Betrayal within

Sarafina stepped into the office, dressed sharply in a tailored navy-blue suit, exuding confidence despite the weight of last night's confrontation with Caleb. Today was important—her interview for the executive project she had been working on for months. She had prepared tirelessly, ensuring every detail was flawless.

As she walked toward her department, she noticed Solana at her desk, a bright smile plastered across her face.

"Sarafina! You're here early," Solana chirped. "Nervous about the presentation?"

Sarafina gave her a small smile. "Not really. I've got everything ready."

Solana's smile widened, but something in her eyes flickered—something almost too eager.

"Of course you do," she said smoothly. "You're always so prepared."

Unbothered, Sarafina walked to her desk, reviewing her final notes before heading to the conference room. The projector was already set up, just as she had arranged earlier.

At exactly 10 a.m., the interview began.

Executives from different departments, along with the senior director, sat at the long table, waiting for her to present. Sarafina took a deep breath and stepped forward, her fingers steady as she clicked on the remote to start the presentation.

The first slide appeared.

A frown creased her forehead. This wasn't her presentation. The title was wrong. The data was… completely off.

Confused murmurs rose from the table.

"Sarafina, this information doesn't align with the proposal you submitted," one of the executives remarked, flipping through their printed documents.

Panic twisted in her chest, but she forced herself to stay calm. "I—I'm not sure what happened. This isn't the file I prepared."

She clicked to the next slide. More incorrect information. It was a disaster.

"This is unacceptable," another senior executive frowned. "You were supposed to present a well-researched projection, not irrelevant figures."

No one wanted to hear her out again. Solana leaned in, her voice dripping with feigned concern.

"How did you end up with the wrong proposal, Sarafina? You should be more careful when selecting your file. What happens now?"

Tony's voice cut through the tension. "What happens now is that Sarafina will prepare the correct proposal and present it again tomorrow."

Solana's heart skipped a beat. "Really?" she asked, her voice faltering slightly.

One of the executives questioned Tony, disbelief in his tone. "Why give her a second chance after such a complete failure?"

Tony's gaze hardened. "Who among us hasn't made a mistake? I'm confident someone tampered with her proposal. That's why I'm giving her this opportunity."

Sarafina could only smile gratefully, her heart lightened by Tony's faith in her.

As Tony and the executives left the room, Sarafina stood there, pondering what had just happened. She couldn't shake the nagging feeling that Solana's eagerness earlier was more than just coincidence. Solana had always been competitive, but now doubts crept into Sarafina's mind.

Had Solana sabotaged her? Did she tamper with the file? The thought was chilling. It felt like another manipulative scheme, and Sarafina wasn't sure if she was ready to confront it yet. But she would soon be enough.