I nodded along with the others as we finalized the preparations for the project. It had been two weeks and everything was falling into place. I'd managed to avoid going to Diana's company so far, always finding an excuse or another team member volunteering to go instead.
But as the days went by, I knew it was only a matter of time before I'd be asked to go. And today was that day. Mrs. Rachel stood in front of us, a smile on her face. "Alright, team, I know we've been working hard on this project, and I think it's time we took it to the next level. I'm assigning each of you to go to the company tomorrow to finalize the details and get started on the project over there."
My heart sank as I looked around at my colleagues. Everyone was nodding and smiling, already mentally preparing for the trip. I felt a sense of panic rising up inside me. I couldn't go. I just couldn't.
But before I could come up with an excuse, Mrs. Rachel continued. "I expect each and every one of you to be there tomorrow at 9 am. We're going to make a great impression and show that company what we're capable of, even though we are small and just getting started."
There was no way out of this one. I was going to have to face Diana, and possibly Ace, tomorrow. I couldn't believe it. I was trapped, and I didn't know how to get out of it.
The next morning, I dragged myself into the office, still feeling a sense of dread about the day ahead. But as I looked around at my colleagues, I couldn't help but get caught up in their excitement. Everyone was buzzing with anticipation, chatting and laughing as they gathered their things.
As we finalized our preparations, Mrs. Rachel came over to give us last-minute instructions. "Alright, let's get going, team. We've got a big day ahead of us. Ryan, you're driving with Ava, Liam, and Sharon. I'll be driving with Ethan, Samantha, Emily, and Alex."
I felt a sense of unease as I made my way to Ryan's car. I was stuck in a small space with three other people, and I knew I'd have to put on a good face for the entire ride. Ryan, Ava, and Liam were all chatting and joking as we set off, but I just sat quietly in the backseat, trying to collect my thoughts.
As we drove, I couldn't help but think about what lay ahead. What would Diana say to me? And what would happen if they found out about my connection with the company? My mind was racing with questions and worries, and I couldn't shake the feeling that I was walking into a trap.
I sighed as I remembered the conversation I had with Maxie. She'd sounded just as frazzled as I felt. "I'm out of ideas, Sharon. I'm tired of the whole situation. Let's just go and face whatever comes our way," she'd said. I couldn't blame her. I'd been feeling the same way.
As we arrived at the company, I felt my anxiety spike. I tried to hide myself as much as possible, staying behind Ryan and Ava as we walked into the building. But as we made our way to the meeting room, I couldn't help but glance around at the familiar faces.
The first team we met was a group of people I'd never seen before. They were all smiling and introducing themselves, but I couldn't quite catch their names. One face stood out, though, a young woman with piercing green eyes and a friendly smile. She seemed out of place among the rest of the team, but I couldn't quite put my finger on why.
"Hi, I'm Julia," she said, extending her hand to me. I took it, feeling a bit awkward as I tried to hide behind Ryan.
"Nice to meet you," I mumbled, trying to sound friendly.
But as I pulled my hand back, I couldn't shake the feeling that I'd just made a mistake. Julia's eyes had seemed to linger on me for a fraction of a second too long, and I wondered if she knew more about me than she was letting on.
She was assigned from her team as one of the employees to lead us, she showed us around a little and with every step we got closer to places where I was going to be recognized...
We followed Julia to the office, my heart sinking as I realized she was taking us to the same office I was, before my transfer. Maxie was already seated behind the desk, looking like she'd rather be anywhere else. Our eyes met, and for a brief moment, I saw a flash of desperation and hopelessness. I knew that look all too well.
But as we entered the office, Maxie's expression transformed into a mask of professionalism. She stood up, a tired smile on her face, and greeted Mrs. Rachel warmly. "Good morning, Mrs. Rachel. It's great to see you again."
