Flying off on vacation with her boss’s husband, the happy woman waited for him at the airport. Suddenly, a fortune teller touched her hand…

I know a lot, beautiful. But that’s not important now. What’s important is that you must return.

Otherwise, it will be too late. She stood up and, without another word, disappeared into the crowd. Emily remained sitting, stunned by this strange encounter.

How could the fortune teller know about her and Michael? And what danger awaited her? The phone vibrated. A message from Michael. Can’t come.

Victoria won’t let me go. Seems she really suspects something. Let’s postpone the trip.

Sorry, darling. Emily reread the message several times, not believing her eyes. Everything was falling apart.

The whole plan, all hopes. And then she remembered the fortune teller’s words. Return your ticket.

Go back to work and look in your office. Could it be that there was really something in the office she needed to know? What if Victoria didn’t just suspect but knew about her and Michael? Emily took a deep breath and made a decision. She stood up, grabbed her suitcase, and headed to the airport exit.

She could return the ticket through the app, but right now, the main thing was to find out what was going on. Catching a taxi, Emily gave the address of the business center where Apex Commerce Inc.’s office was located. The whole ride, she couldn’t shake the anxious feeling.

The fortune teller’s words echoed in her head like a warning, like a prophecy. When the taxi pulled up to the familiar building, Emily hesitated for a second. Maybe this was all nonsense? Maybe she shouldn’t believe a random fortune teller at the airport? But her intuition told her she was doing the right thing.

The security guard at the entrance raised his eyebrows in surprise when he saw Emily with her suitcase. Emily Carter? Aren’t you on vacation? Forgot some documents, she lied. Need to pick them up.

Oh, okay, the guard nodded. Go ahead. Emily took the elevator to the 12th floor, where her office was.

The office was quiet—Friday, many left early. She hoped not to run into Victoria. Explaining her sudden appearance in the office with a suitcase would be too complicated.

The door to her office was closed. Emily took out her key, opened the door, and froze on the threshold. At first glance, everything looked normal.

Desk by the window, computer, stack of papers she hadn’t sorted before vacation. But something was off. She felt it.

Carefully entering the office and closing the door behind her, Emily looked around more closely. And then she noticed it. On the ceiling, in the corner, almost invisible among the ventilation elements—a camera.

Small, black, pointed right at her workspace. Emily’s heart beat faster. Why was a camera installed in her office? And when did this happen? She approached the desk and turned on the computer.

While the system booted, Emily continued inspecting the office. Under the desk, she found a small device taped on. It was a bug, a listening device.

Oh my God, Emily murmured, feeling a shiver run through her body. Someone was watching her. Recording every word, every movement.

The computer booted, prompting for a password. Emily entered it with trembling fingers, but the system showed an error. Incorrect password.

She tried again, carefully checking each letter. Same result. Someone changed my password, Emily realized.

She felt panic rising in her throat. What’s going on? Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the door opening. Victoria Hayes stood in the doorway.

Tall, slender, with perfect hair and makeup, in a strict designer suit, she looked impeccable as always. But in her eyes, Emily saw something new. Something cold and dangerous.

Emily? Victoria’s voice sounded surprised, but Emily noticed the falseness in that surprise. What a surprise? I thought you were already on the plane. Emily felt her cheeks flush.

She didn’t know what to say. I. I had to come back. Problems with documents.

Is that so? Victoria entered the office and closed the door behind her. And I thought it was because of my husband. Emily froze.

Victoria knew. All this time, she knew. I don’t understand what you’re talking about, she tried to maintain composure.

Victoria laughed, but there was no hint of amusement in her laughter. Come on, Emily. I know everything.

About your affair with Michael, about your planned trip to the Bahamas. About all your meetings and conversations. She pointed to the camera in the corner.

Do you think I’m such a fool that I wouldn’t notice my own husband having an affair with my subordinate? I’ve been watching you for months. Every step, every word.

Emily felt the ground slip away again. All this time, they were in the palm of her hand. Everything she and Michael thought was their secret was actually known to Victoria.

Why? Was all Emily could squeeze out. Why? Victoria stepped closer. You’re asking why I spied on the woman sleeping with my husband.

