Walters Building.
Stella walked through the glass doors. Her heels clicked sharply against the shiny marble floor.
Today wasn’t just another day at work. Today was the day that bitch Lana was finally going to pay for everything she’d done.
She could already picture Lana’s face; that fake, plastic smile cracking under pressure.
’Oh, this is going to be fun!’
Her lips curved into a cold smile as she entered the elevator.
However,
Just as the elevator doors were about to close, a voice called out behind her.
"Wait, hold the door please!"
She froze. That voice. She knew it instantly.
Her finger hesitated over the "Close" button before she sighed and hit "Open."
The doors slid open to reveal Joseph Carter, the COO of Walters Group. He is the only Professional at the company. Although he didn’t have Walters’ blood, he had owned shares in the company.
’Why is he using this elevator?’ she thought, blinking. Doesn’t he have his own executive one on the top floor or something?
But of course, she quickly covered her confusion with a warm, dazzling smile.
"Oh, Mr. Carter, good morning. It’s really nice to see you."
He stepped in, smiling back warmly.
"Ah, Stella. I’m looking for you."
Her heart skipped a beat, not because she liked him, but because she wondered why on earth the COO would be looking for her. She wasn’t even part of the management team.
"Oh, wow, your wish comes true, Mr. Carter," she said, her tone polite but cautious. "Here I am, and I haven’t strongly emphasized how surprised I was to see you here, in the commoners’ elevator."
He chuckled. "With you here, it’s no longer a commoners’ elevator, Stella. Anyway, how are you feeling this morning? Feeling better already, I hope."
"Better?" she blinked. "What do you mean?"
"You’ve been on leave, haven’t you?" he said casually, glancing at the elevator display. "Your team mentioned you took a short-notice brief vacation."
"Wait, how do you even know that?" she asked, genuinely confused. No one knows about it, only her friend, Sisca.
"I was looking for you a few days ago," he said with an easy shrug. "But your colleague said you were away."
Now Stella was really puzzled.
"Wow, I’m... surprised to hear that. And may I ask... why were you looking for me, sir?"
Ding!
The elevator reached the 23rd floor, her department.
He didn’t answer. He just smiled mysteriously and said, "Call me when you’re done with whatever you’re up to today, Stella. I’ll be in my office."
Then he gestured for her to leave the elevator as smoothly as he’d come in. She wanted to ask, but she remembered her plan today. Bring down that bitch!
She nodded at him as she exited the elevator.
When she walked into the office, her coworker Sisca nearly leaped out of her chair.
"Stella!" Sisca hissed, rushing toward her. "Oh my God, what did you do?"
Stella set her handbag down calmly. "Good morning to you, too.... Sisca."
"Lana’s looking for you!" Sisca whisper-shouted, eyes darting nervously toward the hallway. "She’s furious! I mean... like, volcano-level angry! I think she’s about to explode!"
Stella tilted her head, her expression as cool as ever. "Why? Did she finally realize her Botox expired?"
"Stella!" Sisca tried to scold, but it came out as a laugh.
"Oh, come on," Stella teased, waving a hand. "What’s she going to do, fire me? She might as well... I was planning to hand in my resignation anyway."
Sisca gasped. Shocked. "Wait... You what? R-Resign?"
"Yep." Stella leaned in, lowering her voice like she was sharing a secret. "Today’s the day, D-Day for the great Lana Scott to fall from her position. Gather everyone. I want witnesses."
"Stella, no! You can’t just..."
But it was too late.
Stella was already walking toward Lana’s office. She pushed open the door without knocking.
Lana’s office was spacious, sleek, and aggressively feminine; all white marble, glass, and gold. She sat behind her desk, wearing a tight emerald dress that screamed ’expensive’ and ’desperate,’ hugging her guitar’s body.
Her perfectly manicured fingers froze mid-type as she looked up.
"Stella," she said sharply. "Do you even know how to knock?"
"Not today," Stella replied sweetly, stepping inside and letting the door swing wide open.
She wanted the people outside to hear what she wanted to talk about.
Lana’s eyes narrowed.
"Where have you been? I asked for your report two days ago. You can’t even be reached. Stella, are you blocking my number?" She asked curiously.
Stella, standing right in front of her desk, calmly answered, "Oh, I took a short break. I figured you could survive without me for forty-eight hours."
"You think this company runs itself? You disappear without notice and—"
"Oh, come on, Lana," Stella interrupted, her voice sugary and calm. "We both know the company’s been running on nepotism and manipulation for years. You sit there and collect credit for other people’s work."
The color drained from Lana’s face.
"Excuse me?"
"No, excuse me," Stella shot back.
A smile emerged on her lips before she continued, "You’ve been stealing from the Walters Group... and everyone knows it. Tell me, does the CEO know what you do? Oh, wait, of course he does. You’re sleeping with him, aren’t you? That’s how you got where you are today."
Lana shot to her feet so fast her chair screeched against the floor.
"You’re out of line, Stella!" she snapped, her voice trembling.
"Am I?" Stella tilted her head slightly, her smile icy. "Or am I finally the one telling the truth?"
For a moment, the entire office fell silent. Even the sound of the air conditioner seemed to fade.
Lana’s face paled as her mask of control began to crumble.
Stella watched her closely, savoring every second of it; the shock, the fury, the humiliation. Beneath that heavy layer of foundation, Lana’s true expression was finally breaking through.
How satisfying.
With calmness, Stella adjusted the small phoenix brooch on her chest, a subtle reminder that her sister, Evelyn, was watching everything unfold through the hidden camera.
Then Lana let out a shrill, desperate laugh. "Stella, if it weren’t for your father, I’d have slapped you already. What you said is a lie. You have no proof. I could sue you for defamation and make you apologize to me before the public!"
Stella chuckled. "Oh, you think I was bluffing, huh? Alright. What proof are you asking from me?"
She tapped her chin in mock thought, then smirked. "The proof that you have embezzled company funds for years and years? Or the proof that you’re a slut and fuck my father to hide your crime?"
"Stella!" Lana snapped, her face turning ghostly white.