114She arched a brow, clearly amused by his persistence. "Really? You think that’s going to magically make me… what, respect you more?"Allvar held her gaze steady, his tone unwavering. "Yes, actually. It might remind you that you’re part of a team that deserves your respect. So, your name."She let out a soft, sarcastic laugh, glancing around the room. “Oh, please. This is a room full of professionals, right? Surely, they can handle a little... humor. Or are you the only one allowed to set the tone here, boss?”Allvar’s patience wore thin, and he leaned forward, his gaze sharp. "I said, YOUR NAME."She shrugged, glancing at the team around her with a smug grin. "Pass."His jaw tightened as he forced himself to stay calm. "Pass? Do you think this is a game, Harper?""Maybe it is," she shot back, a smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth. "Or maybe you’re just taking it all a little too seriously."The room fell silent, the tension now thick enough to cut with a knife as everyone exc
115Victoria sat there, her face flushed with a mixture of anger and disbelief, still processing the sting of her two-week suspension. It wasn’t just a punishment—it felt like an outright humiliation, and she wasn’t one to take it quietly.Allvar turned back to the agenda, casually resuming as though nothing had happened, his calm demeanor only pouring fuel on her fiery frustration. The rest of the team shifted in their seats, glancing at each other with uneasy expressions, each silently agreeing they wouldn’t dare say a word in Allvar's presence after the display they’d just witnessed.Unable to contain herself any longer, Victoria leaned forward, her voice sharp with defiance. “So, this is how it is now, huh? You hand down punishments like you’re the judge, jury, and executioner, and we’re just supposed to bow down? Is that how respect is earned in your world, Allvar?”Allvar didn’t even look up right away; he let her words hang in the air, his silence speaking volumes. When he fina
116"You went behind our backs, Miss Harper," Allvar said finally, his tone thick with disdain. "You didn’t just disrespect your team—you betrayed the company."Victoria’s mouth opened, a flicker of disbelief crossing her face. “This… this is absurd! Jacob’s framing me because I—”"Enough," Allvar’s voice cut through her excuses, his words sharp and cold. “I’ve seen enough evidence to warrant an investigation, at the very least.”Her gaze snapped to Jacob, her voice dropping to a furious whisper. “I don’t know what game you’re playing, Jacob, but you’re going to regret this. You think you can pin this on me?”Jacob met her glare, completely unfazed. “The only one who should be worried here is you, Victoria.”A soft gasp broke the tension as Clarabelle, who had been fidgeting nervously beside Allvar, finally found her voice. She looked like she wanted to sink into the floor but spoke up, her voice trembling. “Actually, Mr. Falck… if I may… there’s one more thing.”Allvar’s eyes narrowe
117Victoria looked at him, her face overtaken by panic. “Allvar, please, listen to me! I didn’t mean for things to get out of hand—I was just doing what I thought would be best for the company,” she pleaded, her voice trembling as she tried to gauge his reaction.Allvar’s expression remained unreadable, his eyes steady on hers, but his tone was unwavering. “You’re making it worse, Victoria,” he replied calmly, though there was an unmistakable steel beneath his words. He took a deep breath. “Leave the room. Now.”Shock twisted her features as she took a step back, but the desperation in her eyes quickly shifted into defiance. “You’re seriously kicking me out? After everything I’ve done here?” Her voice rose, each word laced with disbelief and anger. “This is how you repay my loyalty?”“Yes,” he replied bluntly, his tone clipped and final. “That’s exactly what I’m doing. I don’t want you here any longer. Please leave.”Victoria planted her feet firmly, crossing her arms as she glared a
118The guards stepped forward again, their presence looming. Victoria felt the weight of the room pressing down on her, the tension palpable as her colleagues watched the confrontation unfold, their eyes darting between her and Allvar.“Ms. Harper,” one of the guards spoke firmly, though he kept his tone respectful. “It would be best if you left on your own accord.”She scoffed, rolling her eyes at the guard. “Oh, you think you’re going to intimidate me? Really? I have every right to be here!” She turned back to Allvar, her eyes blazing. “And you—this is pathetic, Allvar! Hiding behind security because you can’t handle a little criticism? You think this makes you look strong?”“Victoria,” Allvar said with a cold patience, clearly trying to keep his composure, “you’ve been given a chance to leave quietly. Don’t make this any more difficult than it has to be.”She took a step back, her eyes darting around the room, desperately searching for an ally. “So that’s it? Not a single person h
119Outside the company building, Victoria stumbled slightly as the guards released her arms. She immediately spun around, her face a mixture of fury and humiliation.“Don’t you dare touch me again!” she snarled, brushing imaginary dust from her dress, though it was clear her pride was the real wound here. Her voice dropped to a dangerous tone, eyes narrowing. “You’ll all pay for this, every single one of you!”The guard closest to her raised his hands, attempting to defuse the situation. “Ms. Harper, please—”“Don’t you ‘Ms. Harper’ me!” she cut him off, taking a step back, her eyes blazing with indignation. She attempted to storm off, but her heel caught on the uneven pavement, and she stumbled, her ankle twisting as she fell forward. With a gasp, she landed hard on the ground, her hands scraping against the rough surface. Her curvy black mini dress now bore streaks of dirt, a visual testament to her disheveled state.“Ugh!” she hissed, glaring up at the guards who moved forward as
120A sleek black car pulled up beside Victoria, and the passenger window rolled down to reveal Derek. His face was pale and bruised, with a dark purple mark under his eye, and his arm wrapped in a makeshift bandage. Victoria froze, staring in shock.“Derek?” she managed, eyes wide. “What on earth happened to you?”Derek sighed, opening the door and handing her a pair of flats. “Just get in,” he muttered, trying to hide the pain twisting his features. “Brought these for you. Figured you might need them.”Victoria took the flats, gingerly slipping them on and wincing. Once she settled into the seat, she looked at him with worry. “Thank you… but seriously, Derek—who did this to you? Are you okay?”He tightened his grip on the steering wheel, his jaw clenching. “Allvar Falck happened,” he spat, his voice thick with bitterness. “That scumbag decided to ‘teach me a lesson.’”“Allvar?” Victoria’s brow furrowed, her disbelief evident. “Wait… you know him?”“Oh, I know him, alright,” Derek’s
121Derek and Victoria sat in the car, both still stunned by the realization that their shared enemy, Allvar Falck, had impacted each of their lives in such destructive ways. Derek looked over at her, his bruised face still twisted in pain, but now with a trace of disbelief.“So, that imbecile and pathetic excuse of human Allvar is your boss?” Derek finally broke the silence, his voice low. "How did I not know?"Victoria let out a frustrated sigh. “Guess it’s not something I ever thought to mention.” She folded her arms across her chest, her eyes narrowing with barely concealed anger. “Though I certainly didn’t expect to find out that you hate him as much as I do.”Derek scoffed, shaking his head. “Hate’s putting it mildly, Victoria. If I’d known he was your boss, I would’ve warned you ages ago to steer clear. He’s a snake.”She smirked. “As if that would’ve stopped me.” She looked at him, eyes gleaming with frustration and rage. “He’s made my life hell, Derek. The way he tore me down