The late afternoon sun slanted through the office windows, casting long, sharp shadows across Eve's desk as she sat staring at the documents in front of her. Every number, every transaction, all pointed to one thing: Lena's hidden dealings. It was a trail of deceit buried in the company's financials—discrepancies Eve had finally unraveled after days of sleepless nights and endless meetings. This was it. The evidence she needed to end Lena's reign of terror once and for all.
Across the room, Violet leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching Eve with a mix of concern and admiration. She knew how much this fight was costing Eve. The pressure from the board, the strain on their relationship, the constant fear of Lena's next move—it was all slowly eroding the woman she loved. Yet, here Eve was, fighting until the last breath.
"Eve, we have what we need. This will end Lena for good," Violet said softly, stepping forward.
Eve rubbed her temples, exhaustion etched into her face. "I don't know, Violet. This board, they're fickle. They've danced between us and Lena like vultures, waiting to see who'll fall first. Even with this evidence, there's no guarantee they'll back us."
Violet knelt beside Eve, placing a hand on her knee, her voice gentle but firm. "We've come this far together. We face this board together. No more carrying this burden alone, remember?"
Eve looked down at Violet's hand, her heart swelling with an emotion that was equal parts love and fear. She squeezed it, grateful for the steadfast presence that had anchored her through these turbulent weeks. "I don't know what I'd do without you," she whispered.
Violet smiled, though it didn't reach her eyes. "You won't have to find out."
Just then, a sharp knock echoed from the door, shattering their quiet moment. Eve's assistant poked her head in, her face pale with tension. "The board meeting is in ten minutes. Lena's already there."
Eve nodded, her stomach twisting into knots. "We'll be right down."
As the door closed, Eve stood up, smoothing the front of her suit, the weight of the moment heavy on her shoulders. "This is it."
Violet rose to stand beside her, her gaze steady. "No matter what happens, we'll fight this together."
***
The boardroom was a cold, sterile space. Long, dark wood tables lined with sleek leather chairs, and a wall of glass windows that overlooked the city skyline. Inside, the board members sat, each one representing a different facet of power and wealth. And at the far end, like a predator circling its prey, sat Lena.
Her eyes locked onto Eve the moment she entered the room, a smug smile playing at the corners of her lips. "Eve, Violet. So glad you could join us," she said, her voice dripping with false sweetness.
Eve's jaw tightened, but she held her head high, crossing the room with Violet at her side. As they took their seats, Eve couldn't help but notice the subtle nods and whispered exchanges between some of the board members. They were sizing up the situation, weighing their options—like gamblers hedging their bets.
The chairman, a silver-haired man with sharp, calculating eyes, cleared his throat. "We've gathered here to address the serious allegations brought forth regarding Lena's conduct during her tenure. Eve, you've prepared your evidence?"
Before Eve could respond, Lena interrupted, her voice cool and composed. "Before we get to that, I'd like to present something of my own." She reached into her bag and pulled out a small recorder, placing it on the table with a click.
Eve's blood ran cold. She hadn't anticipated this.
Lena pressed play, and suddenly the room was filled with Eve's voice—sharp, angry, unmistakable. It was a recording from a private meeting weeks ago, where Eve had vented her frustrations about the board, calling out several key members for their indecisiveness and self-interest. Words she hadn't meant to be public, now playing out in excruciating clarity.
Gasps and murmurs erupted around the table. Eve could feel the heat rising in her chest as panic set in. This was Lena's game—she had turned the board against her in one fell swoop.
"You see," Lena said, her voice triumphant, "Eve has no respect for this board, for this company. She's been scheming behind your backs, manipulating every situation to suit her needs. And now, she's desperate, grasping at straws to make me the villain."
The board members shifted in their seats, eyes narrowing at Eve. For a moment, it felt like the walls were closing in, like everything was slipping away.
But then Violet stood. Her voice cut through the room, strong and steady. "This is a distraction. A desperate attempt to divert attention from the real issue at hand." She turned to the board, her eyes blazing. "Lena doesn't want you to see the truth because the truth would destroy her."
She walked to the head of the table, placing a thick folder in front of the chairman. "Inside, you'll find evidence of Lena's secret dealings with a competitor, financial discrepancies in her reports, and emails outlining her plan to undermine this company for her own gain."
The chairman hesitated, then slowly opened the folder, his eyes scanning the documents inside. The room fell into a tense silence as the weight of Violet's words settled over them.
Lena's smile faltered. "This is absurd," she spat, though the sharp edge of fear had crept into her voice.
Eve, finally regaining her composure, stood beside Violet, her voice steady. "Lena has been playing you all from the start. This company deserves better than someone who only looks out for herself."
The board members exchanged uneasy glances, clearly torn. For weeks, they had been swayed by Lena's manipulations, but now, faced with cold, hard evidence, their confidence in her wavered.
The chairman closed the folder and leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. After a long pause, he spoke. "It seems we have more to consider than we initially thought."
The tension in the room was palpable. Lena's mask of control was slipping, her composure cracking under the weight of the revelation. "You can't believe this!" she snapped, her voice rising. "They're lying, manipulating—"
"Enough," the chairman interrupted, his voice firm. "We'll need time to review this evidence. Until then, Lena, your position is suspended."
Lena stood, her face contorted with rage. "You'll regret this," she hissed, before storming out of the room.
As the door slammed shut, Eve felt the tension drain from her body. She turned to Violet, her heart full of gratitude, relief, and love. They had won this battle, together.
Violet smiled softly, her hand brushing against Eve's. "Told you we'd face this together."
Eve nodded, squeezing her hand. "Vi, I am proud to have you."