FALLING FOR THE ENEMY

EXPOSURE

I sat still in front of my mirror, my makeup brush in one hand and the powder palette on the other hand. I was all dressed and almost ready to go to work as usual, but this time, I felt so scared. The shame of losing the contract gripped me so hard, and what was worse, the head of the company hadn't called, texted or emailed me concerning the failed contract even though I knew he would have gotten the news.

I tried my best to finish up my makeup before picking up everything I needed for work and headed down the stairs.

“I'm off to work, Melody,” I said, rushing out of the house like being chased by a crazy bulldog, without expecting a response from Melody. I'm supposed to be at the office as early as possible. Melody, on the other hand, looked at me and screamed, “Byee, sis,” smiling, not taking me seriously about what I'm going through at the moment.

“Good morning, sir,” I greeted my boss, who looked at me like I've a bad stench hovering from my body. I felt so embarrassed that I couldn't look into his face in an instant. He waved his hand at me, which meant I should wait for him outside so that he'd attend to me later.

While I was waiting at the reception office, Santiago Andrew entered. I was shocked to see him in the company this time. Is there something I don't know? I asked myself, worried but still maintaining my composure.

“Is the CEO around?” he asked me, like he hadn't met me before.

“Yes, he is,” I cooperated with his trick.

Inside, Santiago had a business dialogue with the CEO of Global Finances, and the conversation was about him investing in Global Finances. He came as an intentional investor desiring to invest.

“I'll be willing to invest in this company,” he said with his thick voice, “but then, I have terms and conditions.”

“Terms and conditions?” the CEO asked, looking at me and shivering like leaves on water, unsure whether the terms would be risky or damaging to his company.

Then Santiago finally spoke. “I demand control over operations.”

With shock in his eyes, the CEO looked at him and said, “Is that all?”

“That's not all. I also have a report to make.” He then pulled out his phone from his pocket. The CEO was already curious as to what this young man was up to. Then finally, Santiago rooted out the pictures of me he took without my consent at the hotel, including a picture of my fresh light-skinned buttocks, videos of him having s*x with me, videos of me moaning “Harder, please,” videos of me when I was drunk, and moreover, my nude pictures.

The CEO pressed his hands on his head like someone who just heard the most shocking, heartbreaking news of his life. If not for the fact that he saw the pictures, he might have possibly defended me. I was known to be hardworking, and never would I be found in the party of incompetence.

“Can you see?” Santiago said. “Can you see the level of incompetence of someone who's supposed to go bring a deal for the company landed herself into? Can you see why I want to take control over operations? I hate incompetence all my life.”

The CEO agreed and was so angry and disappointed in me. To some extent, he was shedding tears, because his next action cut him deep like a blade. But no option was left for him other than replacing this young man as the manager, so he wouldn't ruin my reputation more: he had already done enough.

Unaware, I was still waiting outside, not knowing that the office I held dear had been taken from me.

“When she discovers that she has been replaced, won't she just kick herself to the floor and slump?” the CEO said.