The Office Drama

The office buzzed with the usual flurry of activity as Marie and Brian sat at their shared desk, deep in work. They had found a rhythm in their partnership over the past few days. The awkwardness had dissolved, replaced by an unspoken ease that came with mutual respect.

Marie was focused on her screen, typing furiously as she tried to meet yet another deadline when she felt Brian's gaze lingering on her. She glanced up, raising an eyebrow.

"Everything okay?" she asked, slightly distracted.

Brian leaned in a little, his eyes narrowing slightly as he looked at her face. "You've got something... right here." He pointed to the corner of his own mouth as if to show her where.

Marie frowned, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. "Did I get it?"

Brian chuckled, shaking his head. "No, let me—"

Without hesitation, he reached over and gently wiped the spot with his thumb, his face getting closer to hers. The proximity was sudden, and Marie blinked in surprise. His touch was light, but the moment hung between them, almost too long to be casual. She could feel the warmth of his hand, his breath close, and for a second, the air between them shifted.

Just then, the sound of approaching heels interrupted the moment.

"Excuse me!" a sharp voice snapped from behind them.

Marie and Brian both jumped, startled, as a woman appeared out of nowhere, her expression stormy and her posture bristling with indignation. She had long, sleek black hair, expertly styled, and was dressed in an expensive-looking blouse and pencil skirt that screamed power and privilege. It was Vanessa Castellano, a name that instantly rang alarm bells in Marie's mind.

Vanessa was from the Castellano clan—one of the Marino family's long-standing rivals. Marie didn't know the full history, but she had heard enough whispers to understand that tensions ran deep between the two families. And now, Vanessa stood before them, her presence sharp and threatening.

"What's going on here?" Vanessa sneered, her eyes darting between Marie and Brian, as if she had caught them in some kind of illicit act. "A little too close for comfort, aren't we?"

Before either of them could respond, Vanessa's hand jerked forward. In a sudden, deliberate move, she tipped her coffee cup and let the liquid spill all over Marie's lap.

Marie gasped, jumping up from her chair as the hot coffee soaked through her blouse and skirt, the shock of the burn making her wince.

"What the hell!" Marie exclaimed, looking down at herself, drenched in the dark stain.

Brian stood up quickly, anger flashing across his face. "What's your problem?"

Vanessa shrugged, her lips curling into a cruel smile. "Oops. My bad." Her tone was anything but apologetic. "I guess you should watch where you're sitting next time."

Marie was stunned, her hands hovering over the wet stain, unsure of what to do. The heat of the coffee still tingled uncomfortably against her skin.

Before the situation could escalate further, a familiar voice cut through the tension.

"Whoa, whoa. What's going on here?"

Rafael Marino, dressed in his usual sharp suit, strode into the office, his presence commanding immediate attention. He glanced between Vanessa, Brian, and Marie, his eyes narrowing as he took in the scene. It didn't take long for him to piece it together.

Vanessa gave Rafael a smirk, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "Just a little misunderstanding."

Rafael's expression darkened, but he maintained his composure. Without a word, he pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to Marie. "Here," he said quietly, his tone softer now. "Use this to clean up."

Marie hesitated for a moment, caught off guard by the gesture. She looked at Rafael, seeing a flicker of concern in his eyes, then accepted the handkerchief. She started blotting the coffee stain, grateful for the small act of kindness.

Behind them, Karen, Rafael's girlfriend, appeared in the doorway, her expression tight with barely contained irritation. She had seen the entire exchange, and it was clear she wasn't happy about it.

"Rafael," Karen said, her voice tense, "What are you doing? Let her handle it."

Rafael didn't even look at Karen as he replied, "I'm just helping, Karen."

Karen's eyes narrowed, her jealousy flaring as she crossed her arms. "She can take care of herself."

Before the tension between Rafael and Karen could boil over, Jasmine swept into the room like a gust of wind. Her presence, as always, brought a sharpness to the air. Dressed impeccably in a tailored blazer and heels that clicked with authority, Jasmine immediately took in the situation and frowned.

