Elizabeth eventually fell into a fitful slumber and by the time she woke up, the penthouse was already long empty.
She went through her morning routine as usual and eventually ended up donning a simple yet elegant navy blue suit , making her look every bit professional.
As she applied her eyeliner before the mirror, she smiled at her reflection. The reflection staring back at her was familiar but the once bright blue eyes now held a glacial depth.
With one last glance at the penthouse, she went straight to her chauffeured car which had just arrived outside the estate.
***
Elizabeth gazed absently out of the window of the chauffeured car as it moved through the morning traffic towards the agency ,wondering how the hell her life had arrived to this point.
As her chauffeured car rolled to a smooth stop before the gleaming chrome and glass monolith skyscraper that housed her agency "Starlight Entertainment Agency," her gaze was instantly drawn upward to the massive, backlit signboard.
This was the agency she had helped make iconic , a name she'd made iconic amongst other emerging agencies only to hand it over to others with ill intentions.
Her fist clenched in her lap with her nails digging into her palm.
Then as if flipping a switch, she smoothed her slightly pained features into a gentle, unassuming smile and stepped out of the car.
She walked through the revolving doors into the bustling lobby, the air thick with the scent of expensive coffee.
And just as it had been for the past two years, she was treated as a specter. Even the juniors she had mentored back in the days who would have been all over her by now simply averted their eyes, even the receptionists who once fell over themselves to greet her now merely offered dismissive nods.
Two years ago, her entrance would have caused quite a chaos but now she was just like a speck of dust.
She however maintained her soft smile and moved towards her private office which was located in a quieter, now largely neglected wing of the agency.
Pushing open the heavy oak door to her office, she was met with cloud of dust motes dancing in the morning light like fairies.
The stale air caught in her throat and she coughed lightly, waving a hand in front of her face as she stepped inside.
Her office which was once a pristine sanctuary of mood boards and awards contracts, was now a storage room for neglect.
Every surface was coated in a fine grey film, her moodboard curling at the edges. The only thing untouched by the grime was the elegant swivel chair positioned by the floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the city.
It was as if someone had carelessly wiped it clean once a week and ignored the rest.
She had just taken her seat on the swivel chair, the leather creaking softly under her weight when the door swung open with a sluggish groan.
Mama Zaain , the head cleaner stood there, her bulky frame blocking the doorway, a mop bucket in hand.
Her small and shrewd eyes widened in genuine surprise before narrowing with immediate irritation at the sight of the woman in the room.
"Mama Zaain . Good morning". Elizabeth greeted with a smile.
The woman replied with a dismissive huff, slamming her bucket onto the floor with an unnecessary force that sent the soapy water sloashing over the rim.
"Didn't expect anyone to be cluttering up the place". She grumbled, not even granting Elizabeth the courtesy of eye contact.
Elizabeth however simply smiled, picking up a dusty vogue magazine from the desk and flipping through it, appearing utterly unbothered.
"Don't know why the bitch is here again. Now I have an extra room to clean".
Elizabeth didn't look up from the magazine as she asked with a smile . "Were you talking to me?".
Mama Zaain stopped her sluggish mopping and glanced at her before she muttered something else unintelligible, then puffed out her chest, stomping the mop head on the floor. "So what if I was talking to you? What you gonna do?"
Elizabeth scoffed softly as she closed the magazine and place it back neatly on the desk, her smile never wavering.
This Mama Zaain was a very shrewd person in particular or at least to her only. In the past she'd endured several humiliation all from this woman from "accidentally " spilling coffee on her dress, to the "misplaced" importance file, to making her trip and make a fool of herself in front of everyone.
She had previously thought the woman was just biased against and had even foolishly brought it to Ezekiel who had dismissed it with a condescending pat, promising to handle it.
She thought she was putting him in a spot with his staffs back then so he couldn't choose either sides but now she knows better.
Her thorough research last night proves that Mama Zaain is Skye's foster mother and a fully informed accomplice in the grand plot to destroy her.
Nothing, of course". Elizabeth replied sweetly. "In this company, who dares to lay a hand on you?. You were even promoted twice in a single year. Quite the meteoric rise for a cleaner."
The initial flash of pride on Mama Zaain's face dissolved into wary confusion. "What do you mean?".
"I mean you're so... hardworking ". Elizabeth emphasized. "So hardworking that you've been promoted twice in a year. That's terrific. And the more famous the career of your foster daughter gets, the more respect you gain. Who dares to go against you?".
The flicker of fear on Mama Zaain's face was quickly smothered by belligerence. "It's good to know that you know your place, at least ". She retorted, puffing out her chest.
"Is that you calling me an eyesore?". Elizabeth smile remained gentle and sweet, but her eyes turned utterly cold as she began to walk slowly towards the woman.
Mama Zaain shifted uncomfortably, bracing herself for a confrontation but Elizabeth simply glided past her, her gaze sweeping over the dusty room as if the woman was nothing more than another piece of neglected furniture.
"Yes!". Mama Zaain spat, her anger flaring at being ignored. She pointed an accusatory finger at Elizabeth. "So stop being an eyesore and appear less before others! Learn to be humble!"
"Oh, I am". Elizabeth clapped her hands together softly. "Very down to earth." She turned to face the woman , her smile turning razor-sharp. "But still above your entire generation."
"You! What do you mean?". Mama Zaain's face flushed an ugly, blotchy red.
The sheer, calm audacity of the insult which was delivered with such a serene smile, shattered her pride.
Still seeing the infuriatingly gentle smile still plastered on Elizabeth's face made her lose all reasonings and she lunged forward immediately, her calloused hand swinging through the air and aimed squarely at Elizabeth's face.