Cast Aside

Countless disdainful eyes followed Mae's every move as she passed through the reception area of the company. It had taken all she had just to leave her apartment that morning and now here she stood in the place she didn't want to step foot in ever again. Not until everything died down, and it was all forgotten, anyway.

And even though it felt like their dagger-like gazes were enough to pierce the skin, she endured it all and went to the studio she worked at.

Seeing the all too familiar surroundings caused her heart to squeeze in her chest, For a while, she just wanted to curl up on the sofa and forget the terribleness of the outside world, but she couldn't do that. The promise she had made with Johnny lingered in her mind; to ignore the bad stuff and to focus on her work.

Even if no one else believed in her, it was enough if Johnny did - he was the one person Mae could trust. So, with him in mind, she sat in her usual spot before the computer and got to work.

Hours later, she was still sat in the same spot, her eyes trained on the blank screen. Then the door was opened and her manager walked in, not caring that he was disturbing her work.

Behind him was a woman that Mae had never met before, and from the look that she was giving her Mae was glad that she hadn't.

Clearly, the unknown woman was just another person who had heard the rumours, and now Mae was becoming mad at how much they had been getting around. It was sickening how poisoned words could ruin someone's life in a second.

The manager stopped short and he looked surprised to see Mae in the studio, then his expression dissolved into one of annoyance. "Oh it's you. What are you doing here?" he sneered. "Haven't you heard that you're no longer allowed to work here?"

"No?" Mae got to her feet and moved in front of her manager. "Why wasn't I informed of this?"

"I guess it wasn't important enough to tell you." He waved his hand like he was shooing away a pesky fly, and continued, "with that being the case, pack up your things and leave. Beong here needs the studio space."

It took a moment for Mae to get over the initial shock of being kicked out of her own studio. And finding it pointless to respond to the bastard's words, she grabbed her things and stormed out of the room, but not before catching the smirk that decorated Beong's lips.