"Vanessa," Jasmine began, her voice icy. "I don't know how things are run in whatever hole the Castellanos crawl out of, but in my office, we don't throw coffee at people."

Vanessa's smirk faltered, but she held her ground. "It was an accident."

Jasmine arched an eyebrow. "Of course it was," she said, sarcasm dripping from every word. She then turned to Marie, her expression softening slightly, though her tone remained business-like. "Are you alright?"

Marie nodded, though she was still flustered and embarrassed by the situation. "I'm fine, thanks."

Jasmine glanced at Karen briefly, a smirk tugging at her lips. "I see you've met Rafael's new friend," she said with thinly veiled mockery. "Quite a step down, if you ask me. But I guess we all make mistakes."

Karen's face flushed with anger. "Excuse me?"

Jasmine didn't even blink as she turned her attention back to Vanessa. "And as for you," she said, her voice colder now, "I don't know what your game is, but if you think you can come in here and cause trouble, you've got another thing coming. This isn't your playground, Vanessa."

Vanessa crossed her arms, glaring at Jasmine. "You're always so full of yourself, Jasmine."

Jasmine smiled sweetly, though her eyes were anything but kind. "Oh, honey, I'm full of a lot of things. But that's what makes me better than you."

The tension in the room was palpable, and for a moment, it seemed like things could escalate further. But Rafael stepped forward, placing a hand on Vanessa's arm, his tone firm. "Enough. This isn't the place for this."

Vanessa pulled her arm away, giving Rafael a cold look. "Fine. But this isn't over."

Without another word, she turned on her heel and walked out of the office, leaving a tense silence in her wake.

Jasmine sighed, shaking her head. "Drama, drama, drama," she muttered before turning to Marie again. "Take the rest of the day off if you need it. And don't worry about her," she added, jerking her head in the direction Vanessa had gone. "I'll deal with her."

Marie, still holding Rafael's handkerchief, nodded. "Thanks, Jasmine. I'll be okay."

Jasmine gave her a curt nod, then shot Karen one last dismissive look before leaving the office herself, her heels clicking as she walked away.

Rafael turned to Marie, his expression softer now. "Are you sure you're alright?"

Marie smiled weakly, still feeling a little shaken, but grateful for the support. "Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks for stepping in."

Rafael nodded, glancing briefly at Karen, who was still glaring. "Just... take care."

Marie watched as Rafael left the office, Karen trailing behind him with a scowl, and Brian finally spoke up, his voice low. "That... was intense."

Marie let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. "You could say that."

Brian gave her a reassuring smile. "Well, at least we survived it."

Marie chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Yeah. Barely."

----

After leaving the tense scene in the office, Marie felt a weight lift off her shoulders as she exited Jasmine's office, still clutching Rafael's handkerchief. The stain on her blouse had dried slightly, but the sting of the encounter with Vanessa lingered. She walked through the hallway, her mind swirling with a mix of embarrassment, confusion, and lingering unease.

As soon as Marie left, Rafael lingered in the office with his sister Jasmine. The momentary tension between him and Karen had bothered him, but there was something else gnawing at his mind—something he couldn't shake. He turned to Jasmine, who was sitting behind her desk, cool and composed as usual.

"Jas," Rafael began, his voice quieter now that they were alone. "I need to talk to you about something."

Jasmine looked up, her sharp eyes catching the unusual softness in Rafael's tone. She set aside the file she had been reviewing and gestured for him to continue. "What's on your mind?"

Rafael hesitated for a moment, his thoughts drifting back to the scene in the office. There was something about Marie—something that had struck him ever since she joined the company. At first, it was just a fleeting sense of familiarity, but today, seeing her so closely, it stirred something deep within him.

"Marie," he started slowly, unsure of how to phrase what he was feeling. "She... she looks familiar. Like really familiar."

Jasmine raised an eyebrow. "Familiar how?"

