The morning light felt like a harsh spotlight as I pulled up to Caldwell Tech Solutions. The building gleamed, an ironic monument to the years I’d poured into it.
I walked to the entrance, my hand instinctively reaching for my ID badge. It felt strangely light on my hip, a phantom weight. I had removed it the night before, a small act of defiance after Serena’s message.
The automatic doors hissed open.
Maya Patel, my loyal Head of Product Development, met me in the lobby, her face tight with worry.
“Evelyn, thank god,” she whispered, her eyes darting nervously. “Don’t you check the news?”
I just shook my head, my throat dry. I knew what was coming.
She pulled up a financial blog on her tablet, thrusting it at me. The headline screamed: “Caldwell Corp. Board Member Accuses Evelyn Shaw of Gala ‘Meltdown,’ Citing ‘Personal Distress’ and Erratic Behavior.”
The article, clearly orchestrated by Serena, detailed my actions at the gala, painting me as an emotionally unstable wife. It mentioned “sources close to the board” suggesting I was “unfit for executive duties.”
This was the next phase of their attack. Not just a lockout, but a public assassination of my character.
“Garrett called an all-hands meeting this morning,” Maya continued, her voice low. “He announced your ‘indefinite leave.’ Serena then… reinforced it.”
“Reinforced it?” I asked, my voice flat.
“She said it was ‘necessary for the stability of Caldwell Corp. during these challenging times,’ and that your ‘recent personal struggles’ were impacting your judgment.” Maya’s jaw was clenched. “It was all about portraying you as volatile.”
I stared at the article, at the carefully chosen words designed to destroy my professional reputation. This wasn’t just a fight for the company anymore. Garrett wasn’t just fighting back; he was trying to erase my professional existence.
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