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.”

6

After hearing her, Leander shot me a skeptical look and remarked, “What kind of solid proposal could she possibly come up with? Theia, you’re far too generous, but sometimes reality isn’t kind.”

Theia, clearly enjoying the moment, retorted, “You can’t dismiss her like that. Seren is more than capable. I genuinely want to see her proposal. Even if it’s not our top choice, it could serve as a valuable backup.”

Leander nodded eagerly, his tone dripping with insincerity as he turned to me. “Didn’t you catch what Theia said? Get a move on and present your proposal. Do we have to beg you?”

He smirked, "Just look at how gracious Theia is. She doesn’t even hold your past blunders against you. Having a colleague like her, or should I say, the boss’s wife, is a real blessing for you.”

I chuckled, the sound as cold as ice, and met Leander's gaze without moving an inch.

"You’ve already praised my proposal," I replied, my voice laced with quiet confidence. "You just didn’t know it was mine."

Leander's brow furrowed in confusion. "What’s that supposed to mean?" he shot back, the irritation growing in his tone.

I gestured toward the screen, my voice steady as I declared, “That’s my proposal. Yesterday, Theia asked for it, and when I refused, she took it for herself and presented it today without a second thought.”

In an instant, Theia’s eyes filled with tears. She feigned a pitiful sob, her voice quivering as she said, “Seren, I know I misjudged you about the ring last time, but fabricating stories isn’t fair! I poured my heart into this proposal last night. Everyone here can back me up on that. If you don’t believe me, just ask them.”

The colleagues nodded in unison, their expressions betraying nothing as they blatantly laid out their lies. One interjected, “Absolutely, we all witnessed it.”

Another added, “You clearly dropped the ball on this one. You’ve been coasting through work every day, and now you’re trying to pin it on someone else.”

A third voice piped up with a smirk, “You’re just hooked on winning after what happened last time, aren’t you?”

As the mocking persisted, the unmistakable voice of my husband, CEO Dorian Solstice, burst through the door, carrying an air of authority. “What’s happening here? Why is there such an uproar?”

7

I gave Dorian a subtle smile, an unspoken assurance that I could manage this situation on my own. Just as I prepared to speak, Leander dashed over, his voice a mix of urgency and indignation.

“President Solstice! I’m Leander Anderson, head of the planning department,” he exclaimed, hands waving in the thin air. “You won’t believe what’s happening here. Seren is accusing your wife, Theia, of stealing her proposal, but the truth is, it’s the other way around! She took it from Theia!”

Theia lingered to the side, her eyes shimmering with fabricated tears as she nodded with exaggerated solemnity.

“Absolutely, that’s what transpired,” she proclaimed, her voice trembling. “While I believe that misunderstandings among colleagues can be cleared up, plagiarism crosses a line that simply cannot be tolerated.”

“Plagiarism?” Dorian’s brow furrowed as he shot me a knowing glance, fully aware that this was nothing more than a baseless accusation. He had been by my side every step of the way while I crafted that proposal. I had not only the content to back me up but also a willing witness if the situation called for it.

Theia tossed her hair back. “Yes, that’s precisely it,” she declared as if her confidence could turn falsehoods into truth.

But Dorian remained focused on me, his gaze steady.

“Seren, is there any truth to this? Did you plagiarize?” He asked, his voice firm yet gentle, seeking the truth beneath the chaos.

Shaking my head, I cleared my name out of their baseless claims, “No, Mr. Solstice. This proposal is entirely my work, and the proof lies right there. My name is on the final slide. It seems someone was so eager to claim my work that they forgot to change the last image.”

Theia's expression twisted into a guise of false innocence as she quickly regained her composure.

“Is that really what you’re hanging your hat on?” She said, dripping with pretend concern. “The template was something you shared with me—the welcome slide at the beginning and the thank-you slide at the end were yours. But the content in between? That’s all mine. I have a whole chorus of colleagues ready to back me up. So tell me, what good does that single slide do for you? If you’re truly as capable as you claim, perhaps you should find your own witness.”

Dorian said with a knowing smirk, clearly amused by the situation. “I wonder if I’d be enough of a witness?”