Rafael leaned against the edge of her desk, his arms crossed over his chest. "I don't know... it's hard to explain. She looks like a mix of... me and Kanna."

At the mention of Kanna, Jasmine's eyes sharpened. She leaned back in her chair, studying Rafael's face. "Kanna?" she repeated, her tone cautious.

Rafael nodded. "Yeah. I know it sounds crazy, but when I look at Marie, there's this... feeling I get. It's like I'm seeing Kanna and myself in her."

Jasmine's lips twitched, a small smile playing on the corner of her mouth. "You think she looks like your lost daughter, don't you?"

Rafael stiffened, his heart beating a little faster at her words. "I don't know, Jas. It's been years, and we never found her... but when I look at Marie, I just... I don't know. There's something there."

Jasmine sighed, resting her elbow on the desk and propping her chin on her hand. "Raf, I get it. Losing your daughter was hard, and we all felt it. But you're grasping at straws here. Marie is just a look-alike. It happens."

Rafael shook his head, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "I'm not saying she is my daughter, but it's like I'm seeing something... familiar."

Jasmine leaned forward, her expression serious now. "I understand how much you want closure, but you can't start seeing your lost daughter in every girl that reminds you of Kanna. It's not healthy, and it's not fair to Marie."

Rafael sighed, slumping slightly. He knew Jasmine was right, but the nagging feeling wouldn't leave him. Still, he had to acknowledge that it was just a gut feeling—nothing more, nothing less.

"Maybe you're right," Rafael finally admitted, his voice heavy. "It's just hard, you know? I thought I'd buried this, but seeing Marie... it brought everything back."

Jasmine softened, her usual tough exterior cracking just a little. "I know, Raf. But we have to be careful. We can't let our past haunt us, especially when we're already dealing with so much."

Rafael nodded, though the weight of his thoughts still lingered as he left Jasmine's office. The memories of his lost daughter were stirred, and it seemed that no matter how much time passed, the ache would never fully heal.

Meanwhile, Marie was gathering her things, her mind still clouded with thoughts of the incident with Vanessa. As she moved toward the exit, Brian caught up with her, looking slightly sheepish.

"Hey, Marie," he called out softly, jogging to catch up. She turned around, offering a tentative smile, though the events of the day still weighed on her.

"Hey," she replied, stopping by the door to wait for him.

Brian hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. "I, uh... I just wanted to say I'm really sorry about what happened earlier. That wasn't cool."

Marie sighed, but there was no anger in her expression. She was more tired than anything. "It's not your fault. Vanessa was... well, she was looking for a fight."

Brian frowned, his face tinged with regret. "Yeah, I should've warned you about her."

Marie looked at him curiously. "Warned me? Why?"

Brian glanced away for a moment, clearly uncomfortable. "Vanessa and I... we used to date."

Marie's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Oh."

Brian nodded, his face twisted with guilt. "Yeah. It didn't end well. She's... let's just say she doesn't like to let things go."

Marie processed that for a moment, the pieces clicking into place. Vanessa's animosity made a little more sense now, though it didn't excuse what she had done.

"I'm sorry," Brian added, his voice sincere. "She shouldn't have dragged you into it."

Marie shrugged, offering him a small, understanding smile. "It's fine. I guess I'm just caught in the middle of something I didn't ask for."

Brian looked at her, his expression softening. "I'll make sure it doesn't happen again. You don't deserve to deal with that."

Marie appreciated the sentiment, even though she wasn't entirely convinced it would be that easy. Vanessa clearly had a personal vendetta, and Marie wasn't naive enough to think this was the last time she'd have to deal with her.

"Well, thanks for that," Marie said, her tone light but sincere. "And don't worry, I'll survive."

Brian chuckled, the tension between them easing slightly. "Yeah, you will. You're tough."

They exchanged a small smile, and for the first time since the incident, Marie felt a little less burdened by the events of the day. Though the drama wasn't over, she felt like she wasn't completely alone in it. And maybe, just maybe, she could handle whatever came next.

