Mika's voice dripped with mocking sweetness as she stepped into Emily's path. "Looks like we'll be seeing a lot more of each other," Mika said, a smirk playing on her lips.
Emily's jaw tightened, but she didn't respond. Instead, she pushed past Mika, her footsteps brisk and purposeful. The tension between them crackled like a live wire, and Emily could feel Mika's smirk lingering like a shadow.
Reaching the elevator, Emily pressed the button repeatedly, silently willing the doors to open faster. She needed space—distance from Mika and the rage bubbling under her skin.
But just as the doors began to close, Mika slipped inside. "Emily," Mika chirped, her tone saccharine. "Aren't you happy we're working together now?"
Emily's icy glare could have frozen flames, but Mika remained unfazed.
"Why so quiet?" Mika pressed on, her voice carrying an edge designed to provoke. "We're colleagues now! We can even be friends again, don't you think?"
Emily's knuckles whitened as she clenched her fists. "Mika, can you please shut up?" she snapped, her voice sharp enough to cut through steel.
Mika's laughter filled the small elevator. "Oh, finally! I thought you'd gone mute," she teased, her eyes twinkling with satisfaction.
"Emily, I know you hate me because of Jaden, but let's be real here—he doesn't love you, darling. He loves me," Mika said, her voice dripping with mockery as she smirked at Emily.
Emily's expression hardened, but she refused to let Mika see her flinch. "You're a fool, Mika. A fool, and that's all you'll ever be," Emily shot back, her voice cold and steady. "You know what? Both of you deserve each other."
Mika felt the sting of those words, though she masked her hurt with a sly smile, pretending to brush it off. "Oh, Emily, stop being so jealous," she retorted, tilting her head arrogantly.
"Jealousy?" Emily repeated, her eyebrows shooting up in surprise. "You think I'm jealous of you?"
"Yes, jealous," Mika said confidently, her eyes gleaming with a sense of triumph. "You heard me right. You're jealous because he never loved you, and you can't stand that he chose me over you."
Emily narrowed her eyes, instantly recognizing the game Mika was trying to play. Her lips curled into a bitter smile as she prepared her response. "Nice try, Mika," she said, her tone sharp. "But you know what? You're nothing more than an attention-seeking bitch."
Mika gasped, her confident demeanor slipping for a moment. "Huh? Me?" she stammered, feigning surprise.
"Yes, you," Emily shot back, her voice rising slightly. "You thrive on drama, don't you? You're so desperate to feel superior that you'll do anything to make yourself look good, even if it means tearing other people down."
Mika's face reddened, but she quickly composed herself. "Believe whatever helps you sleep at night, Emily," she sneered. "But the truth is, Jaden doesn't even think about you. You're irrelevant."
Emily smirked. "Keep telling yourself that, Mika. Maybe one day, you'll believe it."
Emily gritted her teeth, her voice trembling with suppressed rage. "I wish I had never met you in my life."
Mika's laughter grew louder, echoing off the elevator walls. "Oh really? Still clinging to the past, I see. Don't you ever leave things behind, Emily?"
The ding of the elevator saved Emily from responding. The doors slid open, and she bolted out, her pace quick and deliberate. Mika followed, her heels clicking loudly against the floor as she struggled to keep up.
"Emily, wait!" Mika called out, her voice carrying an edge of mockery. "Why are you running away? You heartless bitch!"
Emily froze mid-step, her spine stiffening. She turned slowly, her eyes burning with fury, but she forced herself to stay silent.
Mika wasn't done. She jogged to Emily, grabbing her arm. "I'm talking to you, you greedy—"
The sharp crack of a slap cut her words short. Mika's eyes widened in disbelief as her cheek stung from the impact. Gasps rippled through the hallway as their colleagues stopped to witness the scene.
Emily's voice was low but deadly. "Now listen carefully, Mika. Stay away from me. The next time you put those filthy hands on me, you won't like the consequences."
Mika blinked, stunned for a moment, before a slow, satisfied smile spread across her face. She glanced at the onlookers, then raised her voice for effect. "Exactly what I wanted. Now we all see who the real bully is."
She walked away, her laughter echoing in her wake. Emily stood rooted to the spot, trembling with barely restrained anger as the murmurs of their colleagues filled the air.
Back in her office, Emily slammed the door with more force than necessary. Rachel, who was typing at her desk, jumped slightly at the sound.
"Whoa, what happened?" Rachel asked, her eyes wide with concern.
Emily let out a frustrated groan, pacing the room. "Mika. That's what happened. She's been hired by Starlight, and guess what? I've been assigned to… babysit her."
Rachel blinked in surprise, then pressed her lips together, trying—and failing—to suppress a laugh. "You? Babysitting Mika? That's… ironic."
"It's infuriating," Emily muttered, sinking into her chair. Her hands gripped the armrests so tightly her knuckles turned white.
Rachel handed her a fresh cup of coffee, her expression turning thoughtful. "Maybe it's not as bad as it seems. Noah wouldn't assign you this task if he didn't think you could handle it."
Emily let out a humorless laugh. "Oh, it's bad. You didn't see the smug look on her face. She's enjoying this."
Rachel's eyes softened. "You're stronger than her, Emily. Don't let her get under your skin.
Emily's phone buzzed, drawing her attention. She hesitated before flipping it over. A message from Mika lit up the screen:
"Looking forward to working with you, mentor. ;)"
Emily groaned and slammed the phone face down on her desk. Rachel chuckled, shaking her head as she sipped her coffee. "You'll survive."
Emily wasn't so sure.
For the rest of the day, her mind replayed the confrontation in the hallway. The slap, Mika's satisfied smile, the murmurs of their colleagues—it all swirled in her head like a storm.
She knew Mika was trying to bait her, to paint her as the villain. But the slap, while satisfying in the moment, had played right into Mika's hands.
As the office emptied out for the evening, Emily stared at her reflection in the window. Her jaw tightened with resolve. If Mika wanted a game, Emily would play—but on her terms.
Her phone buzzed again. Another message from Mika:
"See you tomorrow, boss. Don't be late!"
Emily's lips curled into a cold smile. Mika might have started this war, but Emily would finish it.