"These are all the office files. I didn't bring anything else," Missy said, placing the stack of documents from her bag onto Olivia's desk.
Irritated, Olivia flipped through the files, then abruptly pulled out the folder she needed.
"You're slow. Incredibly slow! My meeting with the client is going to be a disaster because of you. Useless girl," she snapped. "Good thing you won't be here much longer, you embezzler."
Without another glance, she grabbed her coat and stormed out.
Missy let out a quiet scoff, shaking her head. "You're welcome," she muttered under her breath before turning back to her desk, gathering what little she had left.
"Missy…"
She didn't need to look up-she already knew who it was.
Emily stepped closer, her voice gentle. "Don't listen to Olivia. She's always like that."
Missy blinked rapidly, her eyes beginning to sting. "Don't worry," she said flatly. "I'm used to it."
She reached into her drawer, collecting small personal items and slipping them into her bag.
"Missy, maybe you should just… hold on a little longer. Be patient, I think—"
"What?" Missy cut in sharply, finally turning to face her. "What do you think, Emily?"
Her voice trembled, not with weakness—but with anger barely held in place.
"I've been framed. Made into a scapegoat. You know that. So tell me… what exactly am I supposed to do?"
Emily faltered, her lips parting as if searching for words that wouldn't come.
"Missy… I just… I mean... I don't know what—"
"I know you can't help," Missy interrupted, her tone quieter now, but sharper. "But at least you could've said something for me back there. In the meeting room. When they accused me."
"Missy... I.... I was only told to make the appointment and inform you," Emily stammered, her eyes glistening. "I didn't know the client was problematic, and... and...."
"At least you could've defended me," Missy pressed, her voice rising again.
"Missy!"
The sharp voice cut through the tension.
Charlotte stood by the doorway, Daniel beside her. Both of them were staring. They were junior finance staff just like her.
"Emily is still our senior," Charlotte said firmly. "Even if she used to be your school friend. She only handles schedules, calls, administrative work. You have no right to corner her like this."
Missy's chest rose and fell as she struggled to steady her breathing.
"If you're really innocent," Charlotte continued, "then prove it."
Missy let out a bitter laugh. "You too, Charlotte? And you, Daniel? You both know what I've been working on. We even handled that survey together."
Her gaze hardened.
"If I'm being accused, then you should be involved too."
Daniel scoffed. "Have you lost your mind? Now you're accusing us? Why not just accuse everyone in this team!"
Missy's lips curled. "Yes! Yes! Maybe I will."
Silence fell.
"I have enough evidence. Chats. Emails. Everything. I'll bring it all to the investigation tomorrow," she said, her voice shaking with fury. "So you'd better be ready... bastards."
"Missy, you—!"
"Enough."
The single word was sharp, commanding.
Missy froze.
Ethan stood at the entrance.
Her throat tightened instantly.
Without another word, she grabbed the small potted plant from her desk and walked out, her steps quick, almost unsteady.
"Missy!"
His voice followed her.
She didn't stop—until she reached the elevator.
"Don't," she said without turning.
Ethan exhaled, stepping closer anyway. "I'm sorry."
She said nothing.
"For how I acted yesterday," he added, his voice lower now.
The elevator doors slid open.
Missy stepped inside.
And Ethan followed.
"No—"
He caught her wrist before she could step back out.
"What do you want?" she snapped.
"Just listen," he said.
She yanked her hand free and retreated into the corner, putting as much distance between them as the small space allowed.
"You can't drag innocent people into this," Ethan said.
Missy let out a hollow laugh, looking up at him in disbelief. "Innocent?"
"I've worked here for years," he continued, as if he hadn't heard her. "You've only been here for one. I have a reputation. I can't let it be destroyed over something like this."
Her fingers curled into fists.
"So tomorrow… during the investigation, just say you have no connection to me."
For a moment, everything went still.
Missy stared at him.
Then something inside her cracked.
"Delete our chats. Emails. Anything that links us," he added.
She almost laughed.
Almost.
This man—the one she had once fallen so deeply for—stood before her, calm and composed, as if what he was asking wasn't betrayal at its worst.
"What about Olivia?" she asked quietly.
