The Bride They Rejected

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blouse. My hand dropped to my side, heavy with anxiety. It wa

team. "Everyone, this is Elena

curious eyes turned to me as I offe

ers scrutinized me as if I wer

chair, her eyebrow raised. "She's the new P.A. for Mr.

secretary confirme

back to the secretary. I noticed a few exchanged looks, but I pretended no

.........

. Just as I was about to step into the lively open-plan office, I overheard a mo

"She thinks she can boss us in here and o

ed by the CEO's grandmother," someone

ger. "And? The worst part is, she's now Albert's P.A. T

enter. The lively conversations faded instantly, and I cau

r. Albert needs these before his ten o'clock meeting." I hesitated,

department?" I inquired

With that, she turned and strode away. I remained rooted to the spo

myself in the wrong meeting room. I entered with Alb

fixed on the screen. The meeting time had shifted too; I hadn't rece

e was chatting with a coworker, the

formed in my stomach. The first mi

soft laughter echoing around me. Turning back to my screen, a heavy knot twisted in my stomach

someone was trying to trip me up. I shut my laptop with a snap, deciding

t needs this revised contract file immediately," she announc

itated, thinking it might just be a minor error, and quickly ma

n uploaded only 20 minutes ago. A chil

n on Claire's desk. "This isn't the revised

ing over the keyboard. "Just take it and fix it," she

I asked, my voice tight. She final

he said flatly. I managed a smile

is was the l

eyes darting between us. Clara shot up fr

on't act like you know how everything works around

d know better than to sabotage someone just

shift behind me. Claire's expression softened, her

. Albert stood just a few feet away, his eyes

. 'Had he been watching me for a long time?' I wondered, as Al

. "What's happening?" he i

rward, eager to explain. "Mr.

bert interrupted with autho

h, feeling the weight of his stare. "She gave me t

s brow knitting together in confusi

my composure. He turned to Claire, his

ckering nervously. "Yes... yes, sir," she s

er mouth, but no sound emerged. Albert flipped through t

returned to me.

anted. I had expected him to believe me after see

to question me? Or had I just

uldn't afford to lose this job. It was the first thi

e fixed on me. "My grandmother thinks highly of you. That's why she gave you this

but you handled it badly." He

fusion. "Sir?..." I star

e you the old one," his voice remained calm. "I'm not telling you to ignore it, but be s

ing. My eyes blurred with unshed tears as his words b

someone was wrong, it cost me the future I had dr