The next day, Fiona returned to Voss Éclat feeling the weight of exhaustion deep in her bones.
She arrived at the office a little earlier than usual, hoping for a few quiet monts before the chaos began. The 38th floor was already humming with energy. The big inclusivity event was only weeks away, and the pressure was mounting. Whiteboards were covered in colorful sticky notes and tilines. Mood boards lined the walls with images of diverse models, product mockups, and campaign concepts. Team mbers moved quickly between desks, discussing final designs, confirming model availability, and polishing every detail to ensure the event would be a massive success.
Fiona sat at her desk, opened her laptop, and tried to focus.
But the day quickly beca difficult.
What bothered Fiona the most was Katherine’s constant presence.
Katherine was now frequently on the 38th floor. She moved through the open-plan space with graceful confidence, always smiling, always watching. Today she wore a soft cream blouse and tailored trousers, her diamond engagent ring catching the light whenever she gestured. She sat in on etings, asked polite questions, and offered gentle suggestions that sohow always managed to feel like subtle comparisons.
Fiona tried to ignore her.
But it was impossible.
During one of the key presentation etings in the main conference room, the tension reached its peak.
Fiona was presenting the latest version of the inclusivity event tiline and campaign visuals. She had spent hours refining every slide, ensuring the ssaging was authentic and inclusive. She stood at the front, clicking through her deck, explaining the flow of the event and how each elent tied into the brand’s new direction.
Clara sat near the front, smiling sweetly.
Then Clara interrupted.
"Fiona, sorry to jump in," she said, voice smooth and professional, "but I think we should highlight this section a bit more. The way it’s currently structured feels a little... scattered. Maybe we can simplify it? I actually prepared a quick alternative slide last night if you’d like to see it."
Before Fiona could respond, Clara stood up, took the clicker from her hand, and smoothly took over parts of the presentation. She highlighted small gaps in the tiline, pointed out minor inconsistencies in the visual assets, and subtly refrad Fiona’s ideas as "promising but needing refinent."
The team listened attentively.
So nodded.
Others looked uncomfortable.
Fiona sat there quietly, feeling her hard work being undermined in real ti. Her cheeks burned with embarrassnt and frustration. She had poured her heart into this project, and now it was being dismantled piece by piece in front of everyone.
Clara continued, her tone helpful but cutting.
"For example, on slide 7, the target audience segntation feels a bit broad. We could tighten it by focusing more on the 18-24 demographic first, then layering in the rest. I think that would make the campaign feel more focused and impactful. Don’t you agree, Fiona?"
Fiona forced a calm smile.
"I actually designed it that way intentionally to show the full spectrum of inclusivity from the start. But we can discuss refining it further if the team feels it’s necessary."
Clara smiled back, sweet as honey.
"Of course. I’m just trying to help make sure everything is as strong as possible. We all want this event to be a huge success."
Katherine watched with polite interest from her seat near the head of the table.
She smiled encouragingly at Clara, then glanced at Fiona with a look that was almost sympathetic — but not quite.
"Clara makes a good point," Katherine said softly, her voice carrying just enough authority to shift the room’s attention. "The event is so important for the brand’s image. We want it to feel fresh and aspirational, not just safe. I’m sure Fiona’s hard work will shine through with a few adjustnts."
The words were polite on the surface.
But everyone in the room heard the subtle dig.
Fiona kept her expression neutral, but inside she was reeling.
Clara continued for several more minutes, seamlessly taking over the flow of the presentation. She pointed out another "small gap" in the model lineup, suggested reordering the campaign phases, and even proposed a few alternative taglines that "might land better with the audience." Each comnt was delivered with a smile and a helpful tone, but the cumulative effect was clear: Fiona’s contributions were being quietly diminished in front of the entire team.
Fiona sat there, hands clasped tightly in her lap, feeling her hard work being undermined while Katherine watched with polite interest.
When the eting finally ended, Fiona gathered her things quickly and headed back to her desk.
Her hands were still trembling slightly as she picked up her notebook and laptop. The room felt too warm, the air too thick.She kept her head down, avoiding eye contact with anyone as she slipped out of the conference room.
Riley caught up with her in the hallway, walking fast to match her pace.