----

Marie arrived at Mang Caloy's modest house just as the sun was beginning to set. The warm orange glow of the sky cast long shadows across the small front yard, and the sight of it was a comforting contrast to the chaos of her day. She took a deep breath, trying to shake off the lingering frustration from the office incident, and stepped inside.

The familiar scent of home—a mixture of wood, herbs, and the faint smell of old books—welcomed her as she entered. Mang Caloy, with his weathered face and calm demeanor, was seated in his usual chair by the small living room window, reading a newspaper. 

Marie straightened up and caught Mang Caloy's eyes, his gaze sharper than usual. He could always tell when something was bothering her, even before she said a word.

"Something happened at work," Marie said, walking over to the small kitchen area where she poured herself a glass of water. Her voice was steady, but Mang Caloy's perceptive eyes never missed the tension in her shoulders.

"Tell me about it," Mang Caloy replied, folding the newspaper and setting it aside. His expression was calm, but there was a gravity in his tone that made it clear he was listening closely.

Marie leaned against the counter, collecting her thoughts. "There was... an incident at the office today. A woman named Vanessa—Vanessa Castellano—made a scene. Spilled coffee on me. It was pretty tense."

The moment she mentioned the name Castellano, Mang Caloy's expression shifted. His eyes narrowed, and he sat up straighter in his chair, the calm demeanor replaced by a hint of concern. He didn't respond immediately, instead, he took a deep breath and stared into space, as if piecing together fragments of a distant memory.

"The Castellanos..." he said slowly, his voice trailing off. "I remember them well."

Marie raised an eyebrow, puzzled. "You know them?"

Mang Caloy nodded, his gaze focused on the old wooden floor as if searching for lost thoughts. "Yes, I do. They were once heavily involved with the criminal elements we used to deal with. The Castellanos are notorious for their ruthlessness. They're not the kind of people you want to cross paths with, Marie."

Marie's heart sank. "You think this could be dangerous?"

Mang Caloy stood up and walked over to her, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "From what you've told me, it sounds like Vanessa Castellano's behavior might be more than just a personal vendetta. If the Castellanos are involved, you need to be very careful."

Marie swallowed hard, her mind racing with the implications. "What should I do?"

"Keep a low profile," Mang Caloy advised, his tone firm. "Avoid any further confrontation with her or her associates. The Castellanos have a long reach, and their involvement usually means trouble."

Just then, Ryoma looked up from his toys, sensing the change in mood. "What's wrong, Marie?" he asked, his innocent eyes full of concern.

Marie smiled weakly at the child, trying to mask her worry. "Nothing, Ryoma. Everything's fine."

Mang Caloy's gaze softened as he looked at Marie. "Don't worry too much. We'll handle this. For now, just stay safe and let us know if anything else happens."

Marie nodded, feeling a sense of relief at Mang Caloy's support. "Thank you, Mang Caloy. I'll be careful."

As Marie made her way to the living room, Mang Caloy watched her with a worried expression. He knew all too well the dangers of crossing paths with the Castellanos and hoped that Marie would remain safe from their reach.

As she settled into a chair, Marie's thoughts were filled with the unsettling knowledge that her seemingly ordinary workplace drama had ties to a world she had barely understood. The sense of danger was palpable, and she knew she would have to navigate this new threat with caution.

With Mang Caloy's words echoing in her mind, Marie tried to focus on the comforting presence of the small home and the reassuring presence of her friends and family. For now, she would follow his advice and hope for the best, but the shadow of the Castellanos loomed over her, and she couldn't shake the feeling that her life had just become much more complicated.

As Marie sat quietly in the living room, Mang Caloy returned to his chair, his thoughts deeply troubled. He knew that the Castellanos would not let the incident slide easily, and he worried about the safety of the people he cared for. The evening's peaceful setting did little to ease his concerns, and the weight of his past dealings with the Castellanos hung heavily on him