Chapter 9 - Noises in the elevator

Aurora glanced at the clock in the corner of her screen and sighed. Twelve twenty. It was lunchtime. She grabbed her purse and shut down her computer. Laura was still putting her things away at her desk.

"Heading down now?" Aurora asked gently, slipping her phone into her bag.

"Just finishing up a report here. Two more minutes," Laura replied with a smile, not looking away from the screen.

Aurora nodded and waited patiently. She soon heard the distinct sound of heels clicking down the hallway. Sandra approached with her usual perfect posture and her phone in hand.

"Lunch?" she said, as if it had been her idea all along.

"Let's go," Laura said, grabbing her bag.

The three walked together toward the elevator. Silence hung between them for a moment, broken only by the quiet beep of buttons being pressed. As the doors closed, Laura tried to keep the mood light.

"So, Aurora, how's it been working directly with Leandro? Lots to learn?"

Aurora smiled, trying to keep her tone neutral.

"A lot, but I'm enjoying it. He's been really clear in his instructions. I've learned more than I expected."

Sandra let out a short, dry laugh.

"How lucky. Some people spend years here and never get that kind of attention."

Aurora frowned slightly, keeping her tone polite.

"I think Leandro trusts me because I've delivered everything on time. That's all."

"Of course," Sandra said, crossing her arms. "Must be just that."

Laura glanced between them, visibly uncomfortable.

"Ladies..."

But Sandra kept going, as if she hadn't heard.

"Don't get me wrong, Aurora. You're... charming. But some people move up in this company without even knowing all the departments. Just because they're... helpful."

That last word dripped with suggestion. Aurora felt her stomach twist, but her voice stayed firm.

"If you have any doubts about my abilities, feel free to tell me directly. No need for elevator games."

Sandra raised her brows, her smile icy.

"I'm just saying. Jumping from front desk to the executive floor out of nowhere raises eyebrows."

The elevator doors opened. Laura quickly stepped out and gently tugged Sandra by the arm, trying to ease the tension. Aurora followed, her jaw tight. Lunch had just begun, but the day already promised to be long.

They walked to the usual restaurant. The smell of fresh food and the soft hum of conversations distracted them for a while. They lined up at the buffet, served their plates, and returned to the table. At first, the conversation was light. Diego shared a story about a system glitch that nearly sent double payments to all the interns.

"Imagine the joy and the panic," he said, laughing. "Luckily, I caught it in time."

"I'd have disappeared with the money and faked memory loss," joked Thiago, making everyone laugh.

"We could use surprises like that on the construction site," Aurora added, joining in.

Sandra gave a forced little chuckle, stabbing at her salad with a bit too much force.

"You talk like you're actually on the job site. Practically part of engineering."

Aurora met her gaze for a second but didn't respond. She tried to ignore the jab. Laura noticed the tension and quickly changed the subject.

"Camila, how's the new HR program going? That continuous feedback tool?"

"We're still testing it, but it looks promising. Should help leaders give clearer responses to their teams."

"Some leaders are already good at that, right? Especially... the more dedicated ones," Sandra said, sipping her juice and staring right at Aurora.

Aurora set her fork down gently and took a slow breath.

"Sandra, if you have something to say, why not just say it?"

The table went quiet. Everyone looked up, surprised by her tone.

"Me? No way. Just chatting," Sandra replied with a fake smile. "You're the one being defensive."

"I'm not defensive. I'm tired of your little digs."

"What digs? I just think it's interesting how fast some people rise."

"Fast? I worked my butt off to get here. And I keep working every day to handle everything thrown at me."

The table stayed silent.

"Right. Working hard. I wonder what else you do to earn your promotions. Maybe I should learn the trick."

"Sandra," Laura scolded.

Aurora leaned forward, eyes locked.

"I don't have to explain myself to you. My work speaks for me. If you want recognition, earn it — not by spreading venom."

Sandra folded her arms, face tight.

"You really think you're the boss's favorite, don't you?"

"I'm not anyone's favorite. I'm a professional doing what I was hired to do. You might want to try that sometime."

Sandra let out a dry laugh.

"We'll see how long this little princess phase lasts. Shine always fades."

Aurora was about to reply, but Laura gently touched her arm under the table, urging her to stay calm. She took a deep breath and looked down at her plate again.

"Maybe it will fade. But by then, at least I'll have built something real, without wasting time talking crap about others."

The mood at the table had shifted completely. Diego pretended to check his phone, Camila forced a tight smile, and Laura spent the rest of lunch trying to change the topic. But the damage was done. The tension between Aurora and Sandra was now official, and not something easily forgotten.

The walk back to the office was quiet. Aurora moved with steady steps, but inside, her stomach churned. The confrontation echoed in her mind. Sandra had crossed a line, and maybe Aurora had too, for answering in front of everyone.

Back at the office, Aurora offered Laura a faint smile and went to her desk. She tried to focus on a report that needed finishing, but her fingers hesitated on the keyboard. Her thoughts were a mess.

About twenty minutes later, Leandro appeared at the door to her room.

"Aurora," he said calmly. "Do you have a moment?"

She stood immediately, grabbed her notebook and tablet, and followed him into his office. He shut the door quietly behind them.

"Is everything okay with you?" he asked straight away.

Aurora hesitated.

"I'm fine. Why?"

Leandro sat, watching her closely.

"You seem quieter than usual. I've seen you pause and take deep breaths several times. You look tense."

She shifted in her seat and tucked her hair behind her ear.

"Just normal day-to-day stuff," she said, shaking her head.

"Alright. I won't push, but if something is bothering you, don't hesitate to talk to me."

"Yes, thank you."

"Okay, let's get to it," he said, opening a light gray folder on the desk. "This is the paperwork for the Bella Vista Residential project. It's early in the process, no one has been assigned yet, but I want you to read it all carefully."

Aurora leaned in, flipping through the pages.

"I see. New client?"

"New and demanding. They're asking for a similar standard to Flor Dourada but with more detailed external finishes."

She studied the specifications while he spoke.

"You seem worried."

Leandro sighed and crossed his arms.

"Yeah. We still haven't identified who's been manipulating reports in Flor Dourada. Starting another project with the same issues would be a disaster."

"I understand. But we can't just stop all new projects while we investigate, right?"

"No, that would cost us millions. Plus, it would raise suspicion, alert whoever's behind it."

"Exactly. They might try to disappear."

Leandro nodded.

"Check the suppliers. Let's rule them out first. Henrique is convinced this is an internal issue. But review all contracts and reports so we're sure."

"Yes, sir."

"And analyze the Bella Vista project. Let's think carefully before moving forward."

"Understood. I'll evaluate all possible scenarios and responsible profiles so you have a full overview to decide how to proceed."

"Perfect. That's what I need. I trust you with this. This project could be a turning point for the company."

Aurora felt the weight of the responsibility, but also the reassurance of his trust.

"I'll go over everything today and get back to you. There won't be room for mistakes."

He smiled, visibly relieved.

"I knew I could count on you."

She nodded and stood to leave. As she reached the door, he called out once more.

"And if anything else starts bothering you... talk to me, alright?"

She glanced back over her shoulder and gave him a small smile.

"Alright. Thank you, Mr. Leandro."

Back at her desk, Aurora took a deep breath and dove into her work. She was much calmer now. And if there was one thing Sandra would never be able to take from her... it was her competence.