= Sarah POV =
I arrived at my office to find it empty. Heather's desk was uncharacteristically tidy, but there was no sign of her. Frowning, I tried calling her, but the line rang out. Anxiety churned in my stomach. Heather, my immediate boss and the person I relied on most for guidance, was nowhere to be found.
After a moment of deliberation, I decided to look for Ms. Jun. If anyone could bring clarity to this situation, it would be the CEO and business shareholder herself. I found her in the kitchen, speaking in low tones with Chris, who was leaning casually against the counter. Chris's relaxed posture was a stark contrast to the simmering tension I felt.
"Excuse me," I began, stepping into the room. Both heads turned toward me. Chris's sharp eyes caught mine for a moment longer than felt necessary, and I quickly focused on Ms. Jun. "Heather isn't in her office, and I can't seem to reach her. I'm concerned—we have several pressing matters to handle today."
Ms. Jun raised a perfectly arched brow but said nothing at first. She pulled out her phone and dialed Heather's number. To my dismay, Heather picked up almost immediately.
"Heather," Ms. Jun said smoothly, "Sarah's been trying to contact you. Is everything alright?" There was a pause as she listened to Heather's reply. Then, with a faint smile, she handed the phone to me. "She'd like to speak with you."
Taking the phone with clammy hands, I pressed it to my ear. "Heather? Is everything okay?"
Her voice was clipped. "I'm fine. What do you need, Sarah?"
The dismissive tone stung, but I pushed forward. "We really need to touch base. Could we meet for dinner tonight? Just to go over everything and make sure we're on the same page?"
There was a long pause before she sighed. "Fine. Dinner it is. Text me the details." Then she hung up.
I handed the phone back to Ms. Jun, murmuring a quick "thank you." As I turned to leave, Chris fell into step beside me, her presence heavy and deliberate. She waited until we were out of earshot before speaking.
"Heather's always so critical of you," Chris said casually, her tone light but her words sharp. "Don't you think she's a bit jealous? Maybe that's why she undermines your decisions."
I stopped mid-step, startled. "What do you mean?" I asked, looking up at her. Chris's insight mattered; after all, she and Heather were supposed to be friends. If anyone knew Heather's true thoughts, it would be her.
Chris shrugged, her lips curling into a faint, knowing smile. "She's mentioned before that you tend to micromanage. That you bring the whole team down with your need to control everything."
The words hit me like a slap. My chest tightened as anger bubbled up. "That's ridiculous," I snapped. "I've been the only one holding things together while she's been…wherever she is, sulking. I don't need that kind of criticism from Heather, of all people."
Chris tilted her head, her gaze calculating. "I'm just saying, maybe it's worth keeping an eye on her. She's not as reliable as you think."
I swallowed hard, unsure whether to take Chris's words at face value or question her intentions. The power dynamics swirling around me—Ms. Jun's cool authority, Heather's distant criticism, and Chris's cryptic manipulations—made my head spin. As I made my way back to my office, Chris's words lingered, planting seeds of doubt I wasn't sure how to uproot.
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