Fading Echoes of Love

Sierra awoke to a disturbing reality - she was drenched in sweat and felt unbearably uncomfortable. The room was arid and chilly, causing her nose to run and her throat to burn. As she attempted to rise from her slumber, her body was wracked with pain, and she felt feeble and disoriented, as though she had just surfaced from a never-ending dream. The bedside clock displayed a startling 6:40. “I enjoyed a full eight hours of rest,” she reasoned, “so why do I feel so exhausted?” Despite sleeping soundly, Sierra was plagued with fatigue. As an athlete, Sierra had recently transitioned from a training regimen to a white-collar job. Her exceptional intelligence and upbringing facilitated her swift adaptation to office life, where she tirelessly worked and studied. Within a mere three years, she ascended the corporate ranks to become a regional manager, spending most of her days confined to her desk for eight-hour stretches. Only yesterday, she had visited the gym, jogging for an hour and a half, providing private instruction, and utilizing gym equipment. There was no discernible reason for her to feel so depleted today. In spite of the irksome presence of her company’s biggest rival, whose mere mention made her so infuriated that she felt like jumping up and down, Sierra acknowledged the invaluable benefits of her exercise routine for her bones and muscles, serving as a deterrent against the ravages of aging. As she stumbled groggily from her bedroom to the bathroom, Sierra’s toe collided with the corner of a table, electrifying her with a sharp, enlivening agony. The warmth of the shower eased the chill that had gripped her toes. Sierra tied up her hair and reached for her dental cup, but froze in mid-reach. The handle was facing the wrong way. She blinked incredulously and double-checked, but it remained facing right. Sierra was afflicted with obsessive-compulsive disorder, and her life was governed by strict order. Everything, whether at home or work, had a designated place, and even the slightest disturbance unsettled her. Slippers had to be placed outward before bed, and upon waking, the blankets had to be crisply folded into thirds. Books were arranged by color, and even the handle of her dental cup had to face left. The minutiae of daily life etched itself firmly into Sierra’s memory. Every time she brushed her teeth, she ensured the cup handle faced left. But after observing several unaccountable alterations, she made a point of straightening it each time, convinced of its proper orientation. However, she couldn’t recall the last time the handle had been reversed, but the cutthroat competition for the General Manager position at Quantumware had distracted her from other matters. As the cup brimmed with water and her electric toothbrush hummed to life, Sierra’s gaze remained affixed to the handle while she scrubbed her teeth. Suddenly, a notion struck her: someone had surreptitiously entered her home and relocated the tooth cup. The thought jolted her, and Sierra hastily rinsed the toothpaste from her mouth, washed her face, swapped her clothes, and skipped breakfast before fleeing. The more she ruminated on the idea, the more revulsion and fear gripped her. Sierra double-locked the door, paused momentarily, then climbed into her car and departed. When the lights flickered off, the room transformed into a frigid and unnervingly quiet space, making Sierra feel like an intruder was lurking in the shadows. Cautiously, she scanned each corner of the room, scrutinizing every window after confirming that no one was hiding in the vicinity. She took a piece of paper and tore it into thin strips, taping both ends of each strip together. Then, she stepped outside the door and, standing on her toes, attached one end of the note to the top of the facade and the other to the outer wall. The note was so delicate and high up that it was barely visible without deliberate scrutiny. Sierra resided on the 16th floor of a building that extended up to the 28th floor. Climbing through a window was virtually impossible. If anyone tried to enter her apartment while she was absent, she would be aware of it as soon as she returned home. Sierra’s heart raced as she tried to process what was happening. It had been years since she last saw Christina, and the sudden appearance of her ex-girlfriend was the last thing she expected during her already stressful morning. Sierra’s mind raced as she tried to decide whether to ignore them or confront them. She didn’t want to risk being late for the meeting, but she also couldn’t just let it go. Taking a deep breath, Sierra rolled down her window and glared at Christina. “What are you doing here?” she demanded. Christina looked surprised but quickly composed herself. “I work in the building next door. What are you doing here?” she replied coolly. Sierra gritted her teeth. “I work for Quantumware. I have a meeting to attend.” The man in the Audi spoke up, his voice smooth and confident. “Well, it’s a small world, isn’t it? Maybe we’ll see you around, Sierra.” Sierra’s jaw tightened as the Audi sped off. