When our CEO made his marriage public, my colleague, Theia Briar, shamelessly flaunted her diamond ring in everyone's witness, declaring herself as the CEO’s wife.
As the news rippled through the crowd, they flooded her with compliments and cheers, causing Theia to begin to believe her deception.
In an attempt to take vengeance on me for turning down to play her social games, she stole my project proposal.
Before I could catch my breath, I found myself accused of plagiarism, enduring harsh criticism from my colleagues.
Despite my attempts to clarify the situation, my coworkers, eager to curry favor with the self-proclaimed CEO’s wife, began to twist their statements against me.
Theia taunted me, saying, "Seren, I have a lot of witnesses. If you’re so clever, go ahead and find just one to back you up!"
Just as I stood there, at a loss for words, the CEO walked in, a deep frown shadowing his brow.
"I saw Seren create this proposal myself. Does my testimony carry enough weight?”
Only then did everyone finally understand who the true CEO's wife was.
…
1
“Seren Sage!” My colleague, Theia Briar, exclaimed, her finger jabbing in my direction. “Have you no shame? Just yesterday, the CEO made a public announcement about his marriage, and today, you’re showing off that simple ring, trying to pass yourself off as his wife. Are you attempting to make us believe in your fabrications?”
It was still early at the office, and I was a little dazed, struggling to grasp the meaning behind her words.
But Theia's fury intensified as she continued, “Look at you, flaunting that gaudy ring from a discount shop, thinking you can fool the CEO! Have a little pride! Do you even grasp who the CEO is? Do you honestly believe he’d give you something like a cheap ring? Dream on!”
At last, her words sank in, and I rushed to clarify, but before I could utter a word, the people around us gasped in disbelief.
“Theia, is that a diamond or a sugar crystal in your finger? It's so huge!”
“Isn’t that the one I caught on the auction broadcast the other night?”
“Wait a minute, didn't the CEO announce his marriage yesterday? And now this breathtaking diamond appears today? Could it be…”
“No way, the CEO’s wife is standing right next to us!”
Right there and then, Theia put on an act of sudden realization; her eyes grew wide with surprise as if she had just discovered the sparkling ring on her finger.
She swept her gaze over the crowd with a satisfied smirk, then pretended to blush, shyly tucking her hand behind her back as if hiding a secret.
“I wanted to keep a low profile, but when she started showing off that cheap ring, trying to deceive my husband, it got under my skin,” Theia said, gritting her teeth. “So please, just pretend you didn’t see that ring and keep calling me Theia, not the CEO’s wife.”
The colleagues gasped, quickly siding with Theia, their faces mixed with disbelief and disdain.
They glared at me, accusing me of trying to deceive the CEO. All of them demanded I get rid of my cheap ring, threatening to teach me a lesson if I didn’t.
I furrowed my brow, frustration brewing inside me at their sudden turn against me.
I started to question if the civil affairs bureau I went to was on the level and whether the marriage certificate in my hand held any real weight.
No, that couldn't be right. Was Theia pretending to be me?
2
As the discussion spread like wildfire, growing louder with each passing second, department supervisor Leander Anderson finally emerged, a deep frown etched on his face.
“What’s all this commotion so early in the morning? Is this a company or a marketplace? Do you all want to keep your jobs?” he demanded.
Theia’s smile vanished in an instant. She hurried over to Leander, straightened up, her aura dripping with arrogance, and pointed at me.
“Leander,” Theia said, her voice dripping with arrogance, “I was just putting an employee in her place, reminding her not to entertain foolish thoughts about people she has no business with.”
Leander, looking perplexed, raised an eyebrow and asked, “What? When did you get a promotion? I didn’t know we needed you to discipline the employees. Should we just go ahead and make you the supervisor?”
But Theia remained unfazed. She casually waved her hand and said, “Oh, Leander, Seren is trying to pass herself off as me, claiming she’s the CEO’s wife. I wanted to keep my identity under wraps, but I can’t stand by while she impersonates me and fools everyone.”
At that moment, Leander’s brow furrowed in confusion, his mind racing at the mention of the CEO's wife.
His body shook like a leaf, but with everyone's eyes darted on him, he knew he had to maintain some dignity, even in this mess.
Instead, he shifted his annoyance in my direction, snapping, “Seren, toss that ridiculous ring aside immediately! Don’t ever let me see it on your finger again. Remember your place!”
I couldn’t help but roll my eyes, feeling a mix of annoyance and disbelief.
“I haven’t said a single word since this morning. How exactly am I pretending to be the CEO’s wife?” I shot back.
“This ring was given to me by my boyfriend back in high school. It may not look like much, but it holds great sentimental value,” I added, hoping to make my point clear.
Theia’s cheeks flushed with indignation.
“You’re lying! You just started wearing that ring today. All you’re doing is trying to pull the wool over everyone’s eyes!” Theia exclaimed, her voice rising in disbelief.
I casually pulled out a few photos and declared, “These are from a few years ago, and some from just a few months back. You can spot this ring in every single picture. Did I start scamming people ten years ago?”
My irritation seeped into my voice, making it less than gentle. After I finished speaking, I shot Theia with a disdainful glare.
Laughter bubbled up from somewhere in the office, making Theia’s cheeks burn a deeper shade of embarrassment.
3
Leander cleared his throat.
“Alright, everyone, it seems we have a misunderstanding here. Seren, I suggest you take a moment to apologize to Theia sincerely. Then we can consider this ring mess behind us. And as for that ring,” he added with a dismissive wave, “it’s best if you leave it at home. Have your boyfriend treat you to a diamond instead. If he can't afford it, why not buy one yourself? We pay you well enough; you shouldn’t feel the need to pinch pennies.”
