I had always believed that intelligence and careful planning were enough to survive in any environment. My name is Selina and I was about to discover that the corporate world had layers of betrayal I had never anticipated.
The morning sun streamed into my apartment as I sipped my coffee. My thoughts raced through the tasks waiting for me at the office. Today was not just another day. Something in the air told me this was going to be different.
When I arrived, Adrian was standing near the reception. His calm presence gave a small sense of reassurance even though I could feel tension around me. "Selina, I have assigned you the client presentation for tomorrow," he said, handing me a folder. His voice was steady, but his eyes lingered on me a little longer than usual.
I nodded with a polite smile. "I will make sure everything is perfect."
Across the room, Claire was watching me. Her smile was sharp, almost like a mask hiding a knife. Everyone else seemed oblivious, chatting about office gossip and upcoming deadlines. I knew better. I had learned to read people carefully.
By mid-morning, subtle obstacles began to appear. A misfiled document on my desk, an email that had been forwarded to the wrong person, a colleague who seemed to question my abilities in passing. Claire's handiwork was deliberate. She wanted me to look incompetent, to falter under pressure. I stayed calm. No one had yet discovered what Selina was capable of.
During lunch, I sat quietly at my desk, reviewing the presentation for tomorrow. My phone buzzed. Damian's name appeared on the screen. He had been observing the office carefully since I joined. He sent me a note that read, "Be careful today. She is escalating."
I smiled faintly. Damian was the only one who understood the quiet wars happening behind polite smiles and office protocols. I folded the note and kept it in my pocket. It was a small reassurance, but it reminded me that I was not alone.
The client presentation was approaching and Claire continued her subtle attacks. I noticed a small error in the report she had submitted. If I did not correct it, it would have caused embarrassment. I took a deep breath and fixed it quietly, making sure no one noticed. When it was my turn to speak, I presented the data with confidence. Every number, every explanation, flowed seamlessly.
Marcus, the office manager, raised an eyebrow. "Impressive work, Selina."
I smiled politely, inwardly savoring the quiet victory. Claire's lips tightened for a brief second before she returned to her cheerful mask. She had not anticipated that I could see through her plans.
Later, as the day wore on, I overheard Claire whispering with Clara, one of her accomplices. Their words were carefully hidden but I caught enough to know they were plotting another sabotage. My mind began forming a counter-strategy even as I continued my work as if nothing was happening.
Ethan, who had mostly kept to himself until now, sent me a message: "Do not let them get to you. Be careful." His motives were unclear but his warning added another layer of tension. I read it quietly and slipped the phone back into my bag. I would watch him carefully.
By the time evening came, I had managed to correct another set of manipulated files and emails. Adrian stopped by my desk and gave me a brief nod. "Excellent work today, Selina."
I felt a spark of satisfaction. Claire's small victories were undone without anyone realizing it. They thought they were clever, but they had underestimated me. I leaned back in my chair, taking a deep breath and thinking about what tomorrow might bring.
Walking out of the office, the city stretched before me in golden sunlight. Claire's eyes followed me until I reached the elevator. I could almost hear the gears turning in her mind, trying to guess my next move. She had no idea what was coming.
As I stepped into the cool evening air, I reminded myself that the first day of many was complete. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, new betrayals, and new opportunities. And I, Selina, was ready for all of it.
I had no intention of letting anyone think they could manipulate me. Not Claire, not any of them. They were about to learn that the quiet, underestimated girl they tried to push around had skills they could not imagine.
Tomorrow, the real game would begin.