Chapter 5 The Betrayal

• “Olive, how can you be late on your first day as the new secretary?”
• Maria’s voice cut through the floor the moment I stepped out of the elevator.
• I stopped.
• Not because she startled me.
• But because I already knew she was going to start something.
• The entire floor was active, printers humming, footsteps everywhere but the moment Maria walked closer, everything felt quieter.
• Like the building itself was waiting for drama.
• “Maria, we start at 8:00 am , it's 7:50 now''. I replied coldly, glancing at my wrist watch.
• “The secretary department rule is that, you arrive thirty minutes early.”
• ''It’s called discipline. Something new employees struggle with.” Her voice stayed even.
• “Then HR should update the contract,” I replied, placing my bag down. “Because I checked the HR schedule. My official time is 8:10am”. I met her eyes.
• “So technically,” I added, “I’m early.”
• The nearby employees exchanged glances.
• Maria’s smile tightened.
• “You’re very confident for a new secretary.”
• “I’m just correct,” I said, and walked towards my new office.
• That ended it for me.
• But not for her.
• I felt her stare burning into my back as she walked away.
• Something about me bothered Maria.
• I just didn’t know what yet.
• Outside Orion corporation…….
• Across the street, Ivy stood in front of a café she had been staring at for a few minutes.
• Orion Corporation towered above everything.
• And inside it…
• Olive.
• Her best friend.
• Her shadow.
• Except today, Ivy wasn’t the shadow.
• Today, she was the mistake waiting to happen.
• She adjusted her dress, took a slow breath, and crossed the street.
• Daniel was already waiting.
• And beside him.
• Ethan Dennis.
• Even standing still, he looked like someone who owned the air around him.
• His eyes landed on her immediately.
• “You asked to meet me privately,” he said.
• Ivy lowered her gaze slightly, acting shy.
• “Yes, I didn’t want trouble at the office.”
• The CEO didn’t respond immediately.
• He was watching her too closely. He felt something off about her but he couldn't figure it out. Somehow he believed she is the woman from that night.
• “What happened that night should not have happened." He said flatly.
• Ivy’s fingers tightened slightly.
• Then she softened her face instantly.
• “It was my fault,” she said quietly. “I shouldn’t have gone that far.
• “I’m sorry.” She said as she stepped closer to him. Dennis didn’t move. Just watched her.
• “I called you here for compensation,” he said. “Name your price.”
• Ivy blinked. For a second, something real almost showed. Then she recovered.
• “I don’t want money.”
• A slight lift of his brow. “Then what do you want?" the CEO asked, looking a little surprised.
• Ivy looked up at him slowly.
• And said it.
• “I want you.”
• Daniel stiffened beside them.
• But Ethan?
• He didn’t react.
• But something in his eyes darkened slightly.
• He studied her longer this time.
• “This will be all for now.” His voice was calm.
• Final. Ivy didn’t step back immediately. She tried to close the space again.
• Daniel stepped in at once, blocking her gently but firmly.
• Dennis turned and walked away without another word.
• But Ivy stayed there—smiling softly to herself.
• Because he hadn’t said no.
• Not clearly.
• And that was enough.
• Back at Orion corporation…..
• I was buried in files when he returned.
• I didn’t notice him watching me for a few seconds longer than necessary.
• But someone else did.
• Maria.
• From across the floor.
• Her eyes narrowed.
• Something was happening.
• And that bothered her more than anything.
• By evening, the building had emptied.
• Only the hum of machines and the faint glow of screens kept me company.
• I stretched my neck, exhaling softly.
• There were too many files to handle.
• I gathered my things and headed towards the empty elevator.
• I stepped in, pressed the ground floor.
• The doors began to close.
• “Hold it.”
• The voice stopped me instantly.
• I pressed the button.
• The doors reopened.
• Ethan Dennis stepped in.
• My breath stalled for half a second.
• He didn’t look at me immediately.
• Just walked in.
• Pressed the ground floor button.
• The doors closed again.
• Silence.
• Just the two of us.
• The elevator moved.
• For a moment, I thought maybe I could survive this ride peacefully.
• Then, a sharp jerk.
• The lights flickered.
• I grabbed the railing instinctively.
• “What was that?” I whispered. No answer.
• The elevator slowed.
• The it stopped completely.
• Darkness swallowed the space.
• My heart jumped.
• “Sir?” I called out softly.
• Still nothing.
• Then, a faint metallic sound above us.
• Like something shifting.
• Ethan finally spoke.
• “Don’t move.”
• My chest tightened.
• ''Why?”
• He didn't utter a word again.
• Suddenly ,something above us clicked again.
• A deep mechanical sound.
• Like it wasn’t failing.
• But being controlled.
• My throat went dry.
• “Is this normal?” I asked quietly.
• Dennis didn’t answer immediately.
• Then, calmly,“No.”
• “This is not a system error.”
• My stomach dropped.
• “What do you mean?”
• But before he could answer, the elevator dropped slightly.
• Just a fraction.
• Enough to make my knees weaken.
• I grabbed the railing harder.
• Dennis stepped closer, not panicked, just alert.
• His voice lowered.
• “Someone tampered with it.”
• My breath stopped.
• ''Tampered?'' At Orion?, Who could have the balls to do that.
• But before I could think further.
• The elevator jerked again,harder this time.
• And the emergency system above us clicked.
• Like a lock sealing shut.
• Ethan’s jaw tightened slightly.
• “Stay close to the panel,” he ordered.
• I obeyed immediately.
• Because this wasn’t the time to argue.
• The elevator started moving again.
• Then, the doors opened.
• Light spilled in.
• We were on the ground floor.
• I stepped out immediately, breathing hard.
• Relief hit me too fast.
• The elevator doors were still open.
• I stepped out first, trying to steady my breathing.
• My hand was still tight around my bag.
• My heartbeat refused to slow down.
• Behind me, Dennis didn’t move immediately.
• He was still inside the elevator.
• Still watching me.
• That same unreadable expression on his face.
• Like he was trying to pull a memory out of me that I didn’t know how to give.
• “Olive,”he said again.
• My fingers tightened.
• I was about to answer suddenly a figure ran past us far, far from where we were.
• '' Who was that?'' I whispered.
• Dennis wasn't looking at me anymore, his entire focus had changed. His gaze fixed on the direction the figure had disappeared.
• His expression changed instantly.The kind of look that he knew something was definitely wrong. Then he said ''Whoever just ran past us''. He exhaled briefly,
• '' Is the reason the elevator failed''.
• My breath stopped completely.
• Because now it wasn’t just suspicion.
• It was certainty.
• And whoever it was.
• Had been somewhere in this building.
• Watching.