Working at a large corporation was tough. I buried myself in spreadsheets and reports, dreaming of a managerial position where I could finally showcase my months of hard work on a project I was passionate about.
Then everything changed with the arrival of Thaddeus, our new director. “Have you seen him?” my coworker Mara whispered one morning by the coffee machine. I was too busy to pay much attention. But when Thaddeus walked in, I understood the buzz. He had an undeniable charisma that drew people in.
“Focus, Lorelai,” I told myself, trying to ignore the butterflies in my stomach. But with the announcement of a competition for the new project manager position, my heart raced with excitement. This was my moment.
Beatrix, my biggest rival, was also vying for the role. “May the best woman win,” she said, her confidence radiating as she got closer to Thaddeus every day. I couldn’t shake the feeling she was planning to charm her way into the job.
Man in suit climbing the fire escape | Source: Midjourney
As I toiled late into the nights, I watched Beatrix effortlessly navigate the office, while I poured my heart into my project. One evening, exhausted, I planned to stop by Thaddeus’s office to discuss my work. But I dozed off at my desk, only to wake to the sound of voices in the dark office.
Panicking, I ducked under my desk and peeked out. Beatrix was leaning against Thaddeus’s office door, looking far too comfortable. They laughed together before heading toward the elevator. Was she willing to go this far to secure the position?
When I arrived the next morning, I was ready to present my hard work. But as the meeting began, I was horrified to see Beatrix presenting… my work. The graphs, concepts, even my phrasing—it was all there. “This can’t be happening,” I thought.
When it was my turn, I stood up, heart racing. “She stole my work!” I blurted, pointing at Beatrix. “That presentation was mine!”
Thaddeus frowned, glancing between us. “Lorelai, what are you talking about?” Panic set in as I realized my presentation files were missing from my laptop. Beatrix smirked, pulling out her tablet and flipping through my entire presentation.
“Looking for this?” she said, her tone dripping with sweetness. My mind spun. Thaddeus then said he’d already discussed Beatrix’s presentation with her the night before.
I felt the ground fall out from under me. After the meeting, Thaddeus asked me to stay behind. “Lorelai, you failed to safeguard your work. This situation is on you.”
“You’re defending her because of your… personal involvement with her,” I snapped, crossing a line. Thaddeus’s expression hardened. “You’re making false claims, Lorelai. Go have a rest.”
I was crushed. The weekend was a blur of tears and ice cream. I felt my career slipping away. Then, in a moment of desperation, I created a fake social media account. As I scrolled through Beatrix’s posts, I saw she hadn’t been with Thaddeus after all. She had been out with friends all night.
I couldn’t believe it. The next day, I was startled by a knock at my door. It was Thaddeus! I hesitated to let him in, feeling vulnerable in my messy apartment.
“Lorelai, I made a mistake trusting Beatrix,” he said when I finally opened the door. His sincerity struck a chord. “Your work is brilliant. You were right all along.”
A spark of hope ignited in me, but then he nervously asked, “Do you have feelings for me?” I simply nodded, overwhelmed.
Thaddeus smiled. “I’ve liked you since we met, but I didn’t want to cross any lines. And by the way, you’ve been promoted. You’ll be leading your own department now.”
“What?” I whispered, disbelief washing over me.
“You earned it. Fair and square. We need to celebrate. I’ll be waiting downstairs.” As he turned to leave, I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Use the door this time,” I called after him.
“Right, the door. More practical,” he chuckled, leaving me with a heart full of hope.
My career was far from over; it was just beginning. And perhaps, so was my love life. As I quickly composed myself, I realized I was ready for whatever came next.
