1: Catherine Zoe Aragon

I was stopped in my tracks when I spotted a very fashionable woman cause a scene at the cafe on the ground floor of our building. All I can do is watch the woman walks passed me, after finally getting what she wanted and going into the building oozing with so much confidence that I can't help but be overawed by her presence. She reminds me of all the spoiled brats that I encountered in my life. It has been almost three years since I stopped living that kind of life. It’s been almost three years since I left the life that I grew up with behind. 

"Good morning pretty lady." I almost jumped out of my skin as an equally beautiful girl appeared in front of me with two coffee cups at hand. It was Andrea, my best friend. The two of us walked together to the elevators as we took sips from our vanilla latte.

We go way back from high school before I left my seemingly perfect life behind. When I had a perfect image to uphold. When I can get everything that I wanted and more. When I had to deal and make friends with stuck-up brats like that girl.

"Not so great a morning Dre. Do you know how much my legs cramped on my way to work, because some rude sorry excuse for a man in the train was laying in the seats and refused to get up because he has some massive hangover?" I ranted to her as we got in the elevator.

"I keep telling you to ditch that trashy thing you call a car and hitch a ride with me but you always decline the kind offer of your equally kind best friend." she retorted back at me making me roll my eyes at my best friend.

"Our apartments are on the opposite sides of the city, it's not very efficient for you to make a whole trip to the other side of the city and circle back here." I answered back to her and this time it was Andrea's turn to roll her eyes at me.

"Whatever. But hey! Today is supposed to be a great day. That jerk we had as a boss has finally been put in his place and this is the first day that we are not seeing his face in the office." Andrea cheerfully said in her perky loud voice. Making me glad that we were the only people inside the elevator.

"And how sure are you that the one replacing him won't be as jerky as him?" I asked, trying to lower her hopes and expectations for this new boss.

"You are such a pessimist! Tell me again why you're my best friend?" She scoffed at me as we got off the elevator.

"Oh, you know you love me!" I said to Andrea, flinging my arms around her shoulders and walking by her side to our office.

"Whatever Cath." She said to me, taking both my arms off her shoulders and rushing to her cubicle. I giggled by myself as I walked towards my workspace.

Cath, that's my name. Catherine Zoe Aragon to be precise. I'm currently working as a chief editor in a popular comic book company. I could say that I'm very good at my job and very passionate about it too, but some of my co-workers seem to think that I don't deserve all the recognition that I'm receiving from the company.

And with the scandal, our previous boss was in, rumors also spread that I did favors for him to get to where I am right now. If you're still not getting any of the hints, our previous boss was kind of a pervert. He likes to hit on female employees that are under him and would make very inappropriate comments to them. Most of the girls that he harassed were so afraid to get fired that they didn't even try to report him. I admit, he did try to make a move on me, but I declined him, so she moved to Andrea. Unlucky for him, Andrea is the type of person who wouldn't let go of that sort of matter. Being a daughter of lawyers, she knows her way around the laws. She filed a lawsuit for sexual harassment and won the case, so we won't be seeing that sorry excuse for a boss ever again.

"Everyone! Can I get all of your attention please?" I looked up from my computer and stood up to look over the cubicles and see what all the commotion is about. I caught a glimpse of Andrea and I could tell that she's as curious as I am.

"Okay. As all of you know, Mr. Harley has been dismissed because of his inappropriate behavior and will not be joining us starting today." All of the attention was pulled by Ms. White, an almost sixty-year-old bubbly and sweet woman who is also the head of HR.

"So, in light of everything that has happened, the board decided to appoint a new head for the Creative Department. Come in, Gav." She continued gesturing for someone to come inside. A few moments later, a tall intimidating figure appeared beside Ms. White. Even with my bad eyesight, I could tell how handsome he is. I looked around and noticed how everyone was gawking at him. The newcomer looked back at the woman beside him and Ms. White gave him an encouraging nudge so he turned her focus on us. 

"Good morning everyone, I'm Gavin Mitchel." Everyone in the room could feel his overwhelming presence as he introduced himself. None of us spoke up, so he just continued.

"If you need anything from me I will be in my office." he finally said and made his way to his office at the end of the floor.

"Okay, I guess that's it for the introduction. You can get back to your work. Have a great day everyone." She said with the brightest smile before following Mr. Mitchel to his office.

"I can't believe how hot our new boss is." I overheard one of our co-workers say as Andrea and I were in the pantry, eating our lunch.

"Did you see his jawline? And that body! I bet he has a complete set of abs!" the other one exclaimed as we both rolled our eyes and scoff at the conversation. I was shocked when they both suddenly appeared beside our table. We both looked up and saw their offended faces. 

"You guys don't think that Mr. Mitchel is hot?" Michaela asked as I was about to take a big bite from my double patty burger.

"He's handsome, I admit, but it’s not like I need to swoon over everyone that's handsome right?" Andrea answered them as she continued eating her salad, while I maintained my silence.

"Oh, I see. I understand you, Andrea, you have every right to have a high standard when it comes to men. What I don't understand is why you have such a high standard considering that Sir Mitchel, checks out all the boxes that you want for a partner? Rich." Bell said directed at me.

"Powerful." Michaela chimed in.

"And has connections. Looks like a perfect target for a gold digger like you. I won't even be surprised if it wouldn't even take a week for you to open your legs for him." Bell finished, smirking at me, thinking she'd won the argument.

"What did you say?" Andrea said, standing up from her chair angrily but I grabbed her hand took her hand, and tried to pull her back to her chair but it was no use.

"What? I'm just saying the truth. Do you really believe that she would be a chief editor if she didn't sleep with Mr. Harley?" Michaela continued and before Andrea could refute, the two of them were already leaving the pantry with victorious smirks across their faces.

"The nerve of those she-devils!" She exclaimed as she flop down her chair again.

"Come on, just don't mind them. Let them believe whatever they want to believe. I couldn't care less." I nonchalantly said to her as I continued munching on my burger and she gave me an angry look.

"Oh, come on, Dre! I can't let every single rumor get to me. I had enough experience since high school to not let these things bother me." I said with a slight giggle, acting like I didn't care what other people thinks of me.

The day went by in a snap, but I still seem to have so much work in my hands. Being the lead editor of the new comic book project that we are about to launch, I have to look over everything, from the drawings to the storyline, and I have lots of things to go through. And to put a cherry on top of a stressful day, I also have to get everything approved by our new boss.

"Still not done?" Andrea asked me as she approached my cubicle with her bag already draped on her shoulder.

"Nope!" I replied in defeat. "Guess I'll be doing overtime for a few days, to finish everything by Wednesday."

"Sorry, Cath. I have a family dinner today. I need to go." she said pouting her lips at me.

"It's fine, Dre. I'll go home soon. Go! Go! You're going to be late!" I said to her, pushing her away from my cubicle. She just giggled at me before walking out of the office.

I was still deep in my work when I suddenly heard something small drop and then complete silence. I looked around and the only source of light is my computer. I was the only one left inside the office. I grabbed my phone and checked the time, and was shocked to see that it was already past midnight.

I packed all of my things, saved all the files on my computer. The office is a lot creepier when it's dark and just thinking about it sends chills down my spine. I grabbed my bags and made my way to the elevator when the door from the head's office opened slowly. My eyes grew wider, and fear sunk in. I drew a deep breath and sprinted for the elevators with my eyes closed but before I could reach the end of the office, I found myself stumbling back from bumping into something sturdy and big. As my butt hit the floor, a scream left my mouth, piercing through the whole building.