1
~Elara's POV
The hum of voices in the conference room made my stomach twist. The room smelled of expensive perfume and polished wood. Everyone looked so calm, so sure of themselves, everyone except me.
I sat at the far end, clutching the folder against my chest like it was my only shield. My hands were sweating. My heart kept thumping, please let it go well… please let it go well.
I'd spent three sleepless weeks working on this project, my idea, my effort, my everything. Maybe, just maybe, this would be the first time someone saw me for more than the "maid" they always whispered about.
I adjusted my glasses and took a deep breath. "You've got this, Elara," I whispered under my breath.
Then I heard it.
"Next presentation… Miss Lira."
My heart froze.
My head shot up. Lira, tall, perfect, glowing Lira, stood gracefully, smiling like the whole world belonged to her. The daughter of the Alpha and Luna of the Blueberries Pack. The one everyone adored. I was always her shadow.
She wasn't supposed to be next. It was my turn.
I blinked in confusion, clutching my file tighter. But what made my breath stop was the file she carried, my file. The same light blue folder with the same small scratch at the corner. I had made extra copy to give to keep to myself.
No. It couldn't be.
Not again!
The big screen came alive, showing the project I'd worked on, my designs, my ideas, my handwriting in the notes.
Lira began speaking in her smooth, confident tone. "This is a result of my late nights and hard work," she said, her voice soft, almost emotional. "I wanted to create something that reflects both tradition and innovation."
The executives nodded, clearly impressed.
My lips trembled. I wanted to shout, That's mine! I wanted to run up there, snatch the file from her hand, and show everyone the truth. But I couldn't. My throat felt like it was locked.
All I could do was sit and watch as she received a standing ovation.
"That's brilliant, Miss Lira," one of the older executives said. "You truly have your Alpha's brains."
"She's incredible," another whispered.
I lowered my head. The applause felt like thunder inside me, loud and crushing.
Then came the whispers.
"Let's see if she can come up with better ideas than Lira,," someone whispered, amusement laced in their tone.
"She actually thought she could keep working here when she is just a maid."
Another voice joined in, light and cruel. "She should stick to cleaning instead of trying to force herself in a place she didn't belong to."
They all burst into laughter. I could feel their eyes on me even though I didn't look up. My palms were damp. My heart pounded so hard it almost drowned out the noise around me.
When they finally called my name, my legs felt weak. I stood up, clutching my papers so tightly that they crumpled in my hands. My throat was dry. I walked to the podium, staring at the faces in front of me, rows of executives with impatient eyes and forced smiles.
"Go on, Elara," one of them said, tapping his pen against the table. "We don't have all day."
I opened my mouth, but no words came out. My voice, the one I had practiced with so many times in front of my mirror, was gone. My thoughts scattered like leaves in the wind.
"Well?" another executive asked, sounding irritated now. "Are you ready or not?"
I wanted to explain. I wanted to tell them that my presentation, my real one, had already been stolen. That what Lira had shown earlier wasn't her work but mine. Those designs, those late nights, those endless sketches were all me.
But my lips wouldn't move. My tongue felt heavy. All I could see was Lira standing confidently earlier, smiling as she took credit for everything I'd built. I could still hear the applause echoing in my ears.
"She's wasting our time," someone muttered from the front.
"I thought she was supposed to be prepared," another added.
The whispers grew louder. A few people started laughing quietly again. My chest burned with humiliation. I blinked fast, trying to hold back tears.
"I'm sorry," I whispered, but my voice was barely audible.
"Speak up!" one of the executives barked. "If you have nothing to say, please step down. You can't be wasting our time here."
My heart sank. I nodded quickly and stepped away from the podium, my legs trembling. My hands shook so badly that my papers slipped from my fingers and scattered across the floor. Nobody helped me pick them up. They just kept talking, their voices overlapping.
"I guess she thought she could compete with the Lira," someone said behind me, mocking. "She must have really believed we were on the same level because she is here working with us."
Their laughter followed me as I walked back to my seat.
Their words felt like needles. I lowered my head so they wouldn't see my face.
"Pathetic! She should stay in her lane. She's just a maid, what does she know about creativity?"
Their quiet laughs burned like acid under my skin. My eyes blurred.
I stayed until the meeting ended, my ears ringing with claps that weren't meant for me.
When everyone started leaving, I grabbed my bag and rushed out. My chest felt tight, like someone had wrapped invisible ropes around it. I just needed to breathe.
I stopped in the hallway, leaning against the wall, gasping for air. My heart hurt so bad it felt like it might burst.
"Why?" I whispered shakily, my eyes burning. "Why does she always do this to me?"
Lira already had everything: beauty, confidence, and the respect of everyone in the company. People adored her, praised her every move. Why did she have to take this, too? Why did she have to steal the only thing I worked so hard for?
Then I thought of Ronan. My boyfriend. My safe place when everything else felt cruel. He'd understand me, I told myself. He'd believe me. He always said I was special, that one day the world would notice me just like he did.
I wiped my tears and hurried toward his office, clutching the strap of my bag like it was holding me together.
The hallway was quiet, except for a faint sound coming from behind his door, laughter. A soft, playful giggle.
It was Lira's voice.
My stomach sank.
I frowned, my steps slowing. Maybe she was just talking to him… maybe I was overthinking it.
I reached the door and gently pushed it open a little more.
And then I froze.
Ronan was sitting on his chair, leaning back comfortably. Lira was perched on his lap, her hands around his neck, their lips locked in a deep, slow kiss that made the room spin around me.
For a second, I couldn't move or breathe. My mind went blank.
The folder in my hand fell to the floor with a loud thud.
They both jerked up. Lira turned first, her lips still glistening, a smug smile forming.
"Elara," she said sweetly, "you should knock next time."
My body shook. "What the hell is going on here?!"