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off about the encounter. Was it just a coincidence, or was there something more going on? She shook her head and tried to focus on the meeting ahead, but her mind kept wandering back to the encounter with Christina and the mysterious man in the Audi. Sierra felt a wave of irritation as she observed the Audi’s brash attempt to cut her off. With a haughty air, the car zoomed ahead of her. She was driving on the congested highway, struggling to switch lanes and move ahead of the traffic. Her efforts were stymied by the vehicles hemming her in on all sides. The gridlock grated on her nerves, but she had no option but to trail the Audi in front of her. Just then, Sierra’s phone rang, and a message from Christina popped up on her Twitter feed. It asked if she planned to upgrade her car now that she had been promoted to manager, if she would visit her dad’s grave on Memorial Day, and if she could get a ride. Sierra read the message, deleted it, and promptly blocked Christina. Upon reaching her workplace, Sierra’s car broke down in the parking lot. She quickly sought help and hastened to her office, where she greeted her colleagues. However, her assistant, Elaina, rushed in, looking agitated. “Boss, you’re finally here!” she exclaimed. Closing the door, Sierra inquired, “What’s the matter?” Elaina handed her a folder and said, “The planning report we worked on last Friday was rejected. Cheyenne said it wasn’t comprehensive enough, and it’s impeding her budget. We need to redo it, but we have to present it at the morning meeting. Why is she doing this now? It’s mortifying for us.” Sierra gripped the folder and leaned on her desk, her brow furrowed in vexation. Her anger simmered, and she muttered, “Cheyenne, again.” Elaina let out a sigh, “Her relentless behavior has only intensified since her promotion. She’s not just targeting us, but everyone. I don’t understand why.” Suddenly, her demeanor changed, and she leaned in close to Sierra’s ear. “You do know that the general manager position is a toss-up between you and her, don’t you? Boss, why do you think she’s so keen on undermining you? There’s chatter that she has a close association with the CEO and even spends nights at his place. People are speculating that they might be more than just colleagues, especially given that they’re both women…” Sierra interrupted her, not wanting to hear any more gossip. “Is everything set for the meeting?” she asked. Seeing the anxiety on her boss’s face, Elaina promptly returned to her work. Sierra detested her adversary, who appeared to be perpetually plotting against her. She had no interest in speculating about Cheyenne’s personal life, but it wasn’t the first time she had heard rumors about her relationship with the CEO. When Cheyenne first joined the company, she was appointed as a high-ranking manager, which had made many people jealous and resentful. A crowd of executives and managers from the company walked past Sierra’s office, making their way towards the conference room where the morning meeting was scheduled to begin. They were dressed in formal attire and chatting with each other. Sierra caught a fleeting glance of Cheyenne strolling alongside the CEO, Delilah. Today, Delilah’s makeup was caked on thick, her gaze sharp, and her lips painted in a bold hue that appeared to cling to Cheyenne’s earlobe. Cheyenne’s brow was furrowed in frustration, as if they were discussing something unpleasant. In contrast, Cheyenne sported a serene smile and an air of ease, despite standing next to Delilah, who was notorious for her sharp tongue and designer attire. Her long locks were styled immaculately, revealing a slender white neck. Cheyenne radiated youthfulness and understated confidence. As Sierra observed Cheyenne and the CEO walking intimately together, she was abruptly reminded of Gideon’s words. He had cautioned her not to be naïve and to realize that the company was not her home. Gideon shared his own story, how he had toiled for the company for a decade, only to be overlooked for promotions by someone named Darian, who seemed to come out of nowhere. Gideon opined that achievement in this society hinged on connections, not diligence, and he counseled Sierra not to take her job too seriously and merely trudge along. As Sierra pondered Gideon’s words, she couldn’t help but speculate whether Cheyenne’s intimate relationship with the CEO had expedited her rapid ascent within the company. Gideon appeared to share that belief, visibly uneasy when he spoke Cheyenne’s name. Shaking her head, Sierra pushed the thought away. She was unwilling to accept that her diligence and hard work were meaningless in this company. No matter the obstacles, she resolved to persevere and work towards her objectives. As she entered the conference room for the morning meeting, Sierra braced herself for whatever challenges lay ahead. “Has the General Manager position for Quantumware been decided yet?” Cheyenne, who labored ceaselessly day and night, was already composing her acceptance speech. Sierra felt a surge of