The office had become a battlefield, and I was armed with knowledge, strategy, and determination. I implemented changes that no one expected. Small victories began to accumulate: contracts won, partners impressed, Lina's carefully orchestrated sabotages failing one by one.
Aaron watched from the sidelines, his composure cracking with each meeting. I noticed the subtle shift in his posture, the way his eyes followed me, the tension in his jaw.
I began to thrive in the power I wielded. Every confident step, every articulate sentence, every successful negotiation was a silent rebuke to those who had doubted me. The ally observed quietly, giving subtle nods of approval, occasionally leaning close with whispered advice.
By the end of the week, whispers had grown louder. Colleagues, clients, and even competitors acknowledged my rising influence. I was no longer the girl they dismissed. I was a force to be reckoned with and they all felt it.