: New Employee
Diane awoke to the sound of her alarm, the first light of dawn filtered through the curtains.
Today marked the beginning of her new role at her father's company.
It was like a step towards carving out her real identity.
She dressed in a black suit and high heels, applying a touch of red lipstick for confidence.
Descending the staircase, she encountered Gabriel in the kitchen, nursing a cup of coffee.
Their eyes met, and he offered a subtle nod.
"Morning," Diane greeted softly.
"Morning," Gabriel replied, he looked for a few more seconds before returning to his cup.
Riot stood by the doorway, maintaining a silent aura.
A sleek black car pulled up outside, signaling her departure.
The personal driver, assigned by her father, was waiting for her.
Riot followed closely as she approached the vehicle, opening the door for her before settling into the passenger seat.
Upon arrival at the headquarters of Hoffman's BiteCrafters, Diane took a deep breath, motivating herself.
Employees paused, following her as she made her way to the central hall.
Leon Hoffman was at the forefront, commanding everyone's attention.
He raised a hand, calling for silence.
"Good morning, everyone," Leon began, his voice resonated through the space.
"I have the pleasure of introducing my daughter, Diane, who will be joining our finance department. Please extend to her the same respect and support you afford each other."
A chorus of greetings followed, accompanied by polite applause.
Diane offered a gracious smile, nodding in acknowledgment.
As the crowd disappeared, a young woman with warm brown eyes and a friendly smile approached.
"Hi, I'm Sofia," she introduced herself, extending a hand. "I'll be showing you around today."
"Thank you, Sofia," Diane replied, shaking her hand. "I appreciate your help."
Sofia led Diane through the labyrinthine corridors, pointing out various departments and facilities.
Riot trailed a few steps behind, he looked like Diane's shadow.
"And this is the finance department," Sofia said, gesturing to a spacious area filled with cubicles and offices.
"You'll be working here."
Diane scanned the room, noting the organized chaos of paperwork and computer screens.
"Is Rachel in today?" Diane inquired, recalling the name of a key team member.
"Not at the moment," Sofia replied. "She had some personal matters to attend to but should be back later."
They continued to a corner office, its glass walls offered a panoramic view of the city.
"This will be your office," Sofia announced, opening the door. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask."
"Thank you, Sofia," Diane said, stepping inside. "I will."
Once alone, Diane approached the sleek desk, her fingers trailed over the polished surface.
She powered on the computer, intent on reviewing the company's financial records.
She was good with computers, since in her previous life, she was forced to steal the data. Diane took some courses.
However, as she went through the system, she encountered multiple password-protected files.
Frowning, she attempted to access the ledgers, only to be met with another security prompt.
It was obvious that Rachel had implemented some strict measures to safeguard the data.
Determined, Diane made a mental note to discuss access permissions with Leon upon his return from the meeting.
She needed to understand the financial landscape to contribute effectively.
As she prepared to leave the office, the door opened, revealing a woman with light green eyes like a snake's, her energy filled the office with a lot of authority.
"Hello, Diane," the woman greeted, pretending to be neutral. "It's me, Rachel. I see you've settled in."
"Yes, thank you," Diane replied.
Both were looking at each other for a moment longer than supposed to.
Diane didn't know how much Rachel knew about her and Leon's plans.
And Rachel couldn't tell how much Diane remembered the past.
So both of them forced fake smiles.
Rachel's eyes moved to Diane's outstretched hand before she accepted the handshake briefly.
"I understand you'll be working closely with us," Rachel said, assessing. "I hope you're ready for the challenges ahead."
"I am," Diane affirmed, meeting her stare confidently. "I'm eager to contribute."
Rachel nodded, and another, wider smile tugged at her lips.
"Good," she said. "We'll see how things progress."
As Rachel exited the office, Diane exhaled slowly, aware that Rachel wasn't going to let her play easily.
"The snake is shedding her skin, hello, Rachel."