Shelly sat in her office, her gaze fixed on the city skyline through the expansive window. The buzz of Sterling Enterprises hummed faintly behind the closed door, but she wasn't hearing any of it. Her thoughts were consumed by the previous night's events—the party, Chelsea and Phoebe's public display of condescension, and the sharp look of disappointment on Shawn's face when she brushed off his concerns yet again.
She sighed, leaning back in her chair. Chelsea and Phoebe's comments had been biting—masked as playful jests but laced with venom. They'd teased her about Clifford's supposed intentions, implying she was another name on his list. When Clifford appeared to defend her, they had shifted to jokes about how Shelly was falling under his spell. The embarrassment was still fresh, but beneath it lingered a deeper realization—her so-called friends had delighted in her discomfort.
Her phone buzzed, pulling her back to the present. A text from Chelsea lit up the screen:
"Lunch today? We need to dissect Clifford's speech, lol!"
Shelly stared at the message. Normally, she'd reply with a quick "Sure" or "Can't wait!" But today, her fingers hovered over the keyboard, unmoving.
Was this what friendship was supposed to feel like? Always walking on eggshells, fearing what Chelsea or Phoebe might say next? Were their barbed jokes worth the fleeting moments of camaraderie?
The knock on her office door startled her. "Come in," she called, grateful for the interruption.
Karen Janet stepped in, her clipboard tucked under one arm and a knowing smile on her face. "Morning, Shelly. Clifford asked me to drop off these reports for your review."
"Thanks, Karen." Shelly gestured for her to set them on the desk, but Karen didn't leave immediately. Instead, she tilted her head, studying Shelly with quiet curiosity.
"You look... pensive today," Karen observed.
Shelly offered a faint smile. "Just a lot on my mind."
Karen hesitated before speaking again. "If it's about last night... don't let them get to you."
Shelly blinked, caught off guard. "You noticed?"
"Of course. Chelsea and Phoebe aren't exactly subtle," Karen replied. "And Clifford? Well, he wears his emotions on his sleeve when it comes to you."
Shelly's cheeks warmed. "That's the problem, Karen. I don't know what to make of him. One minute, he's this charming, supportive leader. The next, I feel like I'm just another game piece in his strategy."
Karen raised an eyebrow. "Do you believe that? After everything he's done?"
"I don't know what to believe anymore," Shelly admitted. "And then there's Shawn. He thinks I should cut ties with Chelsea and Phoebe, but... they've been my friends for years. It's not that simple."
Karen crossed her arms, her tone turning firm but not unkind. "Sometimes the people we've known the longest aren't the ones who have our best interests at heart. Just think about it, Shelly. Who's really in your corner?"
With that, Karen left, leaving Shelly alone with her thoughts once more.
By mid-afternoon, Shelly had made up her mind. She declined Chelsea's lunch invitation with a polite but firm excuse and opted to eat alone in the staff lounge. The decision felt surprisingly liberating, though it left a hollow ache in her chest.
Halfway through her sandwich, her phone buzzed again. This time, it was a message from Shawn:
"Can we talk tonight? I'll bring dinner."
She smiled, grateful for his persistence. Typing out a quick "Yes," she resolved to finally listen to him.
That evening, Shelly's apartment was filled with the comforting aroma of takeout Chinese food. Shawn had set up the table with their usual favorites—orange chicken for her, beef lo mein for him—and poured them both glasses of sparkling water.
"So," Shawn began after a few bites, "I'm guessing last night gave you a lot to think about."
Shelly nodded, setting her fork down. "You were right, Shawn. About Chelsea and Phoebe. They... they humiliated me."
Shawn's expression softened. "I didn't want you to get hurt, Shelly. "I want you to understand what I've been seeing for years."
"I think I finally do," she admitted, her voice tinged with sadness. "But letting go of them feels... complicated. They've been there through so much, even if it wasn't always healthy."
"Complicated doesn't mean impossible," Shawn said gently. "You deserve friends who lift you, not ones who tear you down."
Shelly nodded, her resolve strengthening. "You're right. I'll talk to them. But there's something else I need to figure out first."
"Clifford," Shawn guessed.
She looked away, embarrassed. "Am I that obvious?"
"To me? Always," he said with a teasing grin. Then, more seriously, he added, "What's holding you back, Shelly?"
She sighed. "Trust. I've heard so many things about him, Shawn. And some of it's hard to ignore. But then he does something kind or thoughtful, and I wonder if I've been wrong about him."
"Maybe you should stop listening to what everyone else says and start trusting your instincts," Shawn suggested. "You're smart, Shelly. You'll figure out who he is."
For the first time in weeks, Shelly felt a glimmer of clarity. She didn't have all the answers yet, but she knew one thing for certain—she couldn't let fear or outside opinions dictate her choices anymore.
The next morning, Shelly arrived at work with a renewed sense of purpose. She greeted Karen with a smile, ignored the curious stares from Chelsea and Phoebe, and marched straight to Clifford's office.
"Do you have a minute?" she asked, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation.
Clifford looked up from his desk, surprise flashing across his features before he set his pen down and leaned back in his chair. "For you? Always."
Shelly hesitated, suddenly unsure of how to begin. "I... I wanted to thank you for last night. For stepping in when you did."
"You don't need to thank me," Clifford said. "I couldn't just stand by and let them treat you that way."
She nodded, her hands fidgeting with the strap of her purse. "I've been doing a lot of thinking, Clifford. About... everything. And I realized I haven't been entirely fair to you."
His expression softened, though he didn't interrupt.
"I'm still figuring things out," she continued, "but I wanted you to know that I see the effort you've been making. And... I appreciate it."
A slow, genuine smile spread across Clifford's face. "That's all I could ever ask for, Shelly."
As she left his office, Shelly felt a small weight lift off her shoulders. It wasn't a resolution, but it was a start.
And for now, that was enough.