Chapter Eight

 Emilia

Walking through the sleek hallways of Kane Group, I was already prepared for the whispers, the side glances, and the not-so-subtle speculation about me. My presence here clearly unsettled some people, and they weren’t shy about showing it. But today, instead of hushed whispers and fleeting glances, I was met with something far more direct.

Nora.

I should have known she wouldn't back down after our last encounter. If anything, I had only fueled her desire to prove something—to herself, to her little circle of gossipers, and most importantly, to Katherine.

And this time, she wasn’t alone.

Standing beside her was Mr. Gallagher, one of the senior managers. A middle-aged man with graying hair, a slight paunch, and a smug expression that made my stomach turn. He carried himself with the confidence of someone who thought his position in the company made him untouchable—someone who believed he could do whatever he pleased and get away with it.

His presence made it clear that this wasn’t just about office gossip anymore. This was an ambush.

I didn’t falter, didn’t even slow my pace as I approached them. If they were looking for intimidation, they had chosen the wrong person to mess with.

"Well, well," Nora said, folding her arms as she positioned herself in my path. Her lips curled into a smirk, her eyes glinting with malice. "If it isn’t the new office celebrity."

I arched a brow, refusing to give her the satisfaction of a reaction. "I wasn’t aware I was so popular," I replied smoothly, stopping just a few feet from them. "But I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. People love talking about things they don’t understand."

Nora’s expression darkened for a split second before she quickly masked it with an amused chuckle. "Oh, trust me, sweetheart. Everyone understands why you’re here."

There was an almost gleeful edge to her voice, the way a cat toys with a mouse before delivering the final blow.

"A woman like you doesn’t just land a position like this without… external help," she added, her gaze flickering with fake sympathy.

There it was again—the same insinuation. Only this time, she had an audience.

Mr. Gallagher chuckled beside her, adjusting his expensive watch as he looked me over with thinly veiled arrogance.

"You must understand, Ms. Emilia," he said, his tone patronizing, as if he were speaking to a clueless intern. "We have a certain standard here at Kane Group. We can’t have employees who… don’t belong."

I tilted my head, meeting his gaze head-on. "Oh? And what exactly does that mean?"

Gallagher shrugged. "Let’s just say some people earn their place through experience and hard work. Others… well, they take shortcuts."

Nora snickered beside him, clearly enjoying the show.

A couple of nearby employees had stopped what they were doing, pretending to be busy while discreetly eavesdropping.

The tension in the air was thick, almost suffocating, but I refused to let it shake me.

I exhaled slowly, shaking my head in amusement. "You know," I mused, crossing my arms, "it’s always funny how the people who talk the loudest about 'hard work' are usually the ones who do the least of it."

Gallagher’s smirk faltered slightly. "Excuse me?"

I took a deliberate step closer, my expression calm but unwavering. "You heard me. It’s always the ones who barely lift a finger that have the most to say about work ethic. But let’s be honest, Mr. Gallagher—do you really think anyone here believes you climbed your way up through sheer talent?"

A hush fell over the small crowd that had gathered. Someone gasped softly.

Gallagher's jaw tightened, but before he could fire back, I shifted my attention to Nora.

"And you, Nora," I continued, my voice sickly sweet. ""I understand now why you’re so desperate to put me down. You need to make sure no one is looking too closely at you. Are you really in a position to talk about external help? You heard me." I let my gaze flick to Nora, watching as her smirk wavered, her confidence faltering for the first time. 

Her smirk flickered for a fraction of a second, her fingers tightening around her crossed arms. "I don’t know what you’re talking about." Her brow furrowed, and for a brief second, I saw uncertainty flash across her features. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?" she snapped.

I let out a soft laugh, shaking my head. "Oh, I think you do. But let me refresh your memory—does the name Mr. Gallagher ring a bell?"

Gallagher’s face paled instantly. "That’s enough," he snapped.

