The sun filtered through the office blinds as Aria sat at her desk, sipping a lukewarm cup of coffee. Her eyes swept across the open-plan workspace, where the murmur of keyboard taps and quiet chatter formed a dull symphony of productivity. The last few weeks had been emotionally draining, but today, she was determined to rise above it all. She had poured every ounce of herself into her tasks, staying late, cross-checking her deliverables twice—sometimes thrice—and refusing to let the weight of unspoken accusations keep her from proving her worth.
Miranda’s cold glances hadn’t let up. Vanessa's smirks were as vivid as ever, especially now that she’d been promoted. Yet Aria kept her composure, greeting everyone with a polite nod and keeping her conversations brief.
She’d told herself that
