The billionaire’s forgotten night

Chapter 1 The office buzzed with the sharp rhythm of keyboards and ringing phones but to Tara everything felt like noise pressing against her skull. She could not have enough sleep again dark circles sat heavily under her eyes but she kept her head down fingers moving quickly across the keyboard as she tried to finalize the report due in less than ten minutes. Her chest felt tight her stomach empty except for the bitter taste of cheap coffee but she didn’t stop. “Tara.” Her name cut through the air like a blade. She froze. Slowly she looked up. Mr Collins stood at the entrance of the office floor his expression dark his presence immediately silencing the room conversations died mid sentence. Heads turned Eyes shifted, some curious. Tara’s pulse spiked. “Yes, sir?” she said, standing quickly. “Bring the quarterly report. Now.” Her heart skipped. “It’s it’s almost done sir. Just a few corrections” “Now,” he repeated, sharper this time. A ripple of tension passed through the room Tara swallowed hard grabbed the file and walked toward him each step felt heavier than the last something was wrong she could feel it very wrong. Mr. Collins didn’t wait he turned and walked straight toward the conference room Tara followed aware of the dozens of eyes tracking her every move. The moment she stepped inside, she realized this wasn’t normal. The senior management team was already seated. Her breath caught. Why were they here? Mr. Collins walked to the head of the table and tossed the report on the table “Explain this.” Tara blinked “Sir?” He opened the file and flipped it toward her stabbing a finger at the page. “These figures there projections do you think this is a joke?” Her eyes scanned the document and her blood ran cold. The numbers were completely wrong. “No… no, this isn’t” Her voice faltered. “This isn’t what I submitted.” A few people shifted in their seats. Someone scoffed quietly. Mr. Collins let out a cold laugh “So now you’re saying someone else sabotaged your work?” “I’m not saying that the figures have been altered I double checked everything last night before sending it” “Are you calling me a liar?” The room went still. Tara’s throat tightened “No sir I will never” “Then explain why this report is filled with errors that could cost this company millions.” Her hands trembled as she reached for the file again flipping through the pages frantically. This wasn’t hers it can’t be. The formulas were changed, entire sections rewritten key data missing. Her breathing grew uneven. “I don’t understand I did everything right. I stayed late, I checked every number” “And yet this is what you produced?” Mr. Collins cut in, his voice rising “Do you have any idea how incompetent this makes you look?” Heat burned behind her eyes. “I’m not incompetent” she said, her voice shaking but firm “Please just give me time to fix this, I know I can correct it” “Fix it?” he repeated incredulously. “You think this is something you fix after the damage is done?” A few people exchanged looks. Tara could feel it judgment, pity and satisfaction. I can fix this I’ll stay all night if I have to.” Mr. Collins leaned back studying her like she was something unpleasant. “That won’t be necessary.” Her heart dropped. “Effective immediately,” he continued, his voice cold and final, “you are fired.” The words didn’t register at first. Tara blinked. “I… what?” “You’re fired.” The room spun. “No no sir, please,” she rushed out stepping forward “You can’t do this this isn’t fair I didn’t make those mistakes I swear Just give me one chance to prove it” “You’ve already had your chances.” Her chest tightened painfully. “I’ve worked here for three years” she said desperation creeping into her voice. “I’ve never made a mistake like this before You know my record please I need this job.” “And the company needs competent employees.” The finality in his tone hit harder than a slap. Tara felt something inside her crack. “Security” Mr. Collins called calmly. The door opened almost immediately. Two guards stepped in. Humiliation flooded her system hot and suffocating. “No please don’t do this” she whispered her voice breaking now. “I’m begging you” “Escort her out.” The guards moved toward her. Tara stepped back instinctively, shaking her head. “I can walk. I’ll go. Just please” No one spoke or defended her not even a single person sheforced herself to stand straight even as her vision blurred with unshed tears she wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of seeing her completely break. Not here in front of all of them. With trembling hands she gathered her things Her movements were stiff mechanical, every step toward the door felt like she was walking through fire. As she reached it she paused. Just for a second. Hoping foolishly that someone would say something. Anything and no one did. So she walked out. The moment the doors closed behind her the noise came rushing back whispers, murmurs, the low hum of gossip spreading like wildfire. Tara kept walking passed the reception. Out into the blinding sunlight the city moved around her like nothing had changed. But everything had. Her hands shook as she clutched her bag tightly against her chest her breathing came in uneven bursts, her vision swimming as the weight of what had just happened crashed down on her. Fired just like that no warning or second chance. Her knees felt weak but she forced herself to keep moving she couldn’t stop here If she stopped she would break and she didn’t know if she could put herself back together again. Not now. Not when everything depended on her. Ken.The thought of her son hit her like a punch to the chest. School fees, rent and food. Her mother’s medication. A sharp pain twisted in her stomach “What am I going to do?” she whispered to herself her voice barely audible. She turned the corner heading toward the exit. She needed fresh air or anything to escape the suffocating reality pressing down on her. And then she heard it. “I told you it would work.” Tara slowed her heart skipped. The voices came from just around the corner near the back entrance. “She didn’t even suspect a thing,” another voice said followed by a quiet laugh. Tara’s breath caught. She moved closer, her steps silent her pulse pounding in her ears. “All we had to do was swap the report. Too easy.” Her entire body went cold. No. “Mr Collins was already looking for a reason to get rid of her anyway.” A third voice familiar toofamiliar. Tara’s fingers tightened around her bag. “Honestly she deserved it acting like she’s better than everyone.” Laughter, Soft, Cruel and Satisfied. The world tilted. It wasn’t a mistake nor an accident. It was planned. They set her up. Every late night every effort every sacrifice. Destroyed just like that. Tears burned her eyes but this time, they weren’t just from pain. They were from something deeper but something sharper. Betrayal. Tara took a slow step back her mind racing her emotions spiraling. For a moment she wanted to confront them to demand answers Instead, she turned and walked away. Because deep down she knew this wasn’t the end. It was the beginning of something much worse. or something much bigger. Her grip on her bag tightened her jaw setting despite the tears still falling silently down her face. “But I’m not done yet.” Behind her, the laughter continued. Unaware, unbothered and unprepared she stepped outside the office Tara wasn’t just broken. She was burning.