My colleagues were bubbling with excitement, introducing themselves to Maxie and asking her questions about the department. Maxie fielded their questions with ease, playing the role of the knowledgeable and competent employee perfectly. But I could see the strain behind her eyes, the tension in her shoulders.
As I watched, feeling a mix of guilt and admiration, Maxie effortlessly guided my colleagues through the office, explaining procedures and introducing them to the team. She was a chameleon, blending in seamlessly with the company culture. But I knew her well enough to see the cracks in her facade. She was struggling to keep it together, and I knew exactly why... It was all because of me
I felt my tension spike as I saw Diana approaching from a distance. My colleagues were oblivious to the tension, still chatting and laughing with Maxei as they followed her around the office. But I could see the strain in Maxie's body language, the forced smile on her face.
As Diana drew closer, Mrs. Rachel stepped forward, a warm smile on her face. "Diana, it's so great to see you again. I must say, your company is just as impressive as I imagined."
Diana's eyes flicked to Mrs. Rachel, a gracious smile on her face. "Thank you, Mrs. Rachel. We're excited to be working with your team."
Maxie quickly turned to me, her voice low and urgent. "Sharon, can you help me with my files? I need to get some documents from the storage room."
I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do. But Maxie's eyes locked onto mine, and I saw the desperation there. I nodded quickly, following her out of the group. "Yes, of course."
As we walked away from the group, I could feel Diana's eyes on us, but I didn't dare look back. Maxi led me to a nearby storage room, and we slipped inside, shutting the door behind us. The sudden silence was a relief, but I knew we couldn't hide here forever. "That was so close?" I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
I let out a soft chuckle as I leaned against the storage room door, feeling a wave of relief wash over me. "Oh my God, I almost thought I would collapse,"
Maxie looked at me with a mixture of concern and desperation. "What are we going to do now?" she asked, her voice laced with panic.
I shook my head, feeling a sense of hopelessness wash over me. "I don't know," I admitted. "I'm out of ideas too."
We stood there in silence for a moment, the only sound the hum of the office equipment outside. I knew we couldn't stay hidden in here forever, but for now, it was a temporary reprieve from the chaos that was unfolding outside.
Maxie looked at me with a pleading expression. "We can't keep running, Sharon. Eventually, she's going to figure it out." I knew she was right, but the thought of facing Diana and the consequences of our actions was daunting.
I felt a sense of fear all over me as Julia entered the storage room, her voice crisp and professional. "The CEO wants you and the employee from the other company," she said, before turning and leaving without another word.
Maxie's eyes locked onto mine, and I saw a flash of fear and panic. "Oh my God, we are so done for," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
We stood there for a few seconds, frozen in uncertainty. Then, with a sense of resignation, Maxie nodded and we left the storage room, walking back to the rest of the team. I tried to hide behind them, but it was no use. Julia's eyes locked onto me as soon as we approached, and I saw a flicker of recognition.
"Ma'am," Julia said, her voice drawing Diana's attention. "I think the employee I just called out of the storage with Maxie once worked for this company."
Diana's eyes narrowed, her gaze piercing as she turned to Julia. "Really? Let me see her."
My heart sank as Diana's eyes landed on me, a mixture of surprise and curiosity on her face. My team looked at me in confusion, shocked and perplexed by this revelation. I felt like I was trapped, with no way out.
I watched in horror as Diana's face curved into a wicked smile, her eyes glinting with amusement. "This whole project is cancelled," she said, her voice dripping with satisfaction.
And with that, she turned and walked out, leaving us all in stunned silence. Mrs. Rachel looked like she was going to pass out, her mouth hanging open in shock. The rest of the team was similarly stunned, their faces pale and confused.
"Mrs Aec..." Mrs. Rachel trailed off, her voice low. She seemed to be at a loss for words, unsure of what to say or do next. The way Mrs Rachel addressed Diana almost made me laugh In that situation
The team's shock and confusion were palpable, and I couldn't blame them. One minute, we were discussing the project and the next, it was all being ripped away from us.