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
122Derek pulled up to Victoria’s house and put the car in park. She glanced over at him, her expression hesitant yet determined.“Are we really doing this, Derek?” she asked, her voice tinged with a hint of vulnerability. “Are we really going after him?”Derek gave a firm nod. “Yes, Victoria. We have a deal.” He looked at her directly, hoping to assure her that he was just as committed.She bit her lip, searching his face. “I just need to hear it again. You’re with me on this, right? You’re not going to back out?”“Yes, Victoria.” He softened his tone, adding, “We’re in this together. No turning back.”Finally, she nodded, her resolve hardening. “Alright, then.” She pushed open the car door, stepping out onto the curb. “Have a nice evening, Derek. Thanks for the ride.”He nodded, watching her until she disappeared inside her house. With a sigh, he leaned back against the seat and rubbed his temples, exhausted from the afternoon. But just as he was about to drive off, his phone buzzed
123The last few days had taken a toll on him, and he hadn’t been himself. “Serena, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”Her voice grew tense. “Why not? You don’t want to be seen with me now, is that it?”“No, it’s… it’s not like that.” He struggled to find the right words. “I just—”“Then what?” she cut in, her voice sharper now. “Because it’s starting to feel like there’s something you’re not telling me. Are you… are you seeing someone else, Derek?”Her words stung, and Derek closed his eyes, the weight of the conversation pressing down on him. “Serena, no. It’s not that.”“Then what is it?” she pushed. “Because I don’t get it. One minute, we’re okay, and the next, you’re gone. Do you have any idea what it’s like dealing with everything on my own?”He sighed, feeling trapped. He couldn’t deny her pain, couldn’t pretend her words didn’t cut deep. Finally, he relented. “Alright. I’ll see you tomorrow, Serena.”There was a beat of silence, and when she spoke again, he could hear the reli