On Monday morning as Lyse walked into the office building, it felt like all eyes were on her. She continued with her head held high as she tried to ignore the curious glances and hushed whispers that followed her. She could tell that the news of her wedding debacle had spread like wildfire, but she refused to let it ruin her safe place.
She heard the whispers immediately she entered the lobby along with the pitying glances, and felt the awkwardness in their interactions. It was as if she had become a spectacle, a subject of gossip and ridicule.
When she got into the elevator she sighed inwardly when she saw Denise hurrying towards the closing doors and she slipped inside last minute.
'So close!' Lyse thought to herself, she knew that no good could come out of Denise's appearance so she looked straight ahead, determined to ignore her.
"Oh Lyse, I did not see you there." Denise suddenly turned to Lyse with a smile as sweet as saccharine. "Should you not be at some exotic location for your honeymoon or something?" She continued, the picture of innocence.
Lyse could sense the tension of everyone waiting for what her reaction was going to be and even though she wanted to launch at Denise and tear off her garish red hair off her head, she smiled instead and said.
"I have discovered that home is much better than exotic locations, havent you heard that vicious beasts lurk in the seas."
Denise narrowed her eyes, clearly not satisfied with the vague answer, "I heard that Brandon dumped you."
The elevator went deadly silent and people stared at Lyse eagerly. Everyone had been dancing around it but no one had the nerve to actually speak on it.
"That did happen." Lyse said, eliciting a triumphant look on Denise's face.
Then she continued as she touched her chin thoughtfully, "I have decided to adopt a cat, it's what you do each time you were dumped isn't it? Maybe I can come to you for pointers."
There were a few snickers as the taunt was not lost on them, Denise with her five cats had been prepared to drag Lyse over coals but taken aback by her answer and the accompanying insult.
"Why you?"
Suddenly the elevator doors slid open.
"Would you look at that, it's my stop." Lyse said and quickly stepped out even though she had not gotten to her stop.
She headed for the steps even though it was still a long way off but it was better than to have to be in close quarters with Denise.
Denise was the resident cat lady who worked in accounts, her desk was decorated with at least a hundred pictures of her six cats. She was snarky, gossipy and forever alone because she was constantly dumped by the men she dated, it was public knowledge.
She also hated Lyse because she believed that the only reason she had a job in the company was because of Brandon who she had a crush on.
She no doubt had been waiting for an opportunity to say something to Lyse and now she had gotten the chance.
When at last she got to her floor, her side was burning and she was breathing heavily. She sat down at her desk, she couldn't help but notice the subtle changes in her colleagues' behavior. There was a certain awkwardness in their interactions, as if they were unsure about how to approach her. Some avoided eye contact altogether, while others offered forced smiles and empty platitudes.
Despite the pain and embarrassment she felt, Lyse was determined to move on. She knew that she could not let this one incident ruin her life when it was not even her fault. She found it telling that she who had been dumped was the one that was facing the backlash while Brandon was going to be just fine.
After seeing how he had allowed her be humiliated by his mother she figured that it was a good thing it happened when it happened. She just hoped that he would stay out of her way and let her do her job without any drama. She would prove to everyone that she was stronger than they thought, and she would do it with her head held high.
Fortunately for her, her team was eager to work instead of spending time trying to get the details of what had happened and by midday they were in the middle of work when she received a text message informing her of a HR meeting that she was expected to attend.
She chuckled to herself, she was not in the least surprised that she was being called to the HR office, it was probably to fire her. She wished she had just taken James' advice and just resigned.
But she had felt a need to finish what she had already started. Even though she had been working only a year in the fashion department, she had given it her all and had loved her job.
With a deep breath she walked to the office and was ushered in by the secretary who looked at her with pity.
When she entered, she was taken aback.
Not only was the head of HR seated at her desk but Brandon was seated on a couch with Brooke sitting beside him and clinging to his arm like poison Ivy.
Lyse raised an eyebrow at the sight of the massive sapphire engagement ring that she had been wearing for the past few months which was now adorning her step sister's finger and which was strategically placed so that no one could miss it.
"Please take a seat." Mrs Winston said and Lyse reluctantly sat down and waited.
"I told you that it was not a good idea, we are only going to hurt her." Brooke said softly to Brandon, "We should leave."
At her words Brandon looked resolute and he clenched his jaw while Lyse sat down.
"Very recently there have been some changes to management and it has been decided that the role of creative director is to be given to Brooke." Mrs Winston said.
Lyse had expected to hear that she was being fired, she could feel Brandon and Brooke's eyes on her and she was determined to not give them the pleasure of watching her break down so she remained relaxed.
"However, management would like you to stay on as a deputy to enable Miss Brooke to transition into her new role." Mrs Hr added eagerly.
"Excuse me?" Lyse asked, not quite believing what she was hearing.
"Of course you will still earn the same amount that you have earned, the title will be the only difference." Mrs Winston tried to placate her.
Lyse started to chuckle softly and continued to do so causing the head of HR to tense up.
"Let me get this straight, you want me to assist Brooke do my old job."
Mrs Winston shifted uneasily and glanced at Brandon for help.
Brandon's clenched his fists, annoyed that all through the time that Lyse had come in her had not glanced in his direction more than once. She had not tried to call his phone even once since the wedding that didn't happen.
"Okay, here is my answer, I quit. Brooke can do this job all on her own, she is the fashion designer of the year after all." Lyse said mockingly as she rose to her feet.