e. Her eyes raked over Lily with slow, calculated disdain-from her sensible hee

fingers tightened around the coffee tray. "

ompetition." She paused, tapping a manicured nail against David's desk. "Tel

g to my work, all records are up to dat

sion-such competence. The realization sharpened her voi

"David told me everything. How lone

lly think he'd settle for

in her ears, but h

a workplace, I suggest we keep things prof

na mocked, eyes flashing.

e cup from the tray, s

egrees? Pathetic. You could brew this every

echoed i

Marina tipped the scaldin

ng the cup with a clatter

a cradling her reddened wrist, tears glistening on her

th practiced hurt. "David.

d Lily, his expression dar

gh the office like a whip. "Wha

still clutched in her hands. Her

did

ecause you've worked here for years, you can do whatev

id, she poured it on hersel

ieving. "Marina treats her hands like they're made of g

Her voice wavere

command left no r

ize for somethi

ed. "Then you'll fa

ched the wine bottle from his de

ce, and soaking into her blouse. The sharp scent of alco

her features into false concern. "David, darling, it's not worth getting so u

ain, his attention already shif

aid tightly, guiding her toward the d

pping from her chin. The office had gone deathly quiet-ever

orning. Lily could feel the stares burning into h

traces of wine from her collar when Jenny'

er!" Jenny crowed to her gaggle of followers. "All these years pla

her voice chimed in. "Finally, the

ack at her-hair still damp, eyes red-rim

ng can from the windowsill and f

he air as Jenny and her cron

ny screeched, mascara

with a clink. "Just returning the favor for

without breaking the formulas, Claire's reports are always late, and Sophi

ad no guilt. "Blame your

ng and shoved-hard. The other wom

My resignation's already on David's desk. I'm more interested in seeing

her heels towa

building, the afternoon sun

r phone and typed

av

orce papers ar

need a new

he hit