THE FIRST STRIKE
1249 Words
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Elena Carter’s day began like any other, but there was a heaviness in the air that made her chest tighten. From the moment she arrived at Wolfe Industries, a subtle unease had settled over her. The early morning had been relatively quiet, but that calm was deceptive. She didn’t know it yet, but Vanessa Sterling’s plan had already been set into motion.
She tried to focus on her tasks, organizing reports and reviewing documents, but a faint queasiness tugged at her stomach. Every time she lifted her pen or reached for a folder, her hands trembled slightly. The physical exhaustion from the morning’s incident with Dominic had not faded, and the nausea was only growing stronger. She pressed a hand to her abdomen unconsciously, her breath catching as another wave hit her.
*Focus. Just get through the morning,* she told herself, swallowing hard.
The first sign that something was wrong came from a sharp knock at her cubicle. Three staff members, all chosen by Vanessa, approached her with clipped expressions. One of them dropped a stack of files onto her desk with a loud thud.
“Redo all of these,” the staff member said coldly, eyes gleaming with a malicious satisfaction. “And make sure it’s perfect this time.”
Elena looked up, confusion mixing with fear. “I… I already completed these…” she began, her voice wavering.
“You missed sections,” another snapped. “Redo them. Now.”
A third staff member leaned close, whispering harshly, “We’ll be watching every move you make. Don’t think you can slip by.”
Elena’s chest tightened. Every fiber of her being screamed at her to fight back, but she felt weak and dizzy, her vision blurring slightly. She gritted her teeth, nodding slowly. “Okay… I’ll redo them.”
Hours passed. Each minute felt like an eternity. Elena’s tasks multiplied inexplicably, and the staff hovered like predators, watching her struggle. The simple act of typing became arduous, her fingers trembling as she tried to maintain focus. Each wave of nausea grew stronger, and the dizziness threatened to topple her from her chair.
*Why is this happening?* she thought, her mind spinning. *I can’t… I won’t…*
But there was no one to help her, and no one would. Vanessa’s carefully orchestrated plan ensured that Elena felt isolated, pressured, and constantly on edge.
---
By mid-afternoon, Elena could barely stand. Her hands shook as she carried a stack of files across the office, her stomach twisting painfully. One of the staff members intercepted her, blocking her path.
“Where are you going?” the staff member demanded. “Those reports go back to the desk. All of them.”
Elena tried to step around him, but he grabbed her arm firmly. The sudden contact made her flinch, a sharp pang of nausea forcing her to clutch her abdomen.
“I… I’m carrying these back!” she stammered, struggling against the grip.
“You heard me,” the staff member said, his tone icy. “Do exactly as I say.”
A second staff member appeared, joining the first. Together, they began to steer her down the hallway, their grip tight and unyielding. Elena’s heart raced.
“Stop… please…” she begged, her voice shaking.
But they ignored her, dragging her further from her desk. She tried to fight back, weakly pushing against them, but her body refused to cooperate. Fatigue, nausea, and fear weighed her down.
They reached a small, secluded restroom at the end of the corridor. The moment they pushed her inside, the door slammed shut, and a bolt clicked into place. Elena stumbled, hitting the wall lightly, and sank to the floor. Her vision blurred as her knees buckled, leaving her sitting on the cold tile.
Her hands moved to her stomach instinctively, trying to steady herself. Waves of nausea and dizziness rocked her, leaving her trembling and almost unable to breathe.
“Someone… anyone…” she whispered, her voice breaking. “Please…”
Silence answered her.
The staff responsible for her torment lingered outside, their presence felt even through the locked door. Their malicious smirks were evident on their faces as they whispered among themselves. “She won’t last long,” one muttered. “She’s already breaking.”
Elena’s heart pounded violently. She pressed her forehead to her knees, trying to calm herself, but her body refused to cooperate. She felt trapped, powerless, and utterly alone.
---
Meanwhile, Dominic had stepped out of his office, curiosity piqued by the unusual silence in the hallway. His sharp eyes immediately picked up the guilty, nervous expressions of several staff members. They avoided eye contact, shifting uncomfortably as he approached.
“What’s going on?” he demanded, his voice low but commanding.
“We… we don’t know, sir,” one muttered, glancing nervously at the others.
“Don’t lie to me,” Dominic snapped, his gaze cutting through the group like a knife. “Tell me exactly where she is.”
A pause. One staff member stammered, “…The restroom…”
Dominic’s jaw tightened. Without another word, he moved swiftly down the hallway. His long strides carried him past trembling staff until he reached the restroom door. The lock clicked ominously. He banged on the door. “Elena! Open up!”
No response.
He didn’t wait. With a forceful kick, he unlocked the door and pushed it open. Inside, Elena sat slumped against the wall, pale and trembling, her hands clutching her abdomen. Her eyes fluttered weakly as Dominic knelt beside her, examining her with sharp concern.
“Elena… stay with me,” he said firmly.
Her lips parted weakly. “…Dominic…”
He scooped her into his arms, holding her gently but protectively. Every tremor of her body made his chest tighten. He glanced at the staff members lingering outside, his gaze dark and furious.
“Who did this?” he demanded, his voice low and dangerous.
Elena tried to speak, but only a faint whisper escaped: “…I don’t know…”
Dominic’s hands tightened around her, his protective instincts flaring. Whoever orchestrated this—planned it, executed it—would face consequences. He would not allow harm to come to her, not while he could prevent it.
Carrying her to his office, he laid her carefully on the sofa, brushing her hair from her pale face. Her trembling hands rested against her stomach. She was weak, fragile, and utterly dependent in that moment, and Dominic realized fully for the first time how much he cared.
“You’re going to be okay,” he murmured. “But we’re going to the hospital now.”
Elena’s eyes widened faintly. “…Hospital?”
“Yes,” he said firmly. “We’ll find out exactly what’s going on, and I’ll make sure no one hurts you again.”
As he held her, the staff outside cowered. Dominic’s fury radiated, and even without knowing Vanessa’s role yet, he could see the fear his presence inspired.
Elena’s lips trembled as she whispered, “…Thank you…”
Dominic’s gaze softened slightly, but the edge of anger never left his voice. “You don’t need to thank me. I’ll always protect you. No one will ever do this to you again.”
Even as she rested in his arms, she knew her life was changing forever. And with Dominic Wolfe by her side, she had a small, fragile hope that maybe—just maybe—she could survive the challenges to come.
- Writer
