Hurricane

6

The morning air in the office buzzes with anticipation and unease. Employees huddle in small groups, whispering and glancing toward the entrance. The sleek, modern design of Steele Corporation's headquarters, with its glass walls and polished marble floors, provides a stark contrast to the tension-filled atmosphere. 

Luna Hart sits at her desk, her heart racing. The usual office chatter is muted, replaced by a sense of impending confrontation.

Rick, Cassian Knight's private assistant, strides in, commanding immediate attention. His presence is authoritative, his soft leather shoes barely making a sound on the polished floor. He stops in the centre of the open-concept office space, and silence falls. Luna looks up, intrigued."Everyone, may I have your attention?" Rick announces, his voice steady. The sound cuts through the stillness, drawing all eyes to him. "Mr. Devenau, please step forward."

Mr. Devenau, the Office Manager, hesitates before stepping into the open space, standing stiffly with a pale face as Rick begins.

"After a thorough review, we have determined you have not met the standards expected by Steele Corporation," Rick states, unwavering. "Effective immediately, your employment is terminated."

A collective gasp ripples through the room, bouncing off the glass walls. Mr. Devenau's eyes widen in shock, and he stammers, "But... why? I've done everything asked of me."

Rick remains composed. "The decision is final. Collect your belongings and leave the premises immediately."

Mr. Devenau's shoulders slump under the weight of the moment. He nods reluctantly, gaze dropping as he turns to gather his things. The room remains silent, tension thick in the air.

As he exits, one of Luna's colleagues leans over and whispers, "Did you hear? Isabella has been promoted to Office Manager. She'll be using the Office Manager's office from now on."

Luna blinks in surprise. "Isabella Sterling? Promoted?" she whispers back, her mind racing. "Why would Mr. Knight give her such a position if he's not interested in her?"

She glances around, noting the confused expressions on her co-workers' faces. The office feels different now, uncertainty hanging over them all. Luna's thoughts swirl with questions about Cassian's decision.

The sound of heels clicking draws her attention, and she turns to see Isabella entering confidently, her posture straight and chin held high. The natural light streaming through the large windows catches the sparkle of her jewellery, accentuating her presence. Luna watches as Isabella approaches the newly vacated Office Manager's desk, asserting her dominance over the space. "Good morning, everyone," Isabella greets sweetly, her voice echoing slightly in the spacious office. "I'm sure you've heard the news. I'll be taking over as Office Manager, and I expect everyone to cooperate during this transition."

Luna feels a pang of frustration. Why Isabella? She had never seen Cassian show real interest in her, yet here she was, stepping into authority. Her thoughts are interrupted by Isabella's voice.

"Luna, could you come here for a moment?" Isabella calls, her tone more of an order than a request.

Luna rises and walks over, feeling her colleagues' eyes on her. "Yes, Isabella?"

"I'll need you to assist me with a few tasks today. We have a lot to get through, and I'll need someone reliable to help manage everything," Isabella says, her smile thin and insincere.

"Of course," Luna replies, keeping her tone polite despite her unease. She wonders what the day will bring and how she will navigate the new dynamics in the office.

Cassian Knight strides into the office, instantly commanding the attention of everyone present. His tailored suit fits impeccably, and his focused expression conveys a sense of urgency and authority. Without wasting any time, he addresses the staff, stating, "Everyone should work a few hours of overtime for the remainder of this week; we need to have some designs ready by Friday." After delivering this directive, he turns and heads toward his office, leaving a palpable tension in the air.

As he departs, his gaze briefly meets Luna's, and the intensity in his eyes makes her heart skip a beat, momentarily dulling the surrounding chaos. She feels an odd reassurance, as if he understands her confusion and frustration. However, Cassian's expression quickly hardens before he looks away and continues walking.

Unaware of the exchanged glances, the employees look at each other with confusion and concern. They are puzzled by Cassian's apparent oversight in not recognizing Isabella's recent promotion, a significant event that had just occurred. Meanwhile, Isabella, eager to assert her authority in her new role, steps forward to address the group. "You all heard Mr. Knight," she says commandingly. "No one will be allowed to leave before at least 8 PM tonight." She notices their curious looks and murmurs but remains unaware of why they're reacting this way. "Is that understood?" she adds firmly, solidifying her position as the new Office Manager.

Everyone in the room, including Luna, nods in acknowledgment to show they understand the situation. After a brief moment, Luna hurries to follow Isabella into her office, eager to see what Isabella has in store. 

Once inside, Isabella suddenly turns to face her with a confident smirk on her face. "I suggest you stop thinking about Mr. Knight," Isabella says with a hint of superiority in her voice, "because he is officially mine now." As she speaks, Isabella lifts her hand to reveal her sparkling engagement ring, the light catching it perfectly. Luna's eyes grow wide with astonishment as the realization sinks in, completely taken aback by what she has just learned.

Meanwhile, Cassian Knight answers a call from his grandmother. "What on earth are you getting engaged to Isabella for? Didn't I tell you she's not the one?"

"Calm down, grandma. It's not what you think," Cassian replies, glancing at Rick, who looks guilty.

"You shouldn't care if some woman is interested in you. Why get engaged just to push her away?"

"You won't understand, grandma."

"Is that the best excuse you can give?"

"Just forget it. Isabella knows it's all pretend."

"Don't even think about bringing that woman here."

"Didn't you like her a few weeks ago?"

"That's before I found out she faked the birthmark that she clearly doesn't have." His grandmother sounds upset. "Just don't get her pregnant, Cassian!"

Cassian laughs, "Grandma! I'm not even interested in Isabella. Why would I sleep with her?"

Feeling uncomfortable, Rick clears his throat and says, "I'll go get you some more coffee, Mr Knight."As Rick steps out of Cassian's office, he hears Isabella barking orders at Luna. "Luna, I need these reports filed, the meeting room prepped, and my coffee ready within the next ten minutes. And don't forget to organize the client files by noon."Rick feels a pang of sympathy for Luna. She's clearly overwhelmed by Isabella's demands, her face reflecting stress and frustration. As Rick heads toward the coffee machine, he can't help but hope that Cassian will realize what's going on and intervene before things get out of hand.

That night after 8 PM, Luna sees Isabella getting into Mr. Knight's car, with him driving. Jealousy surges as she rolls her eyes, but exhausted and without bus fare, she walks home, trying to remain optimistic despite the late hour and Cassian Knight's harsh glance that morning. It hurt, and just like that morning, she holds back tears. However, she soon breaks down, overwhelmed by sadness that the man she likes has chosen someone else. With tears streaming down her face, one of her heels breaks, prompting her to scream into the night, "Is my life not miserable enough?!" Frustrated, she takes off her shoes and continues walking barefoot.

Rick follows her on foot, aware that Mr. Knight will be upset at first but will ultimately appreciate Rick for getting Luna home safely. He thinks Luna is crying over her broken shoes and raises an eyebrow as an idea forms.