Chapter Nineteen: Closed doors

In the following weeks, the atmosphere within Sabastian's office transformed into a battleground of relentless work. 

The sound of shuffling papers, tapping keyboards, and hushed conversations filled the air, creating an illusion of seamless productivity

 The outside world heard nothing from the closed doors, as if the room itself had swallowed the usual noises of daily life.

Felix, a frequent visitor, brought occasional laughter to break the monotony.

 Yet, the underlying tension persisted, creating an unspoken understanding among the onlookers

 that Sabastian and Sebrina were immersed in a world of their own making.

Days turned into weeks, marked by the eerie quietness that emanated from Sabastian's office. The silence was punctuated only by the

occasional bursts of laughter that resonated briefly before being swallowed by the oppressive hush.

However, the tranquil facade shattered one day when heated voices erupted from behind the closed doors. The muffled sounds of a debate, interspersed with personal jabs, reached the ears of those in the vicinity

. Sabastian and Sebrina, once collaborators, now engaged in verbal sparring that transcended the boundaries of professionalism.

Sebrina's voice, usually smooth and composed, carried an edge of defiance. 

"You think you can control everything, Sabastian, but you're nothing more than a beast playing at being human."

Sabastian's response, a low growl of frustration, reverberated through the room.

 "You underestimate what it means to be a leader. It's not a game, Sebrina. It's survival."

The debate escalated, drawing in Kassie, who had been a silent witness to the mounting tension. Lines were drawn, alliances tested,

 and the room became a battlefield for conflicting ideologies.

Sebrina's and Kassie's voices, once harmonious in their goals, now clashed in discordant tones. 

The air was thick with unresolved conflicts, each word a dagger that cut through the fragile unity they had forged.

Sebrina's biting remark echoed through the room. 

"You claim to be the alpha, Sabastian, but a true leader knows when to listen. Your arrogance blinds you to the strengths of those around you."

Sabastian, in a moment of unbridled fury, retorted,

 "You're not a leader, Sebrina. You're a pawn in a game you can't comprehend. I made you who you are, and I can break you just as easily."

The intensity of their words sent shivers down the spines of those outside, as if the very walls of the office were absorbing the venomous energy within.

As the debates raged on, the once-cohesive team found themselves divided by the growing chasm of distrust. 

The forest, with its silent shadows, bore witness to the unraveling of alliances and the emergence of latent animosities.

The once-ordered papers in Sabastian's office became unwitting casualties of the escalating tension. Each torn document bore the weight of 

unresolved conflicts, shredded into fragments that mirrored the fractured dynamics within the room.

Sabastian, his patience worn thin, erupted in a storm of anger. 

"Do it again,"

 he roared, his voice reverberating off the walls. The force of his command sent a chill through the room,

 freezing the air with an intensity that mirrored the frostiness of his gaze.

Sebrina, undeterred by the display of fury, responded with a defiant smirk. 

"Is tearing papers the only way you can assert control, Sabastian? Perhaps your leadership is as fragile as these documents."

The exchange of biting words fueled the fire of their disagreement. Sabastian, a tempest of anger, tore another paper with a ferocity that seemed to mirror the turbulent storm brewing within him

The sound of rending paper became a discordant symphony, punctuated by the sharp inhales and exhales of those trapped within the vortex of his rage.

"Do it again," 

Sabastian repeated, each word laced with a venomous challenge. His eyes, ablaze with an intensity that bordered on madness, scanned the room for any sign of dissent.

Sebrina, meeting his gaze with unwavering resolve, tore another paper with deliberate slowness. 

The defiance in her actions only seemed to stoke the flames of Sabastian's anger.

The ritual continued, a macabre dance of destruction that mirrored the unraveling threads of their collaboration. 

Papers, once symbols of shared goals and strategies, now lay scattered like casualties on the battlefield of conflicting egos.

Felix, who had been a passive observer until now, finally intervened.

 "Enough, both of you!" 

he exclaimed, his voice cutting through the oppressive atmosphere.

 "This won't solve anything. We're tearing ourselves apart."

Sabastian, his chest heaving with the exertion of his anger, turned his gaze toward Felix. 

"This is my office, my rules. If they can't handle it, they can leave."

Sebrina, her eyes fixed on Sabastian's, retorted, 

"Your rules are driving us into chaos, Sabastian. A leader doesn't destroy his own team."