No, Emily shook her head. Why did you let it continue? Why didn’t you fire me right away? Why didn’t you confront Michael? A strange smile appeared on Victoria’s face. Because I wanted you to go further.

I wanted you to feel safe, to believe in your cleverness. And then? She made a dramatic pause. Then I wanted to destroy you both.

Emily was numb. She opened her mouth to say something but couldn’t utter a word. You know what’s most interesting? Victoria continued, pacing the office.

You’re not the first. Michael has had flings with my employees before. But you turned out to be the most.

Persistent. Emily felt her insides clench. Michael never mentioned other women.

He assured her he’d never cheated on his wife before, that their love was special. I don’t believe it, she whispered. Of course you don’t, Victoria smirked.

None of you believe until you face the truth. Do you think you’re special to him? The only one? The one for whom he’ll leave me and start a new life? Emily was silent. That’s exactly what she thought.

That’s what she hoped for. Poor naive girl, Victoria shook her head. Michael will never leave me.

You know why? Because he’s a coward and because without me, he’s nothing. She approached Emily’s desk and sat on the edge. I made him.

When we met, he was nobody—a simple sales manager with a pitiful salary. I gave him connections, money, status. And he knows it well.

Emily felt nausea rising in her throat. Was everything Michael told her a lie? Were all his promises, all plans for the future just a way to get her into bed? If you knew everything, Emily said slowly, why didn’t you just fire me? Why install cameras and bugs in my office? Victoria smiled, and that smile sent a chill down Emily’s spine. Because it’s not just about your fling with my husband.

There’s something more important. She stood up and walked to the window, looking at the city below. Apex Commerce Inc. isn’t just a company, Emily.

It’s my life. I built it from scratch, turned it into a market leader. And I won’t let anyone threaten what I’ve created.

Even if that someone is my own husband. Emily frowned, not understanding where Victoria was going. I didn’t threaten your company.

I just fell in love with your husband. Victoria interrupted her. Maybe.

But you also got access to financial documents you shouldn’t have seen. Emily remembered how a few months ago Michael asked her to check some reports. He said Victoria was too busy and assigned it to him.

But he doesn’t understand finances. Emily didn’t think much of it then—after all, he was the director’s husband and had the right to request such documents.

«Those reports?» she asked. But there was nothing special there. Ordinary financial summaries.

Not quite, Victoria turned to her. «You didn’t notice the discrepancies? Numbers that don’t add up?» Emily tried to recall. The reports were voluminous, dozens of pages with tables and charts.

She skimmed them, not delving into details. «No, I…» «It seemed everything was fine. Luckily for me,» Victoria nodded.

Otherwise, we’d be having a very different conversation. She approached Emily closely. «Listen to me carefully.

You’re going to pack your things and leave. Forever. I won’t sue you for stealing commercial information.

I won’t ruin your reputation by telling everyone how you slept with your boss’s husband. I’ll just let you disappear from my life.» Emily felt a wave of anger rising inside her.

All these threats—all this intimidation. She didn’t deserve such treatment. «And if I don’t leave?» she asked quietly.

«If I decide to stay and fight?» Victoria laughed, but her eyes remained cold. «Fight? With whom? With me?» «You have no chance, Emily. I’ll crush you like a bug.»

She pulled out her phone from her pocket and showed Emily the screen. It was a video. Of Emily and Michael kissing in her office.

«I have hundreds of such recordings,» Victoria said. «Every meeting, every conversation. I can destroy you both if I want.»

Emily stared at the screen, unable to look away. They really were in the palm of her hand all this time. «What about Michael?» she asked.

«Will you kick him out of your life too?» «Michael?» Victoria put away the phone. «No, I’ll handle him differently. He’ll stay with me.

Because without me, he’s nothing.» She headed to the door but stopped at the threshold. «You have an hour to pack your things and leave the office.

After that, security will be instructed not to let you into the building. And yes, don’t try to contact Michael. He won’t answer your calls anymore.»

Victoria left, leaving Emily alone in the office turned into a surveillance center. Emily sank into the chair, feeling tears welling up in her eyes. Everything collapsed…