"It was here last night; I swear and I finished it and you saw it, right!"
His expression shifted from concern to urgency.
"What do you mean they're missing? Yes, I saw it but
did you save them correctly?"
"I thought I did!" the dread growing heavier in my chest.
"I checked and double-checked, but now it's like they vanished into thin air!"
Leo stepped closer, his eyes scanning my screen as if hoping to
find the lost files back into existence.
"Okay, let's not panic.
We'll figure this out. Can you remember what you named them?"
As I racked my brain for any details that I made,
I felt the weight of the situation pressing down on me.
I couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't just a simple technical glitch;
something was off.
The tension in the air crackled as we both searched for the presentations and files
everything was lost, racing against time to recover.
"What should we do? We need those files and presentation for the meeting,
and it starts in an hour!"
I exclaimed, my anxiety climbing as I glanced at the clock ticking ominously on the wall.
Leo's mind raced as he considered our options.
"Okay, let's try to retrace our steps. When did you last save them?
Is there any chance they were auto-saved somewhere?"
I shook my head, frustration bubbling up.
"I don't know! I was working late, and I thought I had everything backed up.
I can't believe this is happening!"
"Focus, Melody," Leo urged, his voice steadying me.
"Come on, come on…" I muttered under my breath, scrolling through the document history,
my heart pounding.
Leo leaned over my shoulder,
his presence both comforting and intense.
Taking a deep breath, I composed myself, feeling a flicker of determination spark within me.
"You know what? I can do this," I said, straightening my posture.
"I remember most of the details. If I focus,
I can recreate the presentation and the files in time for the meeting."
Leo's eyes brightened with encouragement.
"That's the spirit! Just take it one step at a time. You've got this, Melody."
With renewed confidence,
I began typing furiously, recalling all the key points and data as
I crafted the presentation from my memory.
The adrenaline coursing through me sharpened my focus,
and with each stroke of the keyboard, I felt a sense of control returning.
"Just think about what you want to convey in the meeting,"
Leo said, glancing at the clock.
"We still have time, but we need to hurry."
"I know! Just a few more minutes…" I replied, my fingers flying over the keys.
The familiar rhythm of my thoughts began to flow,
and before I knew it, the presentation was taking shape before my eyes.
As I glanced at Leo, I could see his pride and belief in me,
which fueled my determination even more.
"I can do this," I whispered, pushing through the last few details.
With a final blow, I hit save, breathing a sigh of relief.
"Done! I can't believe I actually pulled it off!"
I exclaimed, a mixture of disbelief and exhilaration flooding through me.
Leo grinned with his expression full of admiration.
"I knew you could. Now let's get this ready for the meeting."
As I stood up from my desk,
my colleagues turned to me as their eyes wide with astonishment.
Whispers filled the air as they exchanged glances,
clearly impressed by how quickly I had managed to whip up the presentation.
"Did you see how fast she was typing?"
one colleague murmured, shaking their head in disbelief.
"I thought we were done for it!"
Another chimed in,
"Seriously! How did she pull that off? I'm in awe!"
I felt a rush of pride at their reactions with
a mix of relief and exhilaration coursing through me.
As we prepared to head to the meeting, I felt a surge of excitement.
Not only had I overcome a challenge,
but I had also proven to myself and to my colleagues that I could rise to any occasion
or any trials that I could encounter for my job.
We made our way to the conference room,
where everyone was already seated,
including the chairman, who looked particularly pleased to be there.
Leo leaned over to me, his voice low but confident.
"You're up for this one, Melody.
You'll be presenting the proposal for the new expansion and product line."
My heart raced, but I nodded,
determining to impress everyone that will never regret on having me.
As I stepped up to the front of the room and launched into the presentation,
I could feel the energy shift.
With each point I made,
the room became more engaged, and by the end,
the chairman was practically leaning forward in his seat
with his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.
When I finished my presentation and report,
the room erupted into applause.
I stepped back, beaming, as Leo stood beside me,
pride radiating off him like sunshine.
"I'd say you did it so well, Melody!" he said, grinning from ear to ear.
The chairman leaned in closer, practically bouncing in his seat.
"Melody, I must say, your knowledge is impressive.
I can't wait for you to be part of the family!"
He chuckled, a twinkle in his eye.
"Just imagine the family dinners—product expansions and market forecasts over mashed potatoes!"
I felt my cheeks heat up.
After the meeting, Leo gathered the department with a proud smile on his face.
"Everyone, let's give a big round of applause for Melody!
Her flexibility and intelligence have been invaluable to our success!"
The room erupted into applause once more, and I felt a wave of pride wash over me.
As the clapping died down,
Leo's tone shifted to something more serious.
"I also want to address the incident from earlier.
We will investigate what happened with the missing files,
and those responsible for such unethical behavior will face consequences
not just for Melody, but for everyone involved."
My heart raced at his words and I instinctively glanced toward the back of the room,
where one of my colleague sat in his chair, her face pale and her anxiety palpable.
She was biting her nails and shifting uncomfortably in her seat, clearly on edge.
Leo caught my glance and followed my gaze,
his expression hardening as he noticed her fidgeting.
"Don't worry, Melody," he said, his voice steady and reassuring.
"We'll get to the bottom of this."
I nodded, trying to suppress my concern,
but the tension in the room was thick.
I could sense that my colleague
knew more than she was letting on,
and as the applause faded and people began to chat,
I couldn't shake the feeling that trouble was brewing just beneath the surface.
"Hey, Clarice, are you okay?"
Chelsea asked and noticing the anxious look on her friend's face.
"Oh, yeah, Chel, I'm fine! Just... need to hit the bathroom, you know, nature's call."
Clarice forced a smile before rushing off, leaving Chelsea watching with a puzzled expression.
Once inside the bathroom, Clarice's smile vanished as she gripped the sink.
She glared at her reflection.
"Ugh! That annoying secretary,"
She cursed beneath her breath, an unpleasant tone in her voice.
"I just wanted Mr. Cyprus to get angry to her and make her quit already!
But no, she just has to stick around, acting all innocent while flirting with my Leo."
She smirked,
remembering how she'd stayed late at the office,
waiting for the perfect opportunity.
The office had been quiet, with only the faint hum of the cleaning crew in the distance.
----- Last night ----
After Melody had finally left for the night, Clarice made her move.
She slipped into Melody's workstation and hovering over the keyboard,
the glow of the screen illuminating her face.
She glanced around, making sure no one was watching,
before diving into the folders.
"Let's see how perfect you are without your precious files,"
she muttered under her breath and her heart racing with adrenaline.
She knew exactly what she was looking for and it was the presentations and reports
that Melody had worked tirelessly to prepare for tomorrows meeting.
With a few quick clicks, she deleted the files and
watch it with a perverse sense of satisfaction as they disappeared, one by one,
into the digital abyss.
"Gone. Just like that," her lips curling into a wicked smile.
Clarice didn't stop there.
She made sure to clear the recycle bin and leaving no trace of her actions.
She wanted the files not just hidden but gone forever and hoping
the panic of lost work would be enough to push
Melody over the edge and resigned for her position.
"Good luck explaining this one, little Miss Perfect,"
she sneered as she logged off, feeling triumphant.
She had envisioned Leo's fury,
imagining how he would finally see
Melody as the incompetent, unfit secretary she believed her to be.
----- Recent ------
Clarice turned on the faucet, the rush of water barely drowning out her simmering rage.
She scrubbed her hands aggressively as her mind spiraling with jealousy and resentment.
"Does she really think Leo would fall for her? Please!
I've been by his side for years, and now she waltzes in,
like she's something special?
Over my dead body, I won't let her take him from me.
I'll do whatever it takes to make her miserable.
She doesn't belong here, and I'll make sure she knows it."
Clarice's obsession with Leo was consuming her,
and she couldn't stand seeing him give attention to anyone else,
especially not to some new hire.
Every smile,
every shared glance between Leo and Melody only fueled her determination.
She was willing to cross any line,
and as she stared into the mirror
her reflection smirked back at her with a twisted resolve.
"I've got to up my game,"
she muttered, eyes narrowing with dark intent.
"She's going to regret ever stepping into this office."
As Clarice stormed out of the bathroom,
a dangerous plan began forming in her mind,
one that would push the limits of her obsession
and Melody's patience to the breaking point.