Lisa''s wrist throbbed slightly from where the security guard had held it, but she shook it off, ring up at ire. ire turned to the security guard, her voice cool and authoritative. "I''ll handle this myself," she said, her tone leaving no room for argument.


    The guard hesitated for only a fraction of a second before nodding obediently. After all, who was going to argue with the boss? He backed off, and ire turned to Lisa, giving her a once-over that made Lisa feel like a piece of lint on an otherwise spotless suit. "Follow me," ire instructed.


    Lisa wanted to retort, maybe throw out a snarkyment, but something about ire''s coldness made her hesitate. Instead, she just frowned and trailed behind, her emotions a mix of anger and embarrassment. How had things gotten so twisted between them?


    Lisa couldn''t help but notice the curious nces from the employees. They tried to be discreet, but everyone was clearly wondering what themotion was about. ire caught their looks and, with a sharp lift of her brows, said loudly, "Nothing to see here. Get back to work."


    The employees snapped back to attention, hastily turning away as if the very sight of ire would get them into trouble. Lisa couldn''t help but feel a little more embarrassed; ire was just so... authoritative.


    It was like she had a magic power over everyone here. The two women reached the elevator, and ire pressed the button for her floor. The doors closed with a soft hum, and suddenly, the silence in the small space was deafening.


    Lisa shifted ufortably, the weight of the situation pressing down on her. For the first time in a long while, she felt small. ire had never made her feel this way before, but now, standing beside her in this confined space, she felt like she was shrinking. Back in the day, Lisa was the one who felt superior, who couldmand the room with just a look. But now... ire had the upper hand, and it was like she knew it too.


    The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open, revealing the sleek, polished floor of the executive level. ire stepped out, her heels clicking confidently on the tile, and Lisa followed, trying to regain some of herposure. As they walked past the desks, Sandra, ire''s efficient assistant, stood up from her chair.


    "The team is ready for the meeting, Ms. Peterson," Sandra informed her, her eyes flicking briefly to Lisa, clearly curious about the hoodie-wearing woman trailing behind ire.


    "Proceed without me," ire responded with a nod. "I''ve got something to take care of." Sandra nodded, not daring to question her boss''s decision, though her gaze lingered on Lisa for a moment longer.


    "And Sandra," ire added as an afterthought, "make sure to take notes on all the updates with Cortex 2.0."


    "Of course," Sandra replied, quickly jotting something down before returning to her work.


    ire walked to her desk and sat down in the high-backed chair that seemed almost like a throne in the middle of the room. Lisa felt her gaze on her, and suddenly, it was like all the air had been sucked out of the room. ire''s aura was so powerful, somanding, that it made Lisa feel like she was about to be judged in some kind of trial.


    "You created a scene," ire said coldly, her eyes boring into Lisa''s. "I don''t appreciate that."


    Lisa''s anger red up again, recing the nervousness she had been feeling just moments before. She stepped up to the desk, standing defiantly in front of ire. "I wouldn''t have had to cause a scene if you weren''t so impossible to get in touch with!"


    ire raised one perfectly sculpted


    eyebrow, her expression cool and unbothered. "And why, exactly, were you trying to contact me?" she asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Were you nning to apologize? Or perhaps say thank you for bailing you out?"


    Lisa''s jaw clenched. She knew ire was baiting her, but it still made her blood boil. "The news, ire! You know exactly what I''m talking about!" she snapped, her hands balling into fists at her sides.Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    ire leaned back in her chair, a smirk ying on her lips. "Ah, yes. The news," she said, as if she had just remembered something trivial. "Did you read it already?"


    Lisa mmed her hands down on the desk, leaning in close enough that she could see the cool detachment in ire''s eyes. "You crossed a line, ire! You had no right tobel me as a ''depressed crazy woman'' in the media!"


    ire actuallyughed at that, a short, mocking sound that grated on Lisa''s nerves. "It does sound different when the person in question says it, doesn''t it?"


    Lisa''s face turned red with anger and humiliation. This was just like ire, always finding a way to twist the knife deeper. She banged her fist on the table, but ire didn''t even flinch. It was like she had expected it.


    ire leaned forward slightly, her expression turning serious as she locked eyes with Lisa. "So, what are you going to do next?" she asked, her voice taking on a cold, almost threatening edge. "Kill me?"


    Lisa''s eyes widened in shock, and she took a step back, her mind racing. "W-What? Where did you get that idea?" she stammered.


    Lisa tried not to feel too self-conscious as she walked through the office. She couldn''t help but notice how everyone seemed to be watching her, even if they weren''t looking directly at her. It was like being under a microscope.


    ire finally pushed open the door


    to her office and stepped inside, the sleek, minimalist design


    е


    immediately catching Lisa''s eye. Everything was so elegant, so perfectly put together, yet it was all so simple. Lisa had expected something more extravagant maybe even a bit gaudy, considering the way ire carried herself. If it were her office, Lisa would have gone all out with decorations, just to show off a little. But ire? ire didn''t need to show off; her very presence did that for her.


    ire shrugged, getting up from her chair and slowly walking around the desk toward Lisa. "Well, you did try it twice before," she said casually. "I wouldn''t be surprised if you attempted it again. After all they say third time''s a charm."


    Lisa could feel her anger boiling


    over, but she forced herself to stay calm. Losing her temper wouldn''t help her now. She took a deep


    with as much strength as she could muster. "I''m not here to fight with you,


    breath, meeting ire''s gaze


    ire," she said.


    "I''m here to ask you to remove thatbel and that blurry picture of me from the news. I can''t have people in my office finding out about it."


    "And why should I do that?" she asked finally, crossing her arms as she leaned against the desk.


    "Because it''s the right thing to do," Lisa replied, her frustration starting to seep into her voice again. "You can''t just ruin someone''s reputation like that!"


    "Oh, the horror! Lisa Thompson''s pristine image tarnished? Whatever shall I do?" ire sarcastically said then her face turned serious. Any trace of yfulness has gone.


    "I should be the one who said that. You...leaked my marriage with Alex on the inte and because of your little game, I held a press conference to rify it. Do you know how it affects mypany?" ire raised her brows waiting for Lisa to answer.