But I wasn’t done.I took a deliberate step closer, lowering my voice just enough to make her shift uncomfortably. "You think I don’t know what you’ve been up to? That I haven’t noticed the way you and Mr. Gallagher conveniently disappear around the same time? That the finance department hasn’t been curious about certain… expenses?"

A visible shudder passed through her, and though she quickly covered it up with a forced laugh, there was an undeniable crack in her confidence. "You’re insane," she spat, folding her arms tightly across her chest. "You have no idea what you’re talking about."

"Don’t I?" I raised an eyebrow, my lips curving into a slow, knowing smirk. "Let’s see… A senior manager showing clear favoritism toward a junior employee. Questionable promotions. Unapproved budget expenses that just so happen to benefit a certain someone. Should I go on?"

Gallagher’s face, which had been smug moments ago, suddenly drained of color. His jaw clenched so tightly I thought he might crack a tooth.

"You should watch what you say," he said, his voice quieter now, but the underlying threat was still there.

Or what?" I challenged, my voice just as even, just as unwavering. "You’ll try to intimidate me? You’ll have me fired? News flash—your influence here isn’t as strong as you think it is. And trust me, if Richard Kane catches wind of this, you’ll be lucky if losing your job is the only consequence."

"You see, it’s interesting," I mused, tapping my chin, "how people are quick to accuse others of using connections to get ahead, yet they conveniently forget about their own shortcuts."

Nora’s composure cracked completely, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "You’re lying!"

I turned my gaze toward Gallagher. "Am I?"

I could practically hear the whispers forming before they even left the mouths of the employees standing nearby.

Nora’s lips parted as if she wanted to say something, to deny it, to twist the narrative, but for the first time since meeting her, she was speechless.

Gallagher, on the other hand, was doing everything he could to keep his face composed, though I didn’t miss the way his fists clenched at his sides. His eyes darted around the growing crowd, as if gauging just how many people had heard what I said. Too many.

I stepped even closer, close enough that only they could hear me now. "The thing about people like you," I murmured, tilting my head, "is that you think you’re untouchable. That your secrets will stay buried because you have power. But here’s the problem—you don’t have as much power as you think. And now? Everyone’s watching."

The man looked ready to explode, his fists clenching at his sides. "You need to watch your mouth, Ms. Emilia."

I feigned innocence. "Oh, but I’m just stating facts. Like the fact that HR is currently reviewing some… questionable emails between a certain senior manager and a certain employee."

This time, the gasp that rippled through the crowd was unmistakable.

Nora took a panicked step back. "You wouldn’t—"

I tilted my head. "Wouldn’t what? Expose the truth? Funny, I thought you believed in fairness and hard work."

Her eyes darted toward Gallagher, silently begging him to step in, but he looked just as horrified as she did.

Nora inhaled sharply, her nails digging into her own arms. "You’re bluffing," she whispered, her voice lacking the conviction it had before.

I smiled. "Am I?"

I could see the panic flickering in her eyes now, the way she desperately wanted to call me a liar, to turn this back on me. But she knew. She knew I wasn’t bluffing.

Gallagher finally found his voice, though it was weaker this time. "This conversation is over," he muttered.

I leaned in slightly, my voice dropping to a whisper. "If I were you, I’d be very careful about who I choose to target next. You don’t want me as your enemy."

I took a step back, flashing them both a polite smile. "Anyway, I’d love to chat, but I have actual work to do. Enjoy your shortcuts while they last."

And with that, I turned on my heel and walked away, leaving them standing there in stunned silence.

The whispers started immediately.

I didn’t need to turn around to know what was happening. Their little attempt to humiliate me had backfired spectacularly. The entire office had just witnessed it.

By the time I reached my office, my phone buzzed with a message from Richard.

Richard: What did you do?

A small smirk played on my lips as I typed back.

Me: Just reminding people of their place.

Richard: Should I be concerned?

Me: Not unless you’re Mr. Gallagher or Nora.

A pause. Then,

Richard: Alright then

I wasn’t here to play games. And if people like Nora and Gallagher wanted to challenge me, they’d soon learn the hard way—I never lost.