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For nearly a year, I had thrown myself into this project, perfecting every detail, securing investors, and crafting something I knew would be a game-changer.\n\n\n\n For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n I could already imagine the praise, the promotion, and maybe even the chance to lead a bigger team. A small smile crept onto my face as I knocked on the door.\u201c\n\n\n\n Come in,\u201d my boss\u2019s gruff voice called out. My boss, Mr. Thornton, wasn\u2019t alone. Callie was sitting beside him, with her hands folded neatly in her lap. Her eyes met mine with an unsettling calmness.\n\n\n\n For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n \u201cAlice, sit down,\u201d Mr. Thornton said, gesturing to the chair in front of his desk.\n\n\n\n Confused, I sat What\u2019s Callie doing here?\n\n\n\n The smile I had worn moments ago faded as I glanced between them.\n\n\n\n \u201cI don\u2019t want to drag this out,\u201d Mr. Thornton started, flipping through some papers on his desk. \u201cWe have an issue. Callie here brought to my attention that the project you submitted last week\u2026 wasn\u2019t entirely yours.\u201d\n\n\n\n For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n I blinked, not understanding.\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat do you mean? Of course, it\u2019s mine. I\u2019ve been working on it for nearly a year.\u201d\n\n\n\n\n I turned to look at Callie, disbelief swirling in my chest.\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Alice,\u201d she began, her voice dripping with insincerity.\n\n\n\n \u201cBut this idea was mine. I submitted the proposal two weeks ago. The concept, the details\u2026 they\u2019re all mine. I don\u2019t know how you got a hold of it, but I can\u2019t let this slide.\u201d\n\n\n\n For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n I stared at her, my mind reeling.\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s impossible. I\u2019ve been working on this for months, Callie! You weren\u2019t even here when I started. How could it be yours?\u201d\n\n\n\n Mr. Thornton leaned forward, pinching the bridge of his nose.\n\n\n\n \u201cAlice, I\u2019ve reviewed the submissions. Callie\u2019s project came in first, with all the detailed information. I\u2019m sorry, but it looks like you\u2019ve taken her work.\u201d\n\n\n\n\n For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n \u201cI didn\u2019t steal anything. This is my project. I\u2019ve worked on it from the beginning. You know that.\u201d\n\n\n\n Callie tilted her head, feigning sympathy. \u201cI didn\u2019t want it to come to this, but\u2026 well, I had no choice.\u201d\n\n\n\n \u201cMr. Thornton, this is a mistake. Please, let me explain\u2026\u201d\n\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m afraid there\u2019s nothing to explain,\u201d he interrupted, standing up. \u201cGiven the situation, we have no choice but to let you go.\u201d\n\n\n\n I felt as if the floor had been ripped out from beneath me.\n\n\n\n For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n Fired? Just like that?\n\n\n\n \u201cCallie, you can leave now,\u201d Mr. Thornton said, giving her a nod.\n\n\n\n She stood gracefully, offering me a sad smile before exiting the office. The door closed softly behind her, but the sound echoed in my ears.\n\n\n\n For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n I turned back to Mr. Thornton.\n\n\n\n \u201cYou can\u2019t seriously believe this. You\u2019ve seen my work. You know what I\u2019m capable of.\u201d\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Alice. The evidence is stacked against you.\u201d\n\n\n\n\n Without another word, I stood up, my legs shaky as I walked out of the office. My head was spinning.\n\n\n\n How could this be happening? How had she pulled this off?\n\n\n\n For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n I stumbled into the bathroom, my reflection in the mirror almost unrecognizable. I splashed water on my face, trying to calm the whirlwind of emotions.\n\n\n\n How could Callie have known all the details?\n\n\n\n Then, like a bolt of lightning, it hit me. Harris. My husband. He was the only one who had access to the project.\n\n\n\n Could he\u2026 betray me?\n\n\n\n I grabbed my bag and rushed straight home. The need for answers was burning inside me.\n\n\n\n For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n ***\n\n\n\n Harris had always been so attentive, so thoughtful. He would surprise me with flowers and little notes, even bringing my favorite coffee home after work.\n\n\n\n It was these small acts of kindness that made me feel guilty for even doubting him at first. But now, with everything going on at work, I couldn\u2019t ignore the nagging suspicion growing inside me.\n\n\n\n Lately, he\u2019d been \u201cworking late\u201d more often. He\u2019d go on business trips, sometimes staying overnight at the office, and when I asked him about it, he\u2019d brush it off.\n\n\n\n For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n \u201cJust busy, you know how it is.\u201d\n\n\n\n\n Harris was in the shower. I immediately started searching for proof. I combed through his things\u2014his jacket pockets, his briefcase, and eventually, his phone.\n\n\n\n That\u2019s when I found it. A restaurant receipt from a night he\u2019d told me he was working late. Wine, lobsters for two, desserts for two. He hadn\u2019t been with colleagues. It\u2019s obvious.\n\n\n\n For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n I kept digging into his phone. He was careful, but not careful enough. My worst fears were confirmed. Harris helped Callie to steal my project. She was his mistress!