Valeria's Office
The morning sun streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Valeria's office, casting sharp lines of light across her polished mahogany desk. Dressed in a tailored navy suit, her fingers moved swiftly as she signed off on a stack of documents, her sharp eyes scanning each page with precision. The quiet hum of the city below was the only sound until a firm knock interrupted her focus.
"Come in," she called without looking up.
John, her ever-efficient secretary, stepped inside, clearing his throat. "Ms. Valeria, Leon is in the building. He entered without permission, but security recognized him and let him through."
Valeria's pen paused mid-signature. A slow smirk curled her lips. "Send him in."
Moments later, Leon strode into her office, his usual air of arrogance barely masking his irritation. He had been avoiding her since their last encounter, but here he was—uninvited and unapologetic.
"Valeria," he greeted, his voice tight.
"Leon," she replied smoothly, setting her pen down. "To what do I owe this… unexpected visit?"
He crossed his arms. "I need my office assignment and supervisor. HR is giving me the runaround."
Valeria leaned back in her chair, studying him with amusement. "Ah, that's because you don't have one."
Leon's brows furrowed. "What?"
"You'll be staying here," she said, gesturing to the empty desk in the corner of her office. "With me. I'll be supervising you."
His jaw clenched. "That wasn't the arrangement."
"It is now." Her tone left no room for argument.
Leon exhaled sharply but said nothing. He had no choice—Valeria controlled the strings, and for now, he had to play along.
---
The Project – A Test of Wills
Later that afternoon, Valeria slid a thick file across her desk toward Leon. "This is the Kensington Financial case. They're facing major account discrepancies—missing funds, unauthorized transactions. They need a legal consultant to untangle this before regulators come knocking."
Leon flipped open the file, scanning the documents. "Standard embezzlement cover-up. Shouldn't take long."
Valeria's eyes narrowed. "Is that your professional assessment?"
He shrugged. "It's obvious."
She leaned forward, her voice icy. "Then explain to me how you'd prove it wasn't an inside job. How you'd trace the money without tipping off the culprit. How you'd protect the company from liability."
Leon opened his mouth, but Valeria cut him off.
"No, wait—since you know *so* much, why don't you draft a full proposal? A *proper* solution." She stood abruptly and tossed another stack of papers at him. "And while you're at it, familiarize yourself with the fact that arrogance without results is worthless."
Leon caught the papers before they hit the floor, his temper flaring. "You enjoy this, don't you?"
Valeria smirked. "Immensely."
His eyes darkened. "You're unbelievable."
"And you're my new secretary," she shot back. "Since you're so confident in your abilities, you can start by organizing these files. Maybe then you'll learn some humility."
Leon's grip tightened on the papers, but before he could retort, Valeria turned her back to him, signaling the end of the conversation.
Office Gossip –
The tension between Valeria and Leon didn't go unnoticed. By lunchtime, the office was buzzing with whispers.
Did you hear? Leon's stuck in Valeria's office now. She's making him her secretary!
Secretary? More like personal punching bag. Did you see the way she threw those files at him?
I give it a week before one of them snaps. They hate each other.
Or…a sly voice chimed in, *"maybe there's something else going on. That kind of anger… it's personal."*
Laughter and hushed theories spread like wildfire. The employees placed bets on who would break first—Valeria with her ruthless control or Leon with his defiant pride.
---
The Shadows Plot – Ethan and Sophia's Scheme
Meanwhile, in a private corner of the executive lounge, Ethan and Sophia sat in quiet conversation, their voices low.
"Leon is exactly where we need him," Ethan murmured, swirling his whiskey. "Valeria's playing right into our hands."
Sophia smirked, tracing the rim of her wine glass. "She thinks she's breaking him, but she's only fueling his resentment."
Ethan nodded. "Let them destroy each other. When Valeria's credibility is in shambles and Leon's reputation is ruined, we step in."
"And the empire falls into our laps," Sophia finished, her eyes gleaming with ambition.
Ethan leaned closer, his voice a dangerous whisper. "Patience is key. Valeria's sharp—if she suspects anything, she'll crush us before we make our move."
Sophia's smile was cold. "Then we'll make sure she never sees us coming."
A silence settled between them, heavy with unspoken schemes. The game was set. The players were in motion.
And soon, the real battle would begin.