Chapter 4The Two Projected on the Screen

Back at the apartment, he ordered a tube of burn cream for me online.

A message followed: Kristina, stop being so sensitive and targeting Nora. You’re going to be seeing a lot of her, so I expect you to get along.

Did he really think a tube of cream was enough to placate me, so he could have us both?

I applied the cream in silence. He didn’t come home that night.

The next day at work, my colleagues stared at me with strange expressions.

My friend Wendy leaned over my desk and whispered, “Kristina, everyone’s saying you tried to seduce Mr. Wright and his girlfriend caught you. There’s a whole group chat about it…”

She handed me her phone. Someone from the restaurant had been there last night. An entire group had been created overnight to gossip about my failed attempt to “climb the ladder.”

Before I could explain, Adrian appeared with Nora by his side. “Everyone, I’d like to introduce our new department manager, Nora Cole.”

So that’s what he meant by “seeing a lot of her.” He had parachuted her in as my new boss.

Every head in the office turned to look at me. The previous manager had left months ago, and I had been running the department ever since. Everyone had assumed the promotion was mine.

In front of the entire office, Adrian added Nora to the company’s group chat. They both sent a message, one after the other. Anyone with eyes could see their matching profile pictures.

The entire morning was abuzz with gossip.

I didn't care. I was leaving anyway. They could have the job.

I emailed my resignation to HR and went to the breakroom to make myself a cup of tea.

I’d barely taken two sips when Nora walked in. She made a coffee and sat down next to me, the picture of smug victory.

“Kristina, I know you’ve been Adrian’s little secret for five years. But I’m his real girlfriend. Now that I’m back, it’s time for the other woman to gracefully exit. As long as you keep your mouth shut like you always have, I won’t cause you any more trouble.”

She played a voice message. It was the little boy from the restaurant. “Auntie Nora, did I do a good job? Don’t forget the Transformer you promised me!”

I knew it was too much of a coincidence.

A sense of foreboding washed over me. I needed to get out of there. But she grabbed my cup, dumped the contents over her own head, and then smashed the cup at my feet.

The lukewarm tea dripped down her face, soaking her blouse and matting her hair, making her look utterly pathetic. This woman was willing to go to any lengths to destroy me.

She blocked my path. “Kristina, what are you doing?” she shrieked. “Why are you doing this to me?”

Her screams brought our colleagues running. She wasn't done. She poured her own coffee down the front of her shirt and began rubbing her neck until it was red and raw.

I had had enough. I slapped her, hard.

Adrian heard the commotion and burst in to see me, perfectly composed, standing over a disheveled and weeping Nora.

Without a moment’s hesitation, he slapped me back. “Kristina! If you don’t want this job, then get the hell out!”

Still not satisfied, he shoved me aside and swept Nora up into his arms, carrying her into his office. I stumbled backward, my lower back slamming into the edge of a table. The pain brought tears to my eyes.

The HR manager, who had been on the fence about my resignation, immediately signed off on it. Adrian, busy comforting Nora, approved it without even reading it. The finance department, eager to curry favor with the future boss’s wife, processed my final paycheck on the spot.

I still had client files to hand over. I bundled them up to email to Adrian, only to find that my company email account had already been deleted.

The only person with the authority to do that was Adrian.

I tried to send him a final text: We’re over. But my number was blocked. My social media, blocked.

I walked out of the company without a backward glance. I went home, erased every last trace of myself, and went straight to the airport.