Page 24 of My Ruthless Opponent

If you are hungry, you simply have to walk further and you’ll reach the cafeteria.

Right adjacent to it is a library.

In short, this place is heaven on earth.

Everyone comes here to escape when the pressure gets too much. Be it work-related or just about life.

I chose a spot on the balcony. Very few people hang out here. Hence, I called dibs on this spot.

My team knows where to find me when I am MIA.

After leaving Raleigh’s office, I couldn’t go back to work like everything’s normal.

My mood affects my work. And my job is everything to me. I can’t compromise with it. That is why I escaped for a little while to get out of the somber mood.

Coffee plus the solitude helped me. It wasn’t even fifteen minutes and Chris came looking for me.

“What’s up?”

“Do we really have to hire that Instagram influencer with the most annoying voice ever?”

“You mean Leila?” I smirk.

Leila is a twenty-year-old Instagram star with twenty-two million followers. We had hired her to market a clothing brand in the past. And… let’s just say she wasn’t very friendly.

“Hearing her name from your lips just made it more real.” He grimaces. His face is getting pink with frustration, matching his floral pink shirt. “Can we look for other candidates?”

I sigh and he clasps his hands. “Pretty please.”

“Her audience falls under the age group we are targeting, Chris. Plus, she is good at her… thing.”

“Her thing as in… just looking pretty? What about inner beauty?”

I finish my coffee and stand. “Unfortunately, my dear, inner beauty doesn’t sell anything.”

He groans and hangs his head in defeat.

I shake my head. “I’ll be there to supervise the photoshoot. Then I’ll head to my 3:00 p.m. meeting.”

His head snaps up. His features light up. “Really?”

I heave a sigh. “Don’t make me regret it.”

“Yaas! You are the best boss. Ever!”

The photoshoot kept me occupied and I was grateful that Department I people were nowhere to be seen.

Surprisingly, the brat.. erm, Leila is civil today. Or maybe my presence is what forces her to behave.

I excuse myself when it’s 2:45 p.m. and rush to the bathroom.

I pull out my lipstick and apply a fresh coat on my lips. Finger combing my hair, I check for any signs of fatigue reflecting on my face.

Taking out the compact powder, I dab under my eyes.

I give myself a once over. There. Better. All signs of the shitty day are concealed.

I exit the bathroom.

---