Exposed

Their cars slowed almost in sync, like it had been rehearsed.

Raymond rolled down his tinted window, sunglasses perched handsomely on his face. "Good morning, Miss Phillips," he said, with that slight smile of his. "See me in my office after you clock in."

Venus gave a smart salute and grinned. "Yes, boss. I'll be there with bells on."

Raymond chuckled, gave a nod, and his car glided forward towards the underground parking.

Venus pulled into her usual spot and stepped out, adjusting her bag and smoothing her skirt. 

As she walked into the main lobby, MacDonald, the cheerful company receptionist, stood up with a broad smile.

"Venus!" he beamed. "Yesterday was fire! That presentation?" He gave her a playful chef's kiss gesture. "We're still talking about it!"

Venus laughed. "Thank you, Mac. I'm just trying to earn my lunch around here."

Another staffer nearby chimed in, "You made it look so easy, Venus."

Someone else added, "Standing ovation, girl! You broke the company record!"

Just then, Rose walked in, her heels announcing her presence before her voice could.

She wore a tight, short skirt that made a few eyes look away awkwardly. With her arms folded, she gave a disinterested sniff. "What's so special about it? Presentations happen every day."

The warm mood in the reception dimmed slightly.

MacDonald gave a tight smile. "Yes, Rose. But not all presentations get applause like it's a concert."

Others murmured quietly, giving Rose side glances as they made their way to their offices.

Venus just smiled politely and headed towards the elevators.

A few minutes later, she was on the twelfth floor, standing in front of the CEO's office. As she approached, Rose stepped into her path with a straight face.

"The CEO is not in the seat," Rose said flatly.

Venus blinked. "Oh? That's strange."

Without argument, she reached into her bag, pulled out her phone, and dialled a number.

Raymond answered almost immediately. "Yes, Venus?"

Venus looked directly at Rose. "Your personal assistant says you're not in your office."

There was a short pause. Then the office door clicked open.

Raymond stood at the door, dressed in a grey suit with no tie, his sleeves rolled slightly. "I am definitely in. Come in, Venus."

Rose turned, flustered. "Sir, I... I didn't know you were already in."

Raymond didn't respond. He just held the door open for Venus, who gave Rose a polite nod as she walked past her.

Inside, Raymond gestured to the seat across his desk. "Have a seat."

Venus sat down, crossing one leg over the other. "Your office always smells like expensive decisions."

He chuckled and leant back in his chair. "What happened with your presentation yesterday? The focus changed. But somehow, you still managed to blow the roof off."

Venus tilted her head. "Oh, that? According to Rose, you asked for the change."

Raymond's brow furrowed. "I never did. Why didn't you call me?"

Venus shrugged and smiled playfully. "I figured maybe you were testing me. Trying to see if I had anything in my head besides jokes."

Raymond burst into laughter. "Oh wow. Venus, next time, cross-check with me. I wouldn't make that kind of change minutes before a major presentation."

She nodded. "I get it. But honestly, if I had cried to you, my grandmother would have been so disappointed."

"She trained me not to run from challenges. She once made me give a speech in the market square wearing a chicken hat."

Raymond blinked. "Wait, what?"

Venus leant forward. "Long story. But the point is, she taught me to face things head-on. No matter how ridiculous it gets."

Raymond laughed again. "Your grandma is something else."

She smiled. "She is. And she almost followed me to work this morning to go kung fu someone on my behalf."

Raymond grinned. "We were friends before you joined the company. Your worksheet doesn't change that. We are still friends. Call me next time, okay?"

Venus nodded. "Noted. But," she leant closer and whispered, "don't let some people hear you say that. I don't want to be served poison for lunch."

They both laughed.

As Venus stood to leave, Raymond said, "Seriously, when am I coming to test your grandmother's famous stew?"

Venus gasped playfully and covered her face. "You want to come to my house? You're braver than I thought."

He smirked. "I'm serious."

"We'll see," she said with a giggle, then quickly turned and exited the office.

Back at her desk, Venus shook her head, smiling. 

After Venus returned to her office, laughter ringing through the air like music, Raymond sat back in his office, eyes fixed on the ceiling for a moment. Then he pressed the intercom.

