Born to Rule, Destined to Destroy Novel 27

Chapter 27
The week blurred past in a relentless flurry, and before Valeria could catch her breath, Friday dawned. At precisely eight, she stepped into the office, her punctuality a quiet defiance against the chaos Miranda had woven around her. Miranda lounged in her chair with a languid air that teetered on insolence, cradling her coffee as if it were a scepter. Her eyes flicked to Valeria, a lazy gesture toward the computer accompanying her drawl. “Oh, you’re here? Check your email—I’ve sent today’s agenda.”
Valeria caught the glint of challenge in Miranda’s gaze, a barbed hook beneath the casual tone, but she let it slide past her like water off stone. She powered up her machine, and as expected, a formidable list of tasks unfurled on the screen—a towering stack of demands, many spilling far beyond an assistant’s remit. Miranda had been piling on since day one, each chore a calculated weight to test her breaking point. Yet Valeria remained unshaken, rolling up her sleeves with a silent resolve and plunging into the work, her focus a steady flame in the storm.
Miranda tilted her head, feigning a weary sigh, her voice grating with mock fatigue. “Oh, one more thing—I’m under the weather today. There’s a proposal due for next week’s meeting, my responsibility, but… could you take it off my hands? Make sure it’s done before you clock out.” The request dripped with insincerity, a trap wrapped in a plea.
Valeria met it with a calm nod, her tone even and unperturbed. “Of course. Just send me what you’ve started and the outline.”
Miranda’s lips curled into a sneer, her words sharp with derision. “Oh, please. With your credentials and that fancy hiring story, you need hand-holding? Just whip it up with those exceptional skills of yours.” The sarcasm bit deep, a taunt meant to rattle.
Valeria’s composure held firm, her lips pressing into a thin line as she turned her attention to the tasks. Miranda watched, a wave of smug satisfaction cresting within her. If she kept this up, Valeria would surely crack—resign in a huff, leaving Miranda to crow to Adriana and reap the spoils of her triumph. The thought fueled her, a wicked delight simmering beneath her poised exterior.
All day, Miranda drifted through the office corridors, her duties abandoned to idle daydreams while Valeria toiled. The colleagues had grown accustomed to Miranda’s games, their glances toward Valeria tinged with sympathy, yet none dared step into the fray. As five o’clock chimed, Valeria gathered her things, her movements signaling the day’s end.
But Miranda pounced, charging forward with a bellow that shattered the quiet. “Where the hell do you think you’re going? You’re not done—get back to work!” Her voice rang with a tyrant’s glee, eyes alight with the thrill of command.
Valeria turned, her shrug cool and dismissive, a quiet rebellion in her stance. “Who said I’m not done? Everything’s finished—including the proposal. I emailed it to you. Check it.”
“What?” Miranda’s face twisted in astonishment, her certainty crumbling like dry earth. She’d banked on the workload burying even a seasoned staffer past seven or eight. How could a novice like Valeria have conquered it already? She had to be bluffing.
Fingers trembling with anticipation, Miranda fired up her computer, her heart skipping as Valeria’s email glowed on the screen. Words failed her, shock rendering her mute. “May I go now?” Valeria asked, quirking an eyebrow, her tone a gentle prod.
Miranda grunted, irritation flaring as she avoided Valeria’s gaze, her eyes drilling into the proposal. She scoured it for flaws, desperate to unearth a misstep, but the document gleamed—flawless, surpassing even her own lofty standards. Confusion and suspicion knotted her features as she wheeled on Valeria. “You had help, didn’t you? How else could you churn out something this thorough so fast?”
Valeria’s smirk was subtle, a flicker of amusement dancing in her eyes. “It’s not that tough. A couple hours, max. Why would I need help? I wrapped it up by three and just coasted ‘til quitting time.”
The nonchalance stoked Miranda’s frustration to a blaze. She snapped, her voice a whip-crack of indignation. “If you were done by three, why didn’t you grab more work? Are we paying you to twiddle your thumbs?”
Valeria’s composure cracked into a faint, incredulous laugh, the absurdity of the accusation too rich to ignore. “Sorry, but you’re the one doling out