by said as she saw me scavenging

wry smile cut on my li

Is there a way I can help?" I have noticed you always end up doing most

all good, Derby. I'm sure they see how much of an

uying my forced optimism. "So what got you so worked up now?

ts approved. It's just so frustrating." I complained as I sat on

aced a gentle hand on my shoulder and

thout explanation. There is always that mounting pressure to prove to everyone that I am just as good as anyone else here. Sometimes it gets too much to handle. I feel like I am a

rth shouldn't be measured by external validation. You're stron

inside, with nobody to pour my heart to. I'm glad you checked on

an ear to vent to and a shoulder to cry o

ne without you?" I te

anything, Mia strode in, h

boss's attention," she said he

the mood for your

ticed Derby, her face

godforsaken place and when did both of yo

hi to a colleague and I don't see how that's a pr

ssing her arms

dy is warming up t

sed to mean?" I managed to

naïve, Mia sneered. "We both know the real

ason would t

on't play innocent with me. I see beneath all this.

tain my calm. "Mia, I'm not sure w

terness. "You're using this project to get close to him, and you're not even t

were all making jokes about his looks the day he came in never thou

ll you said isn't true, Mia. I have been working my a

telligence. You can fool him or even Derby about being too good bu

aid enough. If you have any genuine concern about her work ethics then tak

p the drama going. However, she eventually let out a frus

ension in my shoulders somehow f

need to learn to stand up for yourself and you don't owe anybody who i

beep on my notification sig

my office by 8 am.

," I r

ed all night, my night racing with a million different scenarios of how this me

Alex's office praying and hoping he would finall

ted anxiously shifting my weight from one foot to the other,

t Alex finally came in, h

I greeted, putting on the be

he replied. Come in

ling annoyed. "Why would he tell me to be here at 8 am if h

nocked on the door. "C

pped the bombshell "I have decided to g

ou said it wasn't good enough. You made me work day and night on thi

'm very much aware of what I am saying to yo

just turn around and say this? I felt like screaming, but I couldn't bring myself to speak

" I asked, lifting t

ling with anger. "Say something damn it" I screamed in my head but I didn't get any r

or the first review so we will be going to them.