CH 07: THE AUDACIOUS CONFRONTATION

ELENA'S POV

Closing from work, I'm already tired , today work was so stressful and demanding my best friend went home early,she didn't wait for me today. I was walking in large strides so I can meet up with the bus that will drop me off at my apartment.

Hey, Elena, can we chat for a moment?" The voice caught me off guard as I turned to see Lisa, a colleague from the marketing department, approaching with a determined stride.

"Sure, Lisa. What's on your mind?" I replied, trying to keep my tone neutral despite the sudden unease gnawing at me.

"Listen, Elena, I've been keeping an eye on things," Lisa said, her tone sharp and direct as she approached me in the hallway. I could feel the weight of her gaze as she stopped in front of me, her expression serious.

I tried to mask my surprise, but my heart raced with apprehension. "What do you mean?" I asked, attempting to sound composed despite the sudden tension in the air.

Lisa's lips formed a tight line as she leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a low, ominous whisper. "I've noticed how you and Mark have been getting awfully cozy lately," she said, her words laced with a warning. . "Let's get one thing straight: he's off-limits to you."

My pulse quickened at her implication, and I struggled to maintain my composure. I blinked in surprise, caught off guard by her audacity. "Excuse me?" I responded"Lisa, there's nothing going on between Mark and me," I protested, my voice tinged with defiance.

But Lisa remained unmoved, her gaze unwavering. "I don't buy it," she retorted, her tone defiant. "I've seen the way he looks at you, the way you two are always together. Don't think I haven't"I wouldn't be so sure about that," she countered, her tone icy.

A shiver ran down my spine at the thinly veiled threat in her words. "What are you trying to say?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.Listen, I don't know what you think you've seen, but Mark and I are colleagues, nothing more," I insisted, my voice tinged with frustration. "And even if there were something between us, it's none of your business."

Lisa expression hardened, her resolve unwavering. "You will stay away from him," she warned, her voice low and threatening. "Or you'll regret it."

"And if I don't " I asked firmly

Lisa's expression hardened again, her eyes narrowing as she leaned in even closer. "I'm saying you should watch your back, Elena," she warned, her voice dripping with menace. "Stay away from Mark if you know what's good for you."

I closed the distance between us, my gaze locked onto hers with unwavering intensity. "Is this supposed to be a threat?" I demanded, my voice low but brimming with accusation.

Lisa's facade faltered for a moment, her composure slipping as she struggled to maintain her cool. "Don't be ridiculous," she retorted, but her voice lacked conviction."it's just a friendly advice, and if I were you ... I would take it serious like my job"

I refused to back down, my resolve hardening with each passing moment. "It didn't sound like friendly advice to me," I countered, my voice dripping with skepticism.

A flash of irritation crossed Lisa's features before she composed herself, her expression turning icy. "You're reading too much into it, Elena," she replied, her words clipped. "But if you want to take it as a threat, that's on you."

With that final barb, she turned on her heel and strode away, leaving me seething with anger and frustration. As I watched her retreating figure, a sense of betrayal settled over me, and I vowed to keep a close eye on her from now on. I wouldn't let her petty jealousy derail me from my goals, no matter what obstacles she threw in my path. My colleagues are the funniest humans on earth, imagine this rude one telling me to stay away from Mark, what an audacity, I have expected all of this to happen immediately I was paired with him but I never expected it to happen this soon.

After watching Lisa's retreating and ugly figure disappear around the corner, I knew I needed to clear my head. The tension of the encounter lingered like a heavy cloud, and I needed to shake off the negativity that clung to me like a suffocating cloak. It might be an empty threat but I'm not giving in for being careless. I will always be careful from now on.

Without a second thought, I made my way out of the company premises, the familiar hustle and bustle of the office fading into the background as I stepped outside into the crisp air of the afternoon.

As I walked, I felt the weight of the day's events slowly begin to lift from my shoulders. Each step brought a sense of liberation, a freedom from the constraints of the office and the toxic atmosphere that had clouded my thoughts.

Soon, I found myself standing outside my best friend's house, a familiar sanctuary in times of need. With a sense of relief, I knocked on the door, anticipation building as I waited for her to answer.

The door swung open, and Olivia greeted me with a warm smile, her eyes filled with concern. "Elena, what's wrong?" she asked, ushering me inside with a gentle hand on my arm.

I sighed, feeling a sense of relief wash over me as I stepped into the familiar warmth of her home. "It's been a rough day," I admitted, sinking into the comfort of her couch. "I just needed to get away for a bit."

Olivia nodded understandingly, her presence a calming presence amidst the turmoil of my thoughts. "Well, you're always welcome here," she said, her voice filled with empathy. "Tell me everything."

And as I recounted the events of the day, the tension slowly began to melt away

"What an audacity?" She yelled in disbelief

"Well, you can say that again... I thought I had seen it all" I said

" Lisa has some guts... Hope you didn't take easy on that b*tch, I wish I was there, I would have given her the piece of my mind" she said evident of anger streaming on her face

" Ummm... If you had waited for me , so we could go home together, I don't think that God forsaken b*itch would have that gut"

"I know right... But I'm sorry, I hope you are not giving in" she said giving me a weird look

"What?... Don't give me that look" I said in discomfort

"Common el... Time to make Lisa jealous" she said and I rolled my eyes as i nodded in disagreement.

" Erm.. that reminds me , you didn't tell me what happened on the day you stay off work" she demanded as she stared at me searching my eyes for answers.