\n\n\n\n It hurt, but I refused to fall apart. Harris and Callie thought they could destroy me, both personally and professionally. But I wasn\u2019t going to let them. I had other plans.\n\n\n\n ***\n\n\n\n My last day at the office felt surreal. I had spent years walking through these halls, pouring my heart into every project, but today was different. Today, I had a plan.\n\n\n\n For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n The farewell party was set, and I had personally invited all my colleagues, including Callie. My husband also agreed to support me.\n\n\n\n My boss, Mr. Thornton, had been a tougher sell, but I knew exactly how to get him on board.\n\n\n\n \u201cLook, Mr. Thornton,\u201d I had said with a calm smile, \u201cthere are some things I\u2019m going to reveal that could seriously affect your reputation if you\u2019re not present.\u201d\n\n\n\n \u201cI don\u2019t know what you\u2019ve cooked up this time, Alice, but I\u2019ll be there.\u201d\n\n\n\n\n For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n And that was all I needed. The stage was set. Every detail of this party had been meticulously planned\u2014just like my projects always had been.\n\n\n\n As guests gathered in the conference room, the air buzzed with casual conversation. People were laughing, sipping drinks, and offering well wishes for my \u201cnew adventures.\u201d\n\n\n\n I approached the front of the room.\n\n\n\n \u201cThank you, everyone, for coming,\u201d I began, my voice steady, though inside I was a storm of emotions.\n\n\n\n For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n \u201cBefore I leave, I wanted to share with you all something very special. This is my final project, the one I\u2019ve been working on for the past year.\u201d\n\n\n\n I continued, my gaze sweeping over the room, making sure everyone was listening.\n\n\n\n \u201cThis is the same project that you\u2019ve heard about recently, the one that was\u2026 well, let\u2019s say, subject to some controversy.\u201d\n\n\n\n\n I paused, letting the tension build.\n\n\n\n For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n \u201cBut today, I\u2019m going to present the unique details, the parts that no one else could have known, because I kept them secret.\u201d\n\n\n\n\n I clicked the remote in my hand, and the screen behind me lit up with the first slide.\n\n\n\n It showcased the core of my work, the installation concept that my boss had dismissed as \u201cjust an idea on paper.\u201d But it wasn\u2019t. I had been quietly building it all along.\n\n\n\n For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n Gasps filled the room as the actual installation appeared on the next slide. The room fell silent. Even Mr. Thornton, who had been leaning back, unimpressed, sat up straight, his eyes wide.\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ve been working with an investor on this project,\u201d I said, watching Callie from the corner of my eye.\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd today, I\u2019m proud to announce that we\u2019re moving forward. Together.\u201d\n\n\n\n\n I motioned to the back of the room, where the investor I had personally brought on board stood up and waved. He confirmed everything I had said.\n\n\n\n For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n \u201cThis project is going forward, but only with Alice\u2019s involvement.\u201d\n\n\n\n\n Callie\u2019s face paled. She knew it was over. Without me, she couldn\u2019t finish what she had stolen. But I wasn\u2019t done yet.\n\n\n\n I turned the pink lights for the bigger effect and presented the final surprise. It was a big cake with a photo of Harris and Callie on it. Together. There were letters on top, \u201cTHEY STOLE MY LIFE.\u201d\n\n\n\n \u201cIn case you were wondering how Callie had access to my work. My husband, Harris.\u201d\n\n\n\n For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n ***\n\n\n\n The room was dead silent after I dropped the bomb. Harris and Callie stood there, their faces drained of all color, unable to speak. Everyone stared at them. Mr. Thornton, still looking stunned, finally broke the silence, stretching his hand for the deal.\n\n\n\n \u201cAlice, I\u2026 I had no idea. I\u2019m sorry for what happened. We\u2019d love to have you back. With a promotion, of course.\u201d\n\n\n\n\n For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n I looked at him for a moment, considering his offer. But after everything, I knew I needed more than just a job.\n\n\n\n \u201cThank you, Mr. Thornton, but I think I\u2019m done here. I\u2019ve got my own project now, and I\u2019m moving forward with the investor\u2019s support.\u201d\n\n\n\n He nodded, understanding. \u201cI wish you the best, Alice. You deserve it.\u201d\n\n\n\n ***\n\n\n\n After that, everything moved quickly. I filed for divorce from Harris without looking back. It was the final step in closing a painful chapter.\n\n\n\n For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n After everything that had happened, I knew I needed time for myself. I needed to heal, to breathe, to regain my strength. So, I packed my bags and left for a much-needed vacation.\n\n\n\n As the plane took off, I felt a sense of freedom I hadn\u2019t known in years. The past had tried to break me, but instead, I had risen from the ashes of betrayal. I was ready to take on the world again, stronger than ever.\n\n\n\n For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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