"Fi, that was bullshit," Riley whispered fiercely, her voice low but filled with protective anger. "Clara completely hijacked your presentation. She took the clicker right out of your hand and made it look like your work was half-baked. And Katherine just sat there smiling like it was normal. Like she was enjoying the show."
Fiona sighed, rubbing her temple with her free hand. The headache that had started during the eting was now throbbing behind her eyes.
"I know," she said quietly, her voice tired. "I felt it. Every ti Clara spoke, it was like she was chipping away at everything I’ve built for this event. And Katherine... she didn’t say much, but the way she nodded and smiled... it made it worse."
They turned the corner toward the open-plan area. Fiona was hoping to reach her desk without further incident, to sit down, breathe, and maybe close her eyes for a mont before the next wave of tasks hit.
But Katherine was walking in the opposite direction, heading toward the elevators with her usual graceful stride. She was alone this ti, no Martin beside her, but her presence still felt commanding. As she passed Fiona and Riley, she slowed slightly.
Katherine’s eyes landed on Fiona.
A polite smile curved her lips, but there was a sharpness beneath it.
"Fiona," she said, voice smooth and carrying just enough volu to be heard by nearby team mbers. "I wanted to say... I hope you’re not taking today’s feedback too personally. So people simply aren’t cut out for high-pressure events like this. It’s not a reflection on your character, just... perhaps your current capacity. This company has very high standards, after all. Not everyone is ant to stay long-term."
The words landed like a slap wrapped in silk.
Fiona stopped walking.
Riley’s eyes widened in disbelief.
The few colleagues still in the hallway froze, pretending to look at their phones but clearly listening.
Fiona felt heat rush to her face.Her exhaustion, the humiliation from the eting, the constant ache of seeing Martin with Katherine — everything boiled over in that mont.
She turned to face Katherine directly.
"Excuse ?" Fiona’s voice was quiet but clear, steady despite the tremor of anger beneath it. "With all due respect, Katherine, I have been leading the inclusivity event from the beginning. My ’current capacity’ has delivered every deadline so far, while others have only offered last-minute ’suggestions’ that conveniently undermine the work already done."
Katherine’s perfect smile didn’t falter, but her eyes sharpened.
"I’m only trying to be helpful," she replied, tone still sweet but with an edge. "As soone who will soon be part of this company’s leadership through marriage, I feel it’s my responsibility to ensure the highest standards. If that makes you uncomfortable, perhaps it’s worth reflecting on why."
Fiona’s hands clenched at her sides.
The tension in the hallway thickened.
Riley stepped slightly closer to Fiona, ready to jump in, but Fiona spoke first.
"My discomfort cos from watching my hard work being dismantled in front of the team while you sit there smiling. If you truly cared about standards, you’d support the people who have been building this event for months, not encourage others to take credit for it."
Katherine’s expression remained composed, but a faint flush rose on her cheeks.
"I see," she said coolly. "Well, perhaps we can discuss this in a more private setting. After all, emotions can run high in these situations."
Fiona t her gaze without blinking.
"Or perhaps we can be honest. You’re not here to help the event. You’re here to make sure everything looks perfect for your wedding photos and your future role. And right now, that seems to include making sure I look incompetent."
The hallway went completely silent.
A few colleagues nearby exchanged wide-eyed glances.
Katherine’s smile finally slipped for a split second before she recovered, lifting her chin.
"This conversation is inappropriate for the workplace," she said, voice still controlled but colder. "I suggest you focus on your deliverables instead of personal grievances."
With that, Katherine turned and continued walking toward the elevators, her posture straight and regal.
Fiona stood there, breathing hard, heart pounding.
Riley touched her arm gently.
"Fi... that was brave. But damn, the tension is thick enough to cut with a knife."
Fiona rubbed her temple again, feeling the dizziness from earlier creep back in.
"I know. I shouldn’t have said that much. But I’m so tired of pretending. I’m tired of watching my work get torn apart while she smiles like she owns the place."
Riley stayed close as they walked the rest of the way to their desks.
"You’re not wrong, though," Riley said quietly. "Katherine being here every day is making everything worse. And Clara is loving every second of it. We need to figure out how to protect you — and your work — before this gets even uglier."
Fiona nodded, but her mind was already drifting.
The Moonshine offer was still sitting in her inbox.
The contrast between the toxic environnt here and the possibility of sothing better felt sharper than ever.
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