Rachel stared at the file, and it stared back at her.
Neither of them having the slightest clue what to do with each other.
She tried going through it, for the umpteenth time. But the second she opened it and glanced through, she could literally feel her brain cells kill themselves.
Collapsing into the chair, she moaned and closed it back.
That piece of shit really knows how to punish someone. But wait, why am I even doing this? I don't have to play his stupid game.
She sat up and was about to stand when her phone rang. She opened her purse and took it out.
Her chest tightened.
I can't keep dodging her calls.
She picked it. "Mum?"
"Rachel, why haven't you been picking my calls?"
"I've been busy with work, mum. I still am. I can't do this right now."
"Rachel, you promised to do better this time. You know I can't carry this burden alone. Agreeing to help you doesn't mean it's suddenly my responsibility."
Rachel clenched her fist. "I know mum, and I'm sorry for not being dependable. Just bear with me pleas—"
"I've been bearing with you for the past month!"
"This weekend. I'll send some money this weekend, okay? I promise. Bye." She cut the call immediately.
Her face fell into her palm.
What did I get myself into?
She looked at the file again. "I really don't have a choice, do I?" Opening it again, she tried to make sense of what she was looking at. When it was to no avail, she picked up her phone and went on Google, then YouTube.
"How.. to.. read.. audit sheets," she said as she typed. She looked it up. After staring at it for about five minutes, she edited the search text, "for.. dummies."
After about an hour of watching tutorial videos, she finally had a vague idea of what she was dealing with. But the files given to her were far too advanced and complicated.
I can't believe I'm trying to meet up to that asshole's expectations.
A memory flashed through her mind.
Highschool — she was kicking a girl behind the school for being the only person that did a project.
"Is your life that boring? That you'd seriously do that entire thing."
She slapped the girl then grabbed her jaw, "Stop trying so fuckin hard. No wonder you don't have any friends."
A cold shiver ran across her body.
How ironic, she thought. Look at me now.
She sighed.
Her stomach soon began to grumble. She looked at the time, it was past 1 in the afternoon.
Lunch break is still on. I can't believe I nearly missed it.
She got up to go find something to eat. Just then, she received a text from Ollie:
>Hey, are you okay? Coming down for lunch?
She replied:
>Yes and yes. I'll be down in a sec.
As she walked to the elevator, she noticed how sterile and empty the hallways were. Was no one going out for lunch?
The oddly monochromatic mood of the floor felt like it was sucking the feelings out of her.
The black suits of the people against the plain white walls of the floor. It was all very… shackling.
Upon reaching the elevator, the floor secretary stopped her.
As if she knew what Rachel was going down for, she said, "Excuse me. We don't usually go down for lunch."
Rachel was dumbfounded. "How? What am I supposed to eat then?"
She pointed towards the right. "There's a cafeteria down the hallway. But if you don't like anything there, I can order something for you and they'll bring it up here."
Rachel paused, confused but not surprised. "Is that mandatory though? My friends are waiting for me downstairs."
"It's how things are usually done up here. You'll get used to it."
Rachel noticed a mild shade in the secretary's tone. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Exactly as it sounds. So, would you like me to order something for you?"
Rachel didn't have the energy to play her games. "Nevermind."
She sent a text to Ollie informing her that she won't be able to come down before heading to the cafeteria.
Surprisingly, but thankfully, it wasn't completely empty. Though not nearly as rowdy as the one downstairs, there were people scattered around ordering, eating, and simply chatting.
But to her despair, a lot of them stopped what they were doing and stared at her as she walked to the counter.
She could hear them whisper and murmur, as always.
"You think they know each other?"
"She probably has dirt on him."
"Someone from her department said she slept with a shit ton of people to get here."
"She must be into some freaky shit, sleeping with someone with a face like that."
She'd always been used to people talking bad about her behind her back, but today, it was something else.
Something crueler.
Not the usual "she's a bitch" remarks she was used to.
No—today they were talking like she didn't deserve to exist.
She clenched her jaw, grabbed a tray, and kept her head low as she approached the counter.
"Uhm…" she glanced at the menu board. None of the food names looked familiar — at least not in any way that comforted her. Everything screamed upscale and overpriced.
The cashier didn't look particularly welcoming either. "Are you gonna order or stand there all day?"
Rachel forced a smile. "Just the risotto. And… water."
The woman nodded and punched it in.
Rachel took it then turned to find a seat.
Every table had someone. Everyone already in their cliques.
Every set of eyes reminding her that she didn't belong.
So she sat at the far end—alone.
She stabbed at the rice without tasting it. Her appetite had already disappeared.
From the corner of her eye, she saw one of the other executives glance her way. Then whisper something to the man next to him. Then both of them laughed.
Her throat clenched.
Just as she was about to get up, a voice behind her made her freeze.
"Settling in okay?"
She knew that voice.
Smooth. Cold. Dry like wind across a tombstone.
She turned slowly.
Damien stood just a few steps behind her. His expression unreadable. His eyes slightly lowered to avoid drawing attention, as if his presence near her wasn't already doing that.
"Yeah," she said, sitting straighter. "I guess."
"Good," he said. "Then I expect the audit files on my desk. Reviewed. Annotated. We'll go through your conclusions tomorrow morning."
Then he turned to leave.
But she stood up quickly, making her chair screech against the polished floor. Heads turned briefly before going back to their meals.
"Is this what it's going to be then?" she asked, loud enough for only him to hear. "You, punishing me with deadlines and paperwork? That your grand plan for revenge?"
He paused—just enough to let her know he heard. Then turned his head slightly.
"You think this is about revenge?"
The way he said it—calm, quiet, effortless—cut deeper than she expected.
Then he walked off.
She stood frozen, her heart pounding.
Because for the first time since she saw him again…
She didn't know if she was part of his game…
…or if she was already losing.