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The shrill ring of Evelyn’s phone shattered the quiet of her office, palling her out of her reverie. She glanced at the screen, and her heart så

beat Susan.

She had been dreading this call all day since her encounter with Derek’s Mom, a call she thought

might come but still hoped it wouldn’t

For a moment, she considered not answering it, letting it ring until it stopped, but that would only delay the inevitable. With a deep breath, she siriped so answer and brought the phone to her ear, hoping that she was wrong; and Susan was only calling to find out her plans for Derek’s Intendew that week.

“Hello, Susan,” she said, trying to keep her voice calm despite the anxiety bubbling inside her.

“Evelyn,” her boss’s voice came through, uncharacteristically seilt, and Evelyn inurediately knew something was wrong. “T. I’m sorry to do is over. the phone. You’re a great employer, and if it were up to just me, this wouldn’t be happening, but unfortunately, the board has made their decision.” Evelyn sat up straight, her pulse quickening. “What decision?” she asked, though a part of her already knew

to let you go

Susan passed before she spoke again, and that brief hesitation felt like a hammer waiting to drop. “The board has decided to

The words hit Evelyn like a blow to the chest, but she didn’t react immediately. She sat frozen, her mind racing, trying to make sense of it. “Let me go?” she repeated slowly as if hearing the words again might change them. “Susan why are they doing this? Why am I being punished for doing my job?”

There was another pause. “I’m really sorry. Evelyn. This decision wasn’t mine. There’s nothing I can do. Wes will be stepping in to take over.”

Evelyn felt a surge of anger rising within her. Her grip tightened around the phone as she hit back her initial response. After all the hard work, the loyalty, the sacrifices, and this is how it ended? She wasn’t even worth a proper meeting; it was just a phone call to cast her aside like an expendable piece.

“Why do you all keep toying with me like this?” Evelyn’s voice shook with frustration. “Why do I have to keep putting up with any of this? Why can’t an international brand like Empowered protect its employees? I did everything you asked of me, Susan I dedicated years to this company, and this is how I’m repaid? Fired for doing my job- because someone powerful is pulling your strings!”

“I understand, I really do,” Susan’s voice wavered with guilt. “But my hands are tied. It’s out of my control. You know how these things work… once the board decides..

“I don’t want to hear it,” Evelyn snapped, unable to hold back her frustration any longer. “This is unfair, Susan, and you know it.”

“I’m so sorry.” Susan whispered again, but Evelyn had already heard enough.

Without another word, Evelyn ended the call, dropping her phone on the desk with a sharp thud. The silence that followed was deafening, but it didn’t last long. The anger swelled inside her, hot and sharp, until it bubbled over. She grabbed the edge of her desk, forcing herself to take deep breaths

She should have seen this coming. It shouldn’t have been so surprising, seeing as the board had always wanted Wes here, and she had narrowly escaped being fired the previous week.

But strangely, despite the frustration and anger, there was no sorrow. She wasn’t devastated. Instead, a calm realization began to creep in. Maybe this was exactly what she needed

She had planned to leave Empowered after resolving things with her father anyway, hadn’t she? She had always known that one day, she would return to her family’s company and take her rightful place there. From NôvelDrama.Org.

This – this was just life’s way of pushing her out of her comfort zone and making her go there sooner than planned,

Evelyn stood, methodically clearing her desk. She gathered her personal items. Every movement felt deliberate and final. As she looked around the office one last time, she fel a surprising sense of closure.

Thankfully, she hadn’t worked in this office long enough to be attached to it. And although Empowered Magazine had been her life for so long, in was time to let it go.

As she left the office, walking through the corridors, her steps felt ligler than expected. It was over. She was free. Now, they had nothing more to hold over her. No one would exercise such control over her anymore.

When she arrived home, the house was quiet, and Maya wasn’t in. She checked the time and realized that Maya had already left to pick Samantha up from school

Evelyn dropped her handbag on the couch and headed straight for the kitchen to get a glass the bedroom…

ss of water. After taking a long sap from it, she headed for

After taking off her clothes, she decided to freshen up and get some rest before she focused on planning her next nove

As she stepped into the shower, the water hit her skin, soothing the remnants of tension that clung to her body. She stood under the stream for a long time, letting the heat wash away her frustration.

After her shower, she wrapped herself in her bathrobe and headed to the bedroom. She sank into her bed, the soft sheets welcoming her.

She closed her eyes for a moment, thinking about everything that had happened in the past few days. Losing her job was the final push she needed to focus on herself, her family, and her future. She was going to make sure Sandra regretted every move that led her here.

The sound of the doorbell startled her. She frowned, wondering why Maya would be ringing the bell instead of just coming in.

Getting out of bed. she adjusted her robe and made her way to the front door. When she opened it, her eyes widened in surprise.

“Derek?” she exclaimed, blinking at him. He stood on her doorstep, looking worried. “What are you doing here?” She asked, her heart beating fast as she realized that Samantha might be back in any moment.

“I’ve been trying to reach you, Derek said, stepping closer, concern etched in his features. “Your boss told me what happened… that they let you go. I tried calling, but you weren’t picking up. I was worried.” he said as he searched her face, relieved to see that she hadn’t been crying.

Evelyn sighed, running a hand through her damp hair. “I was in the shower. I didn’t hear the phone. But yeah. They fired me,” she said, thinking about whether to invite him in right now or send him off and meet with him somewhere else.

Derek’s brow furrowed, and he stepped even closer, his hand resting lightly on her arm. “I’m sorry, Eve. This is all my fault. I’m going to resolve it

all soon.

Evelyn shook her head, “It’s not your fault. You don’t have to worry about that,” she said, thinking that she needed to get him to leave immediately else she won’t get the chance to tell him about it and prepare him.

“Are you okay?” Derek asked when he noticed she seemed to be uncomfortable.

“Why don’t we m

meet up later? I need to..”

Before Evelyn could finish, a high–pitched voice interrupted them from behind. “Rek!”