It’s a new job, a fresh start—and one that’s supposed to launch your career into the corporate stratosphere. The office is sleek, modern, and spotless. Rows of cubicles buzz with faint chatter, the tapping of keyboards, and the steady hum of printers whirring out documents.
But the longer you stand there, taking it all in, the more you feel it—the subtle, suffocating power dynamic at play. Everyone seems to be glancing at you, sizing you up, and you suddenly feel small. The entire office, with its polished glass and cold steel, feels like a playground where everyone knows the rules except you.
"Excuse me," a sharp voice cuts through the air behind you. You turn to find yourself face-to-face with Olivia. She stands there, arms crossed, her lips twisted in a smug smirk. Her brown ponytail bounces slightly as she tilts her head, eyeing you with thinly veiled contempt. "You’re standing in my way."
You step aside without thinking, but a flicker of annoyance flashes through you. Who the hell does this brat think she is? She's barely out of high school. You bite your tongue for a moment but decide to give her a taste of her own attitude.
"Well, maybe if you weren’t so short, I would’ve seen you," you snap, your voice laced with sarcasm.
Olivia’s eyes narrow dangerously, but she doesn’t respond. Instead, she brushes past you with an exaggerated roll of her eyes, muttering something under her breath. You can't help but smirk as she stalks off, her flats making little noise on the polished floor. Your ego inflates just a little—you’ve been here less than five minutes and already established that you won’t be pushed around.
You head toward your assigned desk, navigating the sea of cubicles, and spot Stacy sitting quietly at her own workstation. You’ve heard about her—how she’s been stuck in the same dead-end position for decades. She’s like a shadow in the office, always fading into the background, never asserting herself. Something about her meekness annoys you.
"Morning, Stacy," you greet her, not even bothering to hide the condescending tone in your voice. "Still here, huh? Must be nice to have zero ambition."
She looks up from her keyboard, eyes wide and startled, but she doesn’t say anything. Her lips tremble slightly as if she wants to defend herself but doesn’t know how. Instead, she just nods, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.
You shrug and move on, feeling a twinge of satisfaction. You’re not here to make friends, after all. You’re here to climb, and if it means stepping on people like Stacy, then so be it.
As you settle into your chair, you catch a glimpse of Jess and Amber walking past. They’re laughing about something, their voices a little too loud, a little too smug. You already know their type—office bullies who think they’re hot shit because they have the Boss’s favor. They glance in your direction, their snickering suddenly stopping as they size you up.
“Hey, new guy,” Jess calls out, her voice dripping with fake sweetness. “Ready to do all the grunt work around here?”
Amber chuckles beside her, flashing you a grin as if she's waiting for you to grovel.
You don’t even hesitate. "Funny coming from someone who’s been doing nothing but kissing ass to stay relevant," you fire back, your tone casual but the insult clear.
Jess’s expression falters for a moment, and Amber shifts uncomfortably. They clearly weren’t expecting you to fight back. You give them a dismissive wave and turn back to your computer, feeling their eyes boring into the back of your head.
"Enjoy your little power trip while it lasts," you mutter under your breath.
Later that afternoon, you’re summoned to the manager’s office—Scarlett’s domain. You’ve heard a lot about her, how she’s risen through the ranks at lightning speed, leaving a trail of discarded egos in her wake. As you approach her door, you can already feel the shift in the atmosphere. The air is thick with tension and authority.
You knock, and her deep, commanding voice beckons you in.
Scarlett is seated behind her desk, her long legs crossed elegantly as she towers over you—even sitting down. She doesn’t bother standing when you enter. Her curly hair cascades over her shoulders, and those piercing eyes of hers study you intently, as if she’s already dissecting every weakness you have.
“Welcome to DMS Logistics,” she says, her voice as smooth as silk but with an unmistakable edge. “I trust you’re settling in well?”
"Yeah," you reply, trying to sound confident despite the growing knot in your stomach. "Seems like a good place to be if you want to succeed. Though, I imagine it's not easy for everyone here."
Her eyebrow arches slightly. "And what makes you say that?"
You give a careless shrug, leaning back in your chair like you own the place. "It’s just obvious, isn’t it? Some people here are just… well, not cut out for the job. It’s a little sad, really."
Scarlett’s lips twitch into a small smile, but there’s no warmth in it. “Is that so?” she says softly. “And I take it you think you’re cut out for it?”
"I know I am," you say boldly, meeting her gaze without flinching.
She leans forward, her eyes locking onto yours. "Let’s hope for your sake you can prove that."
You swallow hard but keep your facade intact. You stand up, dismissing yourself before she can say anything else. As you leave her office, you can feel the weight of her stare burning into your back.
It’s only your first day, and already you’ve made it clear—you’re not here to be anyone’s plaything. You’ll do whatever it takes to survive and rise. But as you walk through the office again, passing by the smirking Olivia, the silent Stacy, and the icy stares of Jess and Amber, you can't shake the feeling that you’ve just painted a target on your back.
Whatever comes next, you’ll deal with it. You’ve set the tone.
But deep down, part of you wonders… how long can you keep this up before they all come crashing down on you?
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