Lina's fingers trembled as she pressed the button for the 17th floor. The elevator doors slid shut, enclosing her in a small metal box with her thoughts. She leaned against the cool steel wall, trying to steady her breathing. Each floor that the elevator ascended felt like a countdown to an impending confrontation she'd rather avoid.
When the doors finally opened to the HR department, the scene that greeted her was far from welcoming. A cluster of colleagues immediately swarmed around her, their faces painted with varying expressions of concern, curiosity, and disdain.
"Are you okay, Lina? What really happened that day?" Maria, one of the kinder faces in the crowd, asked, her voice laced with genuine worry.
Lina opened her mouth to respond, but another voice cut through the air, sharp and accusatory. "Yeah, Lina. Why don't you tell us what made Lady Linda lose her temper? Do you really think you're special? Do you think the CEO would side with you over her?"
The question hung in the air like a dagger, and Lina felt its sting. She looked around at the faces of her colleagues. Some were waiting eagerly for her answer, others were looking at her with disdain, as if she had committed an unforgivable sin.
"I didn't—" she started, but her voice faltered. She took a deep breath and tried again. "I didn't do anything special. Lady Linda just... misunderstood."
"Misunderstood?" A scoff came from the back of the crowd. "More like you overstepped. Know your place, Lina."
Lina's eyes burned, but she refused to cry. Not here, not in front of them. She straightened her back and met their gazes head-on. "I don't expect anyone to pick sides," she said, her voice stronger this time. "I'm here to do my job, just like everyone else. Whatever happened with Lady Linda, it's between us. It doesn't change the fact that we all have work to do."
There was a moment of silence, then a few nods of approval, though some still looked skeptical. Lina could feel the tension slowly dissipating, but the unease remained. As the crowd dispersed, Maria stayed behind.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Maria asked softly.
Lina nodded. "I will be. Thanks, Maria."
Maria gave her a small smile and a reassuring pat on the shoulder before heading back to her desk. Lina took a deep breath and made her way to her own desk in the shared office space. Whatever awaited her there, she knew she had to face it head-on, just like she had faced her colleagues.
As she approached her desk, she couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of a much larger battle.
After the brief and tense conversation with her colleagues, Lina felt the weight of the morning's confrontation bearing down on her. Needing a moment to collect herself, she headed to the restroom. She locked the door behind her and turned on the faucet, letting the sound of running water fill the small space. It was only then, with the water masking her sobs, that she allowed herself to break down.
Tears streamed down her face, and she covered her mouth to stifle the sobs that threatened to escape. She had held it together for so long, but the facade of strength had its limits. Her shoulders shook with the force of her emotions, the pain of Lady Linda's disdain and her colleagues' judgments crashing over her in waves.
Minutes passed, and Lina's tears eventually slowed. She splashed cold water on her face, willing herself to regain her composure. As she looked at her reflection in the mirror, her eyes red and puffy, she made a silent vow. She wouldn't let this defeat her. She would find a way to prove herself, not just to her colleagues or Lady Linda, but to herself.
With a final deep breath, Lina dried her face and straightened her posture. She unlocked the door and stepped back into the hallway, ready to face whatever came next. She walked back to her desk, the place that had become both a sanctuary and a battlefield in just a few short days.
As she sat down, she felt the eyes of her colleagues on her again, but this time she met their gazes with a new determination. She turned on her computer and began her work, each keystroke a reminder that she was still here, still fighting.
"Hey, Lina," came a soft voice from beside her.
Lina turned to see Sofia, her friend and desk mate, sitting down.They weren't able to come to the office together, because of Daniel and Bella's argument.
"Hi, Sofia," Lina replied, trying to muster a smile.
Sofia gave her a sympathetic look. "I saw you head to the restroom earlier. Are you okay?"
Lina shrugged, trying to keep her voice steady. "I've been better. But I'll get through it."
Sofia leaned in closer, her voice barely above a whisper. "You know, some of us are on your side. We see how hard you work and how unfairly Lady Linda treats you."
Lina glanced around, making sure no one was listening. "Thanks, Sofia. It means a lot."
They both turned back to their computers, but Sofia's presence was a comforting reminder that Lina wasn't entirely alone in this.
The hours ticked by slowly. Each time someone passed by her desk, Lina could feel their eyes linger on her, but she forced herself to focus on her tasks. She had reports to finish, emails to answer, and meetings to attend. She couldn't afford to let their opinions derail her. This was her chance to prove that she belonged here, despite everything that had happened.
Lina's thoughts kept drifting back to the incident with Lady Linda. It had been her first week on the job, and she had been eager to make a good impression. she hoped she would showcase her skills. But Lady Linda had called her over to her office, and she ended up getting a beating.
She had tried to explain, to apologize, but Lady Linda hadn't been interested in listening.
As the day wore on, Lina felt a mix of exhaustion and resolve. She would make it through this, one way or another. She took a short break in the afternoon, stepping outside for a breath of fresh air. The sky was clear, and the sunshine warmed her face, offering a brief respite from the tension inside.