"Ms. Delia, kindly ask Mr. Nicholas, Mr. Daniel, and Rose to join me in my office. We need to address an urgent matter."

Minutes later, the door to his office opened, and Nicholas Adamson, one of the company's top executives, entered with confident strides.

Behind him came Ms. Delia, the ever-poised HR manager, in her navy-blue power suit and glasses perched on the tip of her nose. 

Mr. Daniel, head of finance, followed quietly, adjusting his tie. Rose came in last, her steps unsure and her gaze lowered.

Raymond motioned for them to sit around the sleek glass conference table at the far end of his office.

"Thank you all for coming on short notice," he began, his tone firm but calm.

"I want to talk about something that happened during yesterday's presentation—something concerning."

They all leant forward slightly.

"I received multiple reports and confirmed with Venus this morning," Raymond continued, "that the entire focus of her presentation was changed minutes before the meeting—without prior notice or explanation."

Mr. Daniel frowned immediately. "Changed? Why?"

"That's what I want to find out," Raymond replied. "From what I gathered, the original presentation Venus prepared was altered. Instead of focusing on our upcoming product line, she was told to pivot to something else entirely."

"Who gave that directive?" Nicholas asked, looking around the room. "It couldn't have come from your office, Raymond."

"It didn't," Raymond said flatly. "Which is why I called this meeting."

He turned his attention slowly to Rose, whose fingers were nervously tapping against the edge of the table.

"Rose," Raymond said, his voice steady. "Venus told me you were the one who gave her the directive. That the change came from me."

Rose froze. The room went quiet.

"I… I thought it would be better to highlight our older products," she mumbled.

Ms. Delia raised an eyebrow. "You made that decision on your own?"

Rose hesitated. "Not exactly… I overheard someone say we should focus on what has already been tested in the market. So, I assumed—"

"You assumed," Mr. Daniel cut in sharply. "That's not how we run operations. You don't assume on a board-level presentation."

Rose flushed. "I didn't mean any harm…"

Mr. Daniel leant forward. "Excuse me, but that brilliant young woman put together a stellar marketing strategy. You almost ruined it. It's hard to believe this was just an 'assumption.' Sounds more like sabotage to me."

"Exactly," Nicholas said coolly. "Venus handled it like a professional, but someone clearly wanted her to fall flat."

Ms. Delia, who had remained silent, finally spoke, her tone clipped. "Rose, is it true you told Venus that Raymond authorised the change?"

Rose glanced at Raymond, who was now watching her with a steady, unreadable gaze.

"I… I only said that so she would feel confident about the shift."

"But it was a lie," Ms. Delia stated.

There was a heavy silence.

Raymond folded his arms and looked at Rose with cold clarity. "Why, Rose? What exactly did you hope to achieve?"

Rose looked down at her lap, her voice barely audible. "I didn't think she could pull it off. She's new… and—she gets too much attention."

Nicholas shook his head. "Unbelievable. You risked the company's image and our reputation in front of investors because of envy?"

Rose's hands trembled. "I… I'm sorry. I didn't mean for it to go that far."

Raymond stood, his tall frame imposing. "You did not only tamper with sensitive information; you lied about me. That's not just unprofessional—it's unethical."

Ms. Delia nodded. "I will initiate a formal disciplinary process. This is a serious offence."

"I believe a suspension is in order," Mr. Daniel added.

"I agree," Nicholas said.

Raymond looked at Rose one last time. "Go back to your desk. Ms. Delia will contact you shortly. Until then, do not speak to Venus or interfere with her work in any way."

Rose stood up shakily, barely able to meet anyone's eyes. She gave a small nod and turned to leave the office. 

Her heels clicked softly on the polished floor, the door closing behind her with a quiet click.

When she was gone, Raymond sighed and sat back down.

"I hate office politics," he muttered.

"But you handled it well," Nicholas said. "Venus handled it even better."

Ms. Delia stood. "I'll file the appropriate report and ensure we follow all due processes. No more games in this office."

Raymond nodded. "Thanks, everyone. Let's keep things clean and focused. Our company is bigger than personal drama."

They all stood, nodded, and filed out one by one.

Meanwhile, Venus