**********THIRD PERSONIt was late evening, the house quiet enough that the faint ticking of the clock filled the air. Maddalena sat in the lounge, one leg crossed over the other, a half-full glass of red wine resting on the table. The lights were low as she had been sitting there for almost an hour, not because she was restless, but because she was waiting. She always knew when the call would come. It was only a matter of time.When the phone finally rang, she didn’t jump. She reached for it calmly, her eyes on the darkened window as she answered.“Cara mia,” she said softly.The voice on the other end was cold and sharp. “You took your time calling, Maddalena.”She smiled faintly, not out of amusement, but habit. “I was waiting for you. I didn’t want to disturb.”“Disturb?” The woman’s tone cut through the calm. “What disturbs me is silence. Things have been too quiet lately. That girl, Sofia—she’s done absolutely nothing.”Maddalena leaned back in her chair, her wine untouched. “W
SOFIAThe office was almost empty. Everyone had gone home hours ago. Only the faint hum of the air conditioning and the buzz from my desk lamp filled the silence. The room looked cold under the dim light, papers scattered across my desk, a reminder of the day I had just endured.Marco had left with her. SARAH.I could still hear her voice from earlier, soft, polite, pretending to be professional. “Marco and I will be heading out to dinner to celebrate the first day. I trust you’ll take care of the remaining work.”The way she said it, calm and steady, like I was some assistant beneath her. She spoke to me like she was doing me a favor, like she belonged here more than I did. I could almost see the smug little smile on her face when she hung up the phone.I clenched my jaw, staring at the glass wall that reflected the empty office. My reflection looked unfamiliar, my eyes darker than usual. I felt humiliated.Marco hired her. Out of everyone he could have picked, he brought his wife in
SARAHThe restaurant was quiet, glowing with soft lights and the low hum of jazz. Everything smelled of expensive food and wine. I sat across from Marco, still in the same clothes I’d worn to the office, and couldn’t help feeling like I didn’t belong there. The people around us looked so polished, like they’d walked out of a magazine.Marco didn’t seem to care. He looked comfortable, leaning back in his chair with that relaxed air he carried everywhere. His tie was loose, his eyes steady on me. When the waiter poured the wine, Marco reached for his glass and smiled.“To your first day as my secretary,” he said.I let out a small laugh. “You’re really making this a thing, aren’t you?”“It is a thing,” he said. “You walked into my office this morning like you owned it.”“I was nervous,” I said honestly. “I just tried to look like I wasn’t.”He tilted his head, smirking. “You did well. The staff were watching you. Sofia especially.”I looked down at my glass. “I noticed.”Marco raised an
SARAHI sat behind the desk, staring at the screen like it was waiting to judge me. The room was quiet except for the sound of the air conditioner and the sound of conversation outside. My name was still definitely new here. People had whispered it like it carried some secret weight. The boss’s wife. The new secretary. The one who made Sofia tense.I opened the drawers one by one, trying to understand my space. Pens, sticky notes, files marked with initials I didn’t recognize. A small paperweight with the company logo. It felt strange, sitting in this office. Marco’s office was only a few doors away, but this was my corner now. I clicked through the computer, reading the day’s schedule. Meetings, calls, project updates, everything that kept this place alive.Through the glass wall, I could feel their stares. A few heads turned quickly when I looked up. Some smiled nervously, pretending they weren’t watching. Others just whispered, eyes darting between me and the door. I didn’t blame t
SARAHThe room went quiet.Sofia just stood there, eyes wide, her painted lips parting as if she didn’t believe what she had just heard. I could almost hear her heartbeat from where I stood. Marco’s words still hung in the air like smoke. “She’ll be my new secretary.”Her gaze flicked between us, then she let out a breathy laugh. “I’m sorry… what?”Marco didn’t answer right away. He was calm, the way he always was when someone challenged him. Hands in his pockets, steady eyes, quiet authority.Sofia blinked again, this time harder. “You can’t be serious,” she said, voice rising slightly. “You’re replacing me with her?”I felt the words hit me, but before I could react, Marco spoke. “You’re not being replaced,” he said evenly. “You’ll be assisting her transition.”“Transition?” Sofia repeated, her tone sharp, almost a scoff. “She has no clue how this place runs, Marco. You think she can handle calls, meetings, clients? She doesn’t even know the people who work here. This isn’t somethin
SARAHI sat in front of the mirror, brushing my hair slowly, the morning light slipped through the curtains, warm and calm, but my hands were shaking a little. I stared at my reflection, not because I wanted to admire myself, but because I was trying to picture what kind of woman I needed to look like for the day ahead. Someone capable.It had been so long since I’d done anything outside this house. Ever since Marco and I got married, I’d gotten used to waiting for him, planning dinners, and pretending that silence was comfort. But lately, it felt suffocating. The walls listened too much, the halls whispered my name when I passed. Today was different. Today I was going to work with him. Not as decoration, but as part of his world.I picked out a cream blouse and a black skirt. Nothing too bold. Just neat. Respectable. I wanted to look like I understood where I was going. As I buttoned my blouse, I caught my reflection again and smiled faintly. “You can do this,” I whispered to myself.