Chapter Four: Surprise Move
740 Words
Sunlight knifed through the blinds and landed directly on Zara’s face. She groaned, dragged an arm over her eyes, and stretched until her spine cracked. The alarm watch on her nightstand caught her attention last.
8:02 a.m.
Her breath caught.
“Katie’s going to kill me.”
She was out of bed before the thought finished. Hot water pounded against her skin for exactly two minutes—enough to wake her up, not enough to calm her down. She dressed fast. Black skirt, white tank, black coat thrown over her shoulders like a shield. She twisted her hair into a bun and let a few strands fall loose at her temples. No makeup. She didn’t bother. She touched the thin silver necklace at her throat, the one her mother had given her years ago, then slid her feet into plain flats. Handbag over her shoulder. Door shut behind her.
The street outside was already moving. She hailed a cab, gave the address, and sank into the seat, counting her pulse.
*Nadine Company. Thirty minutes later.*
Zara shoved cash at the driver and ran. The lobby of Nadine Company was glass and chrome, cold and silent. She crossed it in sharp strides and stepped into the elevator.
Her thumb pressed Floor 7. The doors slid closed with a soft _ding_. Zara leaned back against the wall, watching the numbers climb. 2. 3. 4. A low mechanical hum vibrated through the floor as the cables pulled upward, steady and indifferent. She tapped her nails against her handbag, once, twice. 5. 6. 7. _Ding._ The doors opened.
*Marketing Department*
Katie was pacing. Her heels struck the tile floor in sharp, clipped bursts, each step a warning. She cut between desks with her arms folded, throwing side glances at anyone who dared to look up.
“So she’s late for the fifth time,” Katie said, loud enough for the whole room to hear, “and _I’m_ the one who has to hear her complain about her salary. Aren’t we all working here? I’m just being kind. And you, Zayn—”
She pointed.
“She’s your friend, isn’t she? Tell her I need her. Now. Dismissed.”
The office door clicked shut behind her.
Zayn was halfway to his chair when Lola’s voice slid across the room, sweet and poisoned. “Ooopsie, Zayn. Why do you even hang out with a dork like her?”
Zayn turned. His expression went flat. “Try minding your own business.”
Lola scoffed and rolled her eyes, dropping into her seat.
The elevator _dinged_. Zara stepped out. Whispers followed her instantly. Heads turned. Eyes tracked her across the floor. She caught Zayn’s gaze for one second—concern, barely hidden. That was enough. Katie had been talking.
Zara set her bag down and walked straight to Katie’s office.
She stopped outside the door. Katie’s voice came through the wood, sharp and amused.
“She’s extremely hardworking. I’ll give her that,” Katie said into her phone. “Too bad she’s always late and demands a ridiculous salary. I would’ve fired her a long time ago, but the company insists on keeping her. Such a weirdo.”
Zara exhaled. Katie had never liked her. Not once. And yet Ms. Kelsea, the CEO, had made Katie manager anyway. It made no sense.
She pushed the door open.
Katie’s laugh cut off the moment she saw Zara. Her smile disappeared. She dropped her phone onto the desk.
“Well,” Katie said, voice edged with ice. “Look who decided to show up, Ms. Wayne. That’s a real insult to me and this company. And you were listening at the door, weren’t you? I wasn’t lying, was I?”
Zara was quiet. Then she smiled. Not a real one.
“You’re right, Ms. Katie,” she said. “Having someone like me replace you in the near future does sound good, doesn’t it?”
Silence. Their glares locked. Katie smiled slowly, deliberately.
“Sure. Right.” She leaned back. “But I’m not letting you off for being late. Dismissed.”
Zara nodded and turned. Behind her, Katie’s office filled with quiet giggles. Zara ignored it. She sat at her desk and opened her laptop.
Zayn didn’t speak. He knew better. Zara was furious, and when Zara was furious, the entire floor felt it. Katie and Zara were always at odds over the lateness. Today was no different.
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- Writer
