My Devil In A Suit

CHAPTER 3

"Hey, new girl."

I stopped at my desk, my fingers tightening around my bag strap.

Standing in front of me was a woman in a tight suit, leaning against my desk with a coffee cup in hand. She looked me up and down with pure disgust.

"You must really be on Damien's good side to get hired right after a scandal like that," she sneered, her voice carrying across the quiet room. "If you ask me, I'm sure you forced yourself on him.”

Giggles echoed from the desks behind her. A few coworkers turned around, whispering to each other while glancing at their phone screens.

They were looking at the edited video. I just knew it.

My face burned with humiliation, but I refused to bow my head. I had already lost my boyfriend, my job at the bar, and my family's respect in less than twenty-four hours. I couldn't afford to lose this job, too.

I stepped closer, staring her dead in the eye. "Yeah, maybe it looked that way to a snake like you. But you should really learn to keep your opinions to yourself before you speak.”

The woman gasped, her eyes widening in shock. "What did you just call me?"

"Vanessa?"

A calm, sharp voice sliced through the air. Koré walked out of the executive office, holding a tablet against her chest.

"You know the company rules about workplace conduct," Koré said, her eyes narrowing at Vanessa. "Back off and let her get to work."

Vanessa's jaw clenched. She gave me one last glare before spinning on her high heels. "This isn't over," she muttered under her breath.

Koré clapped her hands, attracting everyone's attention. "Alright, listen up. The new collection of architectural designs was officially released this morning. We have a tight deadline, and we need this project finished before the weekend. It is all hands on deck. I will email everyone their team assignments in a few minutes."

"Koré, please," Vanessa called out loudly. "Just make sure the new girl isn't on my team. I don't need dead weight dragging my project down."

"I don't make promises," Koré replied coldly. "Now, everyone back to work."

The rest of the day was absolute torture.

Every time I walked past the water cooler or the breakroom, people leaned together to whisper.

“Is that really her?”

“I heard she tried to trap the CEO for money.”

“Why did Damien even hire her?”

I kept my head down, typing away at my computer, forcing my eyes not to water. I had to endure this. I needed the paycheck.

Just before 5:00 PM, the office suddenly went dead silent.

I looked up. Damien stepped out of his corner office, wearing a dark suit that made him look completely out of reach. His sharp gaze swept across the floor before resting on me for a fraction of a second.

He didn't say a word. He just adjusted his cuffs and walked toward the private elevator.

My heart pounded against my ribs until the elevator doors closed.

When the clock hit five, I packed my things as fast as I could. I rushed out of the building, the cold evening air slapping my face as I walked down to the bus stop.

While standing under the flickering streetlights, my phone buzzed in my coat pocket.

It was an email notification.

From: Koré (HR & Executive Management)

Subject: Official Project Team Assignments

My hands shook as I tapped the screen. I closed my eyes for three seconds, praying to whatever higher power was listening.

Please, not Vanessa. Anyone but her.

I opened my eyes and scrolled down the list.

To my massive relief, my name wasn't anywhere near Vanessa's group. I let out a long breath I didn't realize I was holding.

Thank God. At least I won't have to deal with her every single day.

I scrolled down to check who was listed as my direct supervisor, and my blood ran completely cold.

Team Supervisor: Damien Korrigan.

My fingers went numb against the glass screen. Why would the CEO of a massive architectural company personally supervise a basic project team?

My bus pulled up to the curb, but I was too stunned to step forward. I immediately tapped Zoe's contact and pressed the phone to my ear.

"Hey, girl!" Zoe answered on the second ring, her voice cheerful. "How was your first official day at the dream job?”

"I just got the email about my team project," I said, my voice trembling as the cold wind hit my face.

"Oh, awesome! Who's your supervisor? Is it Koré?"

"It's Damien," I whispered into the phone.

"What?!" Zoe practically shouted through the speaker, making me pull the phone away from my ear. "Hailee, why would the CEO supervise a regular team? He's doing this on purpose. He's putting you right under his thumb!”