THE TRAP
Elara walked into the office feeling uneasy.
Something in the air felt… off.
People avoided her eyes.
Whispers followed her footsteps.
She tightened her grip on her bag.
Not again…
She reached her desk when HR appeared.
"Miss Wynn," the woman said stiffly, "you need to come with us."
Elara's heart skipped.
"For what?"
"We received a complaint."
---
HR Office
A file was slammed on the table.
"Confidential company data was leaked last night," HR said.
"And your login was used."
Elara's blood ran cold.
"What? That's impossible!"
Security footage played.
It showed her entering the office late at night.
Her hands shook.
"That's not me," she whispered.
"Looks like you," HR replied coldly.
The door opened.
Lucien stepped in.
His eyes went straight to the screen.
"Explain," he ordered.
Elara rushed to him.
"Lucien, I swear I didn't do this!"
He looked torn.
"Your ID," he said. "Your face."
"It's fake," she cried.
"Someone set me up!"
Silence.
Lucien clenched his jaw.
"I'll investigate," he said finally.
"But until then… you're suspended."
Her chest shattered.
"Suspended?" she whispered.
"You don't believe me?"
His eyes darkened.
"I don't know what to believe."
That hurt more than anything.
---
Outside
Elara ran to the bathroom and cried silently.
Even him…
Her phone buzzed.
Serena:
Looks like your fairy tale is over.
Pack your bags, gold digger.
Rage exploded inside her.
---
Meanwhile
Serena clinked glasses with Evan.
"It worked," she smirked.
"She's finished."
Evan hesitated.
"What if Lucien finds out?"
Serena laughed.
"Men like him don't trust women like her."
She leaned closer.
"Next step… we destroy her completely."