The Trap She Set
The next few days didn't feel normal to Ella.
Everything looked the same on the outside—meetings, deadlines, routine work—but something underneath had shifted.
Too many small things were going wrong.
Files missing for a few minutes and then reappearing.
Emails delayed.
Instructions slightly changed.
Nothing big enough to complain about.
But enough to create pressure.
And every time—
Liana was involved.
---
That morning, Liana approached her desk with an unusual calmness.
"Ella, I need you to prepare the Anderson client presentation," she said, placing a neatly arranged folder in front of her.
Her tone was soft.
Almost kind.
---
Ella looked up. "For tomorrow?"
"Yes," Liana replied, giving a small smile. "Everything you need is inside."
There was something about that smile.
Too controlled.
Too perfect.
---
Ella opened the folder.
The data was detailed. Notes were clear. Instructions were precise.
For once—
Nothing felt wrong.
---
"Make sure you use the updated data," Liana added gently. "Don't rely on old reports."
Ella nodded. "I'll check everything."
"Good," Liana said, her voice low and smooth. "I'm counting on you."
---
Inside his office, Ethan noticed the interaction.
He didn't hear the words, but he saw Liana's expression.
And that alone was enough.
He knew that look.
---
But he didn't step in.
---
The entire day, Ella worked carefully.
She checked every file twice.
Compared numbers.
Verified details.
Everything matched.
Everything was correct.
---
By evening, she finalized the presentation and saved it securely.
For a brief moment, she felt satisfied.
Relieved.
---
"Done?" Xavier asked, stopping by her desk.
"Yes," she said. "Finally."
He smiled. "Good. You've been working non-stop."
Ella exhaled softly. "I just don't want anything to go wrong."
Xavier looked at her for a moment. "It won't. You're too careful for that."
That simple reassurance made her pause.
"Thanks," she said quietly.
---
From inside his office, Ethan saw them again.
The ease in their conversation.
The quiet understanding.
---
Something about it—
Didn't sit right.
---
That night, after Ella left—
Liana returned.
The office was almost empty.
Silent.
---
She walked straight to Ella's desk.
Picked up her system.
Logged in.
---
Her movements were calm.
Precise.
As if she had done this before.
---
She opened the presentation.
Looked at the data.
And smiled.
---
Then—
She changed it.
Not everything.
Just enough to create a problem
A few numbers.
A few projections.
And Small errors.
But critical ones.
---
Enough to make Ella look careless.
---
When she was done—
She saved the file.
Closed everything.
And walked away.
---
As if nothing had happened.
---
---
The next day, the conference room was ready.
The clients had arrived.
Everything was set.
---
Ella stood near the screen, her posture straight, her expression calm.
She had checked everything.
She knew her work.
---
Ethan sat at the head of the table.
Liana beside him.
Xavier across.
---
"Start," Ethan said.
---
Ella began the presentation.
Her voice steady.
Her confidence clear.
---
Slide after slide—
Everything went perfectly.
---
Until one moment changed everything.
---
A client leaned forward.
"These figures don't match the report we received earlier."
---
Ella paused.
Her heartbeat skipped.
---
"That's not possible," she said carefully. "These are the updated numbers."
---
The client shook his head. "They're incorrect."
---
Silence filled the room.
---
Ella turned to the screen.
Checked the slide.
Then the data.
---
And her breath stopped.
---
The numbers were wrong.
---
Her fingers tightened slightly.
Her mind raced.
---
She had checked this.
Again and again.
---
"I'll correct it immediately," she said, forcing her voice to stay calm.
---
Before she could continue—
Liana spoke.
---
"That's disappointing, Ella."
---
Her tone was soft.
Almost sympathetic.
---
But every word landed sharply.
---
"This was a very important client."
---
Ella looked at her.
Something clicked.
---
This wasn't an accident.
---
But she had no proof.
---
Ethan's gaze was on her.
Cold.
Unreadable.
---
"Continue," he said.
---
She did.
Because she had no choice.
---
The presentation ended.
The meeting closed.
But the damage remained.
---
After the clients left, the room fell silent again.
---
Liana stood up slowly.
"You need to be more careful," she said, her tone calm. "Mistakes like this can affect the company."
---
Ella held her gaze this time.
"The data was correct yesterday."
---
Liana tilted her head slightly.
"Are you suggesting someone changed it?"
---
A pause.
---
Ella didn't answer.
---
Because she already knew the truth.
---
"I'll fix it," she said instead.
---
Liana smiled faintly.
"I hope so."
---
And walked out.
---
Xavier stayed back.
"You checked it, right?" he asked quietly.
---
"Yes."
---
"I believe you."
---
That simple sentence—
Made something inside Ella steady again.
---
"Thank you," she said.
---
Across the room—
Ethan was still there.
---
Watching.
---
Something about this didn't feel right.
---
He didn't say it.
But he felt it.
---
"Next time," he said finally, his voice calm,
"don't let this happen again."
---
Ella looked at him.
---
"I won't."
---
Their eyes met.
---
And this time—
There was something unspoken between them.
---
Not just distance.
---
Suspicion.
Later that night—
Liana stood alone again.
Her phone lit up.
---
Unknown Number:
Everything done.
---
She smiled.
---
Then typed slowly—
Good
She looked toward Ethan's office.
---
"But that's not enough…"
---
Her voice dropped slightly.
---
"I want her gone."
---