
“Do your worst”.
I turned away, triumphant.
The room buzzed with whispers as I returned to my desk, pulled out a pristine white envelope, and walked straight to the CEO’s office.
I knocked. Once. Twice.
“Come in,” he said.
He stood by the window, sipping his coffee, back turned, watching the tall buildings meters away. When I cleared my throat, he hesitated, then he turned.
His eyes trailed over me—not in a perverse way, but like he was seeing something he hadn’t expected. Then, a rare thing happened.
He smirked.
Did he just smirk? I wasn't daydreaming, was I ?
“Speak,” he said, interrupting my thoughts.
I placed the envelope on his desk. “I’m resigning, sir.”
His smirk faded. His eyes turned cold.
“Reasons?”
I kept my chin high. I just wanted a different job. A different life.”
He stood. Walked toward me.
“What will people say?” he asked quietly. “That the almighty Apex Corporation couldn’t keep a secretary who left for crumbs?”
He was close. Too close.
“If Apex really cared for its employees, it would know how many are crumbling inside,” I replied.
He stared at me for a long time, then smiled slightly. “You want a raise?”
I laughed once. “I want a life.”
“You think you can just walk out?” he said. “I could make sure you never get hired anywhere else.”
His words chilled me.
But then he said, “But you’re valuable, Emily. So, let’s make a deal.”
“A deal? "I'm literally a slave to everyone. "I don't have a say because I have no qualifications, I don't breathe in front of other employees because I wasn't asked, and with all this torment I'm facing, you still offer a deal?” I frowned.
He looked at me and didn't say anything for seconds.
"You let people use your email, you never say anything about it, you can't hold anyone responsible for how you feel"
"That's why I want to resign, Sir, this place is Hell for me".
"Be professional, don't mix emotions with business, that's a great downfall".
"f**k that downfall,I'm already on the floor, how much more do you want me to fall?" My eyes were clouded with tears.
“One month,” he said. Stay one month. I’ll draft a contract. After that, you walk—or stay. No strings.”
I hesitated.
“And,” he added, “you’ll be promoted." My personal assistant.”
I blinked. “Wait… what?”
He sat back down. “You heard me. You’ll work directly under me. "You’ll travel, make double your salary, gain experience no one else in this building will ever touch.”
“Why me?” I asked.
He looked straight into my eyes. “Because, despite everything, you never broke." You’re not iinvisible, Emily. You’re just in the wrong role.”
My throat tightened.
Maybe I wasn’t dreaming after all.
Maybe I was finally waking up.
- Writer
