Their mockery, mingled with laughter, echoed in my ears. It snapped something in me. Years of stress and suppressed anger surged to the forefront. I turned sharply and hurled the nearest object to the floor. It shattered with a loud crash, silencing the room.
The office, once my domain of dedication and success, now stood still, drenched in humiliation and tension. Manager Lee’s darkened face showed his disapproval.
"Go home, Skylar," he said coldly, thrusting a stack of documents toward me.
I sneered, refusing the papers and stormed out without a backward glance. Fired over a video.
When I stepped outside, the weight of what had happened hit me fully. My career was in ruins, my reputation dragged through the mud and even the accounts I built painstakingly were reported and taken down, leaving nothing behind.
I arrived home, seeking solitude, but was met with an eerie silence.
The house was dark, yet the distinct sound of rummaging came from inside. A cold dread settled over me as I realized an intruder was there.
The noises grew louder—panicked, impatient movements as the thief searched for valuables. I crept into the kitchen and grabbed a knife, clutching it tightly.
If it comes to it, I won’t go down without a fight, I thought bitterly.
These past weeks had stripped me of so much; what else was there to lose? If it came to life or death, I would make it count.
I inched toward the master bedroom, my heart racing.
Turning on the light with a sudden burst of courage, I charged in—only to find myself face-to-face with Nicole.
She froze mid-motion, clutching my money in her hands. Her eyes widened with shock and her grip faltered. The cash fell to the floor in a fluttering cascade.
"Nicole? You’re stealing from me now?!"
My voice trembled with rage and the knife in my hand felt heavier with each passing second. Anger surged through me, obliterating the fear that had gripped me earlier.
Nicole flinched and dropped to the floor, tears streaming down her face. She sobbed theatrically, just as she always did when caught in the wrong. Her voice rose in a wail, full of false victimhood. "Skylar, please don’t hurt me! I didn’t mean to—!"
Her crocodile tears were infuriating. "You think you can pull this act again? Enough, Nicole! This ends here!" I grabbed her arm, yanking her to her feet.
She twisted, trying to free herself. "What are you doing?! Let me go!"