Promises and Shadows

Chapter 9

As I arrived at Victor's office, a surge of frustration built within me, ready to burst forth. Just then, an unwelcome presence intervened. Bad timing, Mia, I thought.

“Mrs. Grey, you can’t enter without Mr. Grey’s permission,” Mia asserted, standing in front of his door like a guard dog. Normally, I’m not one to be rude, but the escalating tension was pushing me to my limits. Perhaps throwing a tantrum at Mia was justified; she had it coming.

Just days earlier, when I had visited with Victor, Mia had pretended to be sweet, but behind his back, she maliciously spread rumours. She claimed Victor had married me out of pity. I had tried to overlook it, but enough was enough.

“Ms. Collins, I don’t need an appointment to see my husband…” I attempted to sound polite and put on a fake smile, though my effort was slipping.

“Husband?” she scoffed, crossing her arms. “He didn’t marry you out of love, did he? It’s just a pity. If I were you, I wouldn’t flaunt that title. How self-—”

I cut her off, unable to bear another moment of her taunts. If this weren’t Victor’s workplace, I might have let my impulse take over and slapped her. Instead, I chose to confront her directly.

I crossed my arms and gave her a serious look before asking, “Miss. Collins, are you the primary breadwinner in your family?”

Her surprise was palpable.

“No…” she replied, confusion evident on her face.

“Do you have any sick dependents to care for?” I asked, wanting to gauge whether she was prepared for what was about to happen. I certainly had an attitude, but it only showed in front of people like Mia.

“No, why—” Her frown deepened as she lowered her hands.

“Do you have enough money to sustain yourself for the next three months?” My voice was calm and steady.

She scoffed at the question. “Do you think I work here for the money? What I earn barely covers cosmetics. I’m here because of my father’s relentless pressure…”

Oh, so Mia is just another spoiled brat.

I clenched my fists, stifling my frustration. That was enough.

“VICTOR GREY! VICTOR GREY! VIC—”

I shouted his name loud enough that I wouldn’t be surprised if it echoed outside the building. Within moments, he appeared, and soon most of the employees surrounded us.

“What’s wrong, Leila? Why are you shouting?” Victor asked, concern etched on his face.

“She humiliated me,” I pointed at Mia. “I want her gone. Now.”

Victor didn’t hesitate or ask any questions. He looked straight into my eyes and said in a baritone voice that was completely unfamiliar to me, “Get out, Ms. Collins. You’re fired.”

“But sir—” Mia’s eyes widened, and she stuttered in fear.

If she’s that scared of getting fired, she shouldn’t have spoken poorly of anyone. It’s unethical in the workplace.

Victor turned, emphasizing every word as if issuing a hidden threat. He looked serious—something new to me. “Not another word. Consider this a mild punishment. If it were up to me, your humiliation would be far greater—something you would never even think of doing again.”

Mia was a mess of tears now. Part of me felt bad, but another part said, ‘Take that, bitch.’

The room was thick with tension as all eyes were on us. Victor then addressed another employee, still glaring at Mia. At that moment, he looked powerful.