discomfort, her thoughts slowing down as Cheyenne suddenly glanced into her office. Caught red-handed, Sierra guiltily averted her eyes, forcing herself to compose and look away as if nothing had happened, oblivious to Cheyenne’s enigmatic grin. The morning meeting commenced, and Sierra confidently took charge, stepping to the front of the conference room to present the planning book. With the entire company’s high-level attention, she meticulously outlined a detailed and comprehensive plan for the upcoming quarter. Despite bracing herself for potential challenges from Cheyenne, Sierra remained poised and composed throughout her presentation. As Sierra concluded her presentation, Delilah nodded her approval and offered her genuine praise. “This plan is excellent. Fortunately, the company has Sierra, a talented and driven young professional.” Sierra leaned back in her seat, feeling grateful for Delilah’s acknowledgement. Delilah was well-known for being stoic, and her praise was a valuable indication of Sierra’s impressive work. Delilah rarely gave compliments, so Sierra recognized the significance of this moment. There could be an opportunity there, and Sierra was ready to seize it. She believed that she possessed superior business acumen, leadership skills, and popularity compared to Cheyenne. Additionally, being two years older than Cheyenne, her age was often associated with experience, giving her an added advantage. Overall, Sierra felt confident that she had a good hand to play, and the Goddess of Victory seemed to be on her side. She was determined to use this opportunity to showcase her skills and make an impact in the company. … As the meeting came to a close, everyone stood up, causing the chairs to scrape against the carpet, producing a dull sound. But Sierra remained seated, steadfast and composed. As Delilah walked by, she gave Sierra’s shoulder a gentle pat, but Sierra wished to separate herself from Delilah with just one arm. However, Delilah departed before any such action could occur. As those who left the meeting room threw sympathetic glances at Sierra, she never once looked back. Cheyenne trailed behind the crowd and stood at the door, gazing at Sierra’s quiet figure before finally leaving. Elaina, one of Sierra’s colleagues, called out to her as she scurried to her office, but Sierra paid her no attention. Elaina followed Sierra inside, but before she could say anything, Sierra instructed her to close the door. “What’s wrong?” Sierra asked, noticing the look on Elaina’s face. “What’s the matter?” Elaina hesitated for a moment before finally revealing, “Cheyenne wanted me to tell you that she booked tickets for the 12:30 Metro-North Railroad. You are now the Vice President of Quantumware, and your office is being relocated to Cheyenne’s office. Today, you will be traveling to Connecticut with Cheyenne on a business trip. Cheyenne has already booked the tickets. You should quickly go back and pack your things. Leave the office relocation to me.” The mere thought of relocating to Cheyenne’s office and being constantly in her presence was overwhelming for Sierra. It was barely morning and the General Manager had already arranged for a business trip that would take place at noon. The feeling of impending doom loomed over Sierra, leaving her with a sense of uncertainty. Sierra managed a small chuckle to herself and took a deep breath before turning to Elaina. “I understand. I’ll head back now. Thank you for taking care of the office relocation,” she said calmly. Elaina returned the chuckle. “Yep, that’s what she said. She’s waiting for you at B3 to give you a ride home.” Silent but composed, Sierra packed her belongings and made her way to the elevator. As she stood alone in the elevator, she practiced a natural smile from her reflection. The General Manager position in Quantumware had always been Cheyenne’s, and Sierra had recently been appointed as the Vice President -essentially becoming Cheyenne’s right-hand person and the core backbone of her team. In other words, Sierra was there to assist Cheyenne, who was still a junior in the industry. While Sierra was reluctant to leave, she knew that she had no other choice. Cheyenne had employed every means possible to secure the position that Sierra had long aspired to, and she had emerged victorious. Although it was difficult for Sierra to accept the reality of the situation, she knew she had to do so. In this world, a multitude of paths awaited, some straightforward and paved with hard work and perseverance, while others lurked in the shadows as tempting shortcuts. Sierra, however, was resolute in taking whichever path would lead her to success. Cheyenne was gravely mistaken if she thought that humiliating or provoking Sierra would make her give up. Sierra was determined to stay until she had accomplished all that she desired. As Sierra arrived at B3, she caught sight of Cheyenne’s car pulling up. The window rolled down to reveal Cheyenne grinning behind the wheel. She waved to Sierra, and Sierra couldn’t help but smile back, masking her inner turmoil with a guise of friendliness.