It started with whispers.
Quiet at first.
Then louder.
Then impossible to ignore.
"Have you seen them lately?"
"They eat lunch together."
"The CEO actually talks to her…"
"Who is she?"
Lina noticed the stares before she understood the reason.
People would stop talking when she passed by.
Others would look at her… differently.
Not warmly.
Not like before.
"…Did I do something wrong?" she murmured to herself.
That afternoon, as she cleaned near the break area—
Two employees didn't notice she was nearby.
"She's just a cleaner, right?"
"Then why is she always in the CEO's office?"
"You know how these things go…"
"…You think she's using him?"
Lina froze.
Her grip tightened around the cloth in her hand.
Using him…?
Her chest felt tight.
She quietly walked away before they could see her.
For the first time since she arrived—
Her smile faded.