"Oooh," Jenny exclaimed excitedly, wriggling in her seat across Maria's desk. "Look at us planning team allocation for your project."
Maria chuckled, equally excited.
Who would have thought her fate would turn dramatically in this company within just two weeks?
Though she and Jenny had been working on her project infrastructure all morning without interruption, the workload hadn't dulled their excitement.
Jenny was the branch's infrastructure lead, seamlessly blending professionalism with subtle flirting on Miles' behalf all morning.
"I wish you could come tomorrow," Maria said, basking in Jenny's company—a friendship she truly valued.
"I know," Jenny replied, still typing on her laptop. "I have a wedding tomorrow. Cousin's getting married. Aunties, parents. The whole tribunal."
"Gee, I should have tagged along." Maria laughed. "That sounds important."
Jenny leaned forward, the faint scent of her floral cologne drifting between them.
"To be honest, I'm only going because I enjoy annoying nosy extended family members. My replies to their outdated jabs always land perfectly. I kinda got addicted to that feeling."
"Let me guess," Maria said, moving documents into the project folder on her computer. "They come at you for not having a man yet."
Jenny reclined with a dramatic sigh. "They won't let me be. I won't let them be either."
Maria laughed again, grateful that her own family never pressured her too much.
Her mom had always told her to take her time—though that hadn't stopped Maria from somehow ending up in terrible relationships.
"Maria."
Rhea's voice made both women turn.
She stood at the door with an overly stylish beige dress—too far polished for a Friday.
"Come with me."
"I'm currently on something—" Maria began.
"You have to come assess the pushcart you requested as ordered by the CEO," Rhea cut in, impatience sharpening her tone.
Jenny scoffed at the obvious rudeness, but Maria sighed, set aside her computer, and stood.
"Okay. I'll be back soon."
Jenny nodded as Maria followed Rhea out.
**
Rhea tracked Maria's movements around the pushcarts, her eyes sharp and unblinking.
She struggled to contain her disdain—for Maria and that body of hers.
The garage was nearly empty, save for Maria, Rhea, and a male staff member from the fleet management team who stood by, ready to assist once a selection was made.
The memory of how Miles couldn't even control the way he looked at Maria made Rhea's fury simmer hotter.
Six years.
She had worked beside him for six years believing he liked her as much as she liked him—hoping that one day he would set aside work and confess.
Now it was almost glaring—the way he favored his brother's girlfriend.
As Maria approached her, the resentment deepened.
Rhea argued silently with herself, that she was better than Maria, more hardworking and even more refined and deserving regardless of whatever assets Maria overpossessed as a woman.
Maria stopped beside her and pointed to one of the pushcarts—simple, green, with a single bold company stamp on the side, unlike the other covered in smaller repeated logos.
"I'm okay with this one," Maria said calmly.
The faint scent of her vanilla perfume drifted through the air, aggravating Rhea further.
Without replying, Rhea took out her phone, snapped a picture of the chosen cart, and forwarded it to Miles.
The male staff member lingered, ready for the rest of the team to come help him move the rejected cart.
"You can leave now," Rhea said coldly, not sparing Maria a glance. If not for this project, a supporting staff like Maria wouldn't be anywhere near her level—or the CEO's for that matter.
"Rhea," Maria called softly, what Rhea knew all too well to be pretense, it wouldn't work on her.
"Mmmhmm," Rhea responded, eyes still glued to her phone.
"I really want us to work better together."
Rhea lifted her face sharply to face her, amusement at Maria's audacity flickering in her eyes. "Us? How important do you think you are?"
Maria's brows furrowed in confusion—clearly not expecting that.
"Mr. Miles has a good eye for whatever benefits this company," Rhea continued. "He's the reason why a staff like you can even stand beside me. And best believe that I've seen your type. Loads of them. Guess what? They never last."
Maria blinked, visibly surprised as Rhea smirked from the satisfaction of putting her in her place.
"I really think the project would be a success…" Maria still spoke and with respect which further infuriated Rhea instead.
Rhea scoffed. "Acting like the project is the main aim here. A woman like you wouldn't understand how others put in the work in their careers.
At least some of us don't give our bodies before our brains."
She didn't wait for Maria's reply.
Rhea walked out of the garage—even then, wishing she had said more.
**
Crystal rushed into the kitchen the moment she saw Maria's cab pull up.
She quickly turned up the gas beneath the stew she had ordered from a restaurant—reinforcing the illusion that she had cooked it herself.
The aroma filled the house just as she intended.
The week was nearly over and Maria hadn't given her a proper chance to bond—let alone talk.
She wanted to ask for a week more but she needed to be closer to get information from Maria.
The dinner she'd prepared was a strategy Christian's rambling at the station had given her.
Every other plan to get Maria comfortable enough to spill had failed.
Even offering to pick Maria up from work since she didn't have a car was turned down.
Crystal stirred the pot, scoffing inwardly.
A house like this and no car was something Crystal would laugh at if she weren't so desperate for scandalous gist from Maria.
She smirked.
Maria would always be tacky and fat, no matter how sophisticated she got.
The door opened and shut.
Crystal quickly brightened her face with a fake smile and acting skills that she always convinced herself were good.
She waltzed into the living room.
"Welcome Maria," Crystal sang, arms spread, hoping Maria would notice the fake exhaustion of cooking on her face.
"Good evening, Crystal," Maria replied with a smile as she took off her heels. "Everywhere smells so nice."
"I know," Crystal said with feigned pride and excitement. "I'm making us dinner and it's almost ready. So you're on time."
"Aww," Maria said as she held her heels in one hand, "That's so sweet. I didn't remember you liked to cook."
Crystal stood with one hand on her hip.
"Well, it's part of the things being a responsible and honest adult has taught me."
"Right,"
Maria held her gaze for a second with a knowing smile, making Crystal question her acting internally.
Then Maria sighed. "I'll freshen up and be down soon."
"Yes," Crystal whispered fiercely, fists clenching in triumph making Maria pause at her in confusion for a second.
"I mean—great," Crystal corrected quickly, careful not to raise suspicion from too much excitement.
Maria climbed the stairs.
Crystal went back into the kitchen, jubilation flooding her chest.
Piece by piece, she would gather intel and publish concrete evidence on the scandal.
Nothing would stop her.
Not even old, stale friendships.