Theia let out a sigh of relief, her tone dripping with sarcasm as she said, “Seren if this was all just a misunderstanding, why didn’t you clear the air sooner? Were you just waiting for me to embarrass myself on purpose?”
“I get it. You’ve got that sparkling diamond ring and a great husband, while I’m left with a simple band I’ve worn for over ten years. I can see why you might feel a twinge of envy,” she added. “But remember, everyone has their own path in life. Don’t let jealousy cloud your judgment about those who are better off.”
After hearing my words, the colleagues who had just laughed at Theia suddenly seemed to recall her status as the CEO’s wife. Their laughter faded, replaced by nods of agreement.
“Yeah, Seren, just apologize and put this behind you,” one colleague interjected, trying to smooth things over.
“Honestly, Theia has such a big heart. Don’t be ungrateful,” another added, admiringly glancing at Theia.
“If it was a misunderstanding, you should’ve spoken up sooner,” a third colleague pointed out. “Just look at how upset Theia got!”
I could sense the weight of pressure as the situation began to turn in their favor.
The entire situation seemed completely outrageous.
With nothing more than a cubic zirconia ring and a few backhanded comments, my colleagues eagerly turned their admiration toward Theia, leaving me to bear the brunt of their scorn. It struck me as more contrived than the most predictable movie script.
With a playful smirk, I declared, “Apologize? Not a chance. Let's take this to HR if you’re convinced of my guilt. I’ll gladly discuss it with the CEO if they side with you!”
Leander’s face flushed with embarrassment, frustration simmering just beneath the surface.
Just as he was about to unleash his fury, Theia interjected with a voice as cold as ice. “Let’s not create a scene. I won’t allow my first day of marriage to be tainted by this foolishness. We’ll sweep this under the rug. Now, everyone, resume your duties!”
Leander swallowed his words and awkwardly pointed at my desk, “Well, uh, stop causing drama every day and focus on your actual work. Get that project proposal done.”
4
And just like that, this ridiculous scene was brushed aside.
In the days that followed, Theia strutted around the office like royalty. Someone was always ready to fetch her water, while others took turns treating her to meals. She was living the dream.
As for me, I was cast aside like an unwanted object, ignored by my colleagues.
No one extended a hand of kindness, and gossip buzzed around the office like flies, speculating on when Theia was bound to scheme for my downfall, paving the way for my dismissal.
Watching them trip over themselves to please her was ridiculous, and it was hard not to laugh.
A thought crept in, wondering if when the mask finally slipped off Theia’s face, perhaps they would swallow their pride and regret all this shameless behavior.
A week later, Theia sauntered over, expression oozing with arrogance.
“You’ve finished that project proposal, haven’t you? Go ahead and hand it over; I’ll review it for you,” she asserted with arrogance.
I held her gaze without flinching. “I think I’ll pass,” I responded, arms crossed, firmly standing my ground.
It was the first time Theia had faced rejection in a week, and it struck a nerve.
However, after our last encounter, she must have recognized that intimidation wouldn't work on me.
With a hint of desperation, she adjusted her tone, attempting to weave warmth into her words.
“Seren, you don’t get the pressure that comes with being the CEO’s wife,” she said, her voice tinged with desperation. “My husband expects me to step up, but I’ve been so wrapped up with my in-laws lately that I haven’t had a moment to focus on a project proposal. Just hand yours over, please. I need something solid to show I’m more than a pretty face. You don’t have anything to prove, so I’m counting on you here, okay?”
As expected, my colleagues quickly flocked to Theia's side, speaking up without hesitation.
One of them piped up, “Remember who holds the purse strings. The fact that she’s reaching out shows she values your work. Don't be ungrateful.”
Another added, “Come on! A proposal from you won’t carry the same weight as one from her.”
“Quit being so stingy. Theia isn’t even upset with you. Just hand it over already. If she appreciated my proposal, I’d gladly let her have it,” one colleague interjected, eager to win favor.
Theia smirked and countered, “That’s right! Seren, just pass me your proposal, and I’ll have a word with my husband about getting you a raise and promotion. Sounds like a win-win, doesn’t it?”
5
“I see you lounging around at work every day, then hitting the shops after hours. When do you even have time to deal with your in-laws? When have you ever put in the effort to prove yourself?” I challenged Theia. “And let’s be real—you’re the CEO’s wife now. Why not kick back and enjoy the good life instead of making a fool of yourself like this?”
Then, I glanced at the crowd of curious colleagues surrounding us. “If you all have so much sympathy for Theia, why not contribute your proposals or collaborate with her to create a new one? Stop acting generous with someone else’s hard work.”
The colleagues squirmed in their seats, yet none dared to speak up.
With that, I powered down my computer and strode out of the office, leaving the tension hanging in the air behind me.
The next day, as I prepared for the project presentation, I smoothed my clothes and stepped forward, only for Theia to materialize out of thin air, cutting in front of me.
“Seren, I’d love to take the lead today,” she declared with a feigned sweetness. “You don’t mind, do you? Consider it an opportunity to save the best for last—a grand finale, if you will. You should thank me for this chance.”
Even as she spoke with a fake smile, Theia didn’t pause for a response before she plugged in her USB drive and launched her presentation. With every slide she clicked through, my frustration simmered, and my hands gradually balled into tight fists.
When she wrapped up, the meeting room burst into genuine applause—not just a show of flattery but a testament to the brilliance of her proposal.
Leander rose to his feet, clapping vigorously as he declared, “Just as I expected from Theia! This proposal is exceptional. We needn’t even look at the others, let’s move forward with this one!”
Theia flashed a disarming smile and said, “Oh, no, that wouldn’t be fair. Seren also put a lot of effort into her proposal, and we should consider it before rushing to a decision. I wouldn’t want you all jeopardizing the company just to butter me up.”
