But the moment I walked into the lobby, I saw Viggo. Beside him was Carmilla, wearing a mask. There was also Cruella, her hand held tightly between them. They were strolling through the lobby like a family.
I had never seen him look this openly triumphant.
Like a rooster showing off its prize.
All these years, everything he had, his position, his status, had come from me.
In front of me, he always had to lower his head, restrain himself, and pretend.
In front of Carmilla, he finally felt whole.
I was busy. I didn’t want to acknowledge them. I just wanted to finish my work and leave.
But Carmilla called out anyway.
“Mariah! You’re here!” She smiled. “It’s been so many years. I didn’t expect you’d still be this impressive, building a company this big with Viggo.”
In just a few sentences, she lightly brought up college, brought up dating, and casually mentioned the past.
“Back then, Viggo and I were together. Then you suddenly appeared.”
She tilted her head slightly. “Maybe… you two really were meant to be.”
“I just wasn’t lucky enough.”
In just a few sentences, she painted me as the shameless intruder.
But she misjudged her audience.
Aside from a few new hires whispering among themselves, the long-time employees, people who’d followed me for years, turned around and walked away with a blank expression.
Viggo was pleased.
He leaned in and said quietly, “Carmilla hasn’t seen the company before. I’m just showing her around.”
“Don’t overthink it.”
Cruella chimed in, too.
“Mom, don’t be jealous.”
“That’s what bitter women do.”
I didn’t look at them again.
I handed the reviewed contract to my assistant and turned to leave.
I’d just reached the end of the corridor when the floor jolted beneath my feet.
At first, it felt like a brief imbalance like an elevator misfiring.
Then the entire floor began to sway. Ceiling lights rattled violently, metal screeching.
The earthquake alert sounded.
My first instinct wasn’t to run. I turned back.
“Everyone evacuate immediately!” I shouted toward the office floor. “Follow the drill routes. Don’t push!”
The veteran employees moved almost on reflex, grabbing emergency kits, shielding one another as they headed for the stairwells.
But the new hires Viggo had brought in clearly hadn’t been trained.
They panicked, screaming and stampeding toward the exits.
“Stop running!” I tried to stabilize the chaos. “Stay against the wall! Move in order!”
But no one listened.