Ethan hesitated, then sighed. "She's… different. Being with her helps my career. She doesn't demand anything."
He glanced at Missy.
"But what we had… I can't forget that."
The words made her stomach churn, and she suddenly felt nauseous. She had never felt this disgusted toward someone.
"Did you use me?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "All this time… was it all just manipulation?"
"It's not like that—Babe, I—"
"Don't call me that, Ethan!" she snapped.
Her voice shook now—not with anger, but something deeper.
"For a year, I did your work. Your proposals. Your clients…" She swallowed hard. "Wasn't that enough?"
Her eyes burned.
"I didn't ask for anything. I just wanted you to stand up for me. For God's sake, that's all."
Ethan's jaw tightened. "I did use you. Yes."
The words landed like a blow.
"But I still want you."
Missy felt something cold crawl under her skin.
"When all this is over," he continued, "will you come back to me?"
She stared at him.
Then slowly shook her head. "You're insane."
She pushed him. Hard.
"You knew about all this, didn't you? You were part of it. And you let me take the fall alone." Her voice sharpened. "Whose plan is it?"
"I can't tell you."
"Of course you can't."
"There's a lot of money involved," he added quietly. "If this goes well, I could—"
"Enough."
Her voice cut through him.
"You're disgusting."
The elevator doors slid open.
Missy shoved past him and stepped out.
"I'm dragging all of you down with me," she said without looking back. "Every single one of you."
Then she walked away.
By the time she stepped out of the building, her head was spinning. Her chest felt tight, her stomach unsettled. She could barely breathe.
"You're all insane," she muttered, wiping her tears with the back of her hand.
Truthfully, she felt hopeless. She had threatened everyone, but she herself wasn't even sure what she could do tomorrow during the investigation.
She didn't know where to go. Didn't know what to do.
Only that she couldn't go home—not after everything.
Her feet carried her to a small café along the row of buildings near her office. She sat in the corner, exhaustion sinking deep into her bones.
Time blurred.
Coffee after coffee. A few bites of something she barely tasted. Nothing helped.
Everything felt… hopeless.
"Miss?"
A soft voice pulled her back.
She blinked.
The café was dim now. Chairs were being stacked. The floor freshly mopped.
"We're closing," the waiter said gently.
Missy glanced around, disoriented. "What time is it?"
"Nine."
"Oh…"
She quickly gathered her things. "I'm sorry."
Outside, the cold air hit her instantly.
She pulled her coat tighter around her and started walking. Her thoughts were still tangled, her mind heavy with everything that had happened.
The past few days felt unreal. She shivered slightly. Not from the cold, but fear.
The street was quiet.
Too quiet... even the sound of rustling grass, leaves blown by the wind, and footsteps became so clear in her ears.
Wait, footsteps? Who? Wasn't she walking alone?
This felt worse.
A faint sound broke through the silence.
Missy slowed.
Then stopped.
No.
That couldn't be—
Her breath hitched.
She wasn't alone.
A shadow stretched behind her.
Then another.
Two figures.
Her pulse spiked.
Don't look back.
Don't look back.
Her steps quickened.
So did theirs.
Her heart slammed against her ribs.
Run.
She ran.
The cold air burned her lungs as panic took over.
Behind her—footsteps, faster now.
Closing in.
"No—who are you?!" she cried out, her voice trembling.
She didn't dare turn around.
She kept running, not realizing she had turned into an alley between the deserted buildings.
Until—
Her foot caught on uneven pavement.
"Ouch—!"
She fell hard, pain shooting through her body.
"Fast, aren't you?" one of them said, slightly out of breath.
Missy scrambled back, her entire body shaking. "D-don't come any closer!"
Too late.
One of them lunged forward, grabbing her before she could move.
She tried to scream—
But a cloth pressed tightly over her mouth and nose.
A sharp, suffocating scent filled her lungs.
"No—mmph—!"
Her body fought.
Then weakened.
Her vision blurred.
The world tilted.
Sound faded.
"Got her," the man muttered.
"Let's take her," said the man in the hoodie to his beanie-wearing partner.
Missy's fingers twitched once—
Then everything went dark.
***