Chapter 18: A Step Wrong
Lía sat at her desk, the hum of the office buzzing around her. It was a typical day, but she could feel the tension in the air. It had been weeks since she started working for Diego, and despite her determination to prove herself, there was always someone watching, waiting for her to slip up. Today, that someone was Valeria.
Lía had known from the beginning that Valeria would be a problem. The woman had made it clear from the moment they met that she viewed Lía as a threat, and Valeria wasn't one to back down. She had tried to sabotage Lía subtly at first, small jabs here and there, whispers behind closed doors, but today felt different. Today, Valeria was going for the kill.
It all started with a project deadline. Lía had been tasked with overseeing an important presentation for a high-profile client, and she had been putting in long hours to make sure everything was perfect. But Valeria, ever the opportunist, had found a way to twist the situation.
"Lía, you've missed a few key details on the project. I think you should check the figures again," Valeria said, her voice sweet but laced with a sharp edge as she leaned over Lía's shoulder.
Lía looked up from her work, her expression calm but her mind alert. "I've already double-checked everything. If you want, you can take another look yourself."
Valeria smiled, but it was the kind of smile that didn't reach her eyes. "I'm sure you've done your best, but you know how important this presentation is. Diego's counting on you to get everything right. It's just that… I've noticed a few discrepancies." She subtly pointed at the screen, tapping at a few numbers.
Lía's heart skipped a beat. She had reviewed everything thoroughly, but Valeria was quick, and she knew how to plant doubt. However, Lía wasn't going to let her manipulation work this time.
"Actually, I think I'll double-check again," Lía said, keeping her voice neutral. "But thank you for pointing it out."
Valeria didn't give up, though. As Lía worked, Valeria left her desk, but Lía could feel the woman's eyes on her, watching, waiting for her to make a mistake. It was clear now that Valeria wasn't just trying to undercut Lía's confidence—she was trying to make her fail, and she was going to use whatever means necessary to do so.
The next hour passed in a blur. Lía rechecked her work and made sure everything was in order. As she finished, she called Diego into her office to review the presentation together. He arrived, a bit distracted as usual, but his presence still brought a sense of calm to her nerves.
"I'm sorry for the delay," Lía said as she handed him the final documents. "I just wanted to make sure everything was perfect."
Diego nodded, taking the papers with a smile. "I trust you, Lía. Let's see what you've got."
Lía watched carefully as Diego scanned the numbers, his eyes narrowing slightly as he read through the details. She could tell he was impressed by her thoroughness. But just as she was about to breathe a sigh of relief, the door opened with a swift creak. It was Valeria, walking in as if she owned the place.
"I hate to interrupt," Valeria said, her voice dripping with sweetness. "But I just wanted to remind Diego that there's a meeting with the client in an hour. I'm sure Lía has everything under control, but I just wanted to make sure there are no mistakes."
Lía could see the glint in Valeria's eyes. She was trying to undermine her, trying to make her look incompetent. She could feel her anger rising, but she knew better than to show it.
"Actually, Valeria," Lía said, her voice calm but firm. "I've already gone through everything. Diego, if you'd like, I can run through the details one more time before the meeting, just to be sure."
Valeria's smile faltered, just for a moment, but it was enough to make Lía feel triumphant. She wasn't going to let this woman get to her. She had worked too hard to let someone like Valeria sabotage her.
Diego looked between them, his brow furrowing slightly. "You're both doing great work, but let's make sure we're ready for the client. Lía, why don't you go ahead and prepare everything? Valeria, could you give us a moment?"
Valeria's eyes darkened for a brief second before she nodded curtly and exited the room, leaving Lía alone with Diego.
"You're doing great, Lía," Diego said, offering her a smile that felt genuine. "I appreciate everything you're doing."
Lía nodded, feeling a rush of pride. She was finally gaining some ground here, and she wasn't going to let anyone take that away from her. The presentation went smoothly, and the client was pleased with the results. It wasn't a perfect victory, but it was a victory nonetheless.
But as the day wore on, Lía couldn't shake the feeling that Valeria wasn't done. She had seen the way the other woman had looked at her, that simmering rage beneath the surface. Lía knew that Valeria wouldn't let this go, not after the way she had thwarted her plan.
Later that afternoon, as Lía was wrapping up for the day, she received a message from Diego. She opened it, expecting something related to work, but instead, the message sent a chill down her spine:
*"Lía, I've heard some rumors around the office. Some people are questioning your role here. Be careful, okay?"*
Lía's heart raced as she sat back in her chair. Valeria had gone further than she thought. The rumors had started, and she knew exactly who was behind them. But this time, she wasn't going to back down. She had come this far on her own, and she wasn't about to let anyone take it from her.
The next day, as she walked into the office, she overheard some colleagues whispering behind her back. She ignored them at first, but then she saw Valeria standing by the water cooler, talking to a few people. Their eyes flicked to Lía as she approached, and for a brief moment, she caught Valeria's cold, calculating gaze. It was clear now—Valeria was going to try and get her fired.
Later that afternoon, Lía found herself sitting in the conference room, face-to-face with Diego. He looked at her with concern, his brow furrowed. "Lía, I need to talk to you about something."
Lía's stomach dropped. She had a feeling she knew what this was about.
"It's about the rumors," Diego said, his voice soft. "There's been talk around the office that you're not the right fit for this role. Valeria seems to think—"
Lía interrupted him, her voice steady and confident. "Valeria is trying to sabotage me, Diego. She's been spreading lies, trying to make me look incompetent. But I'm not going to let her do that."
Diego looked taken aback. "What do you mean?"
Lía leaned forward, her eyes never leaving his. "I'm good at what I do, Diego. I've proven myself, and I won't let anyone, especially Valeria, tear me down."
Diego seemed to process her words for a moment before nodding slowly. "I see. You're right. I'll handle this."
But Lía knew that Valeria wasn't going to stop there. She had more tricks up her sleeve, and Lía had to be ready for whatever came next.
As she left the conference room, she overheard a conversation near the hallway. One of the employees was talking to someone on the phone, and Lía's heart stopped when she heard the words: "I heard something big about Diego… it's about his son…"
The rumors were about to get worse. Valeria was going to use Nicolás, and Lía knew it. The real battle was just beginning.
Valeria, furious at her failed attempt, decides to leak the secret about Nicolás to the press, aiming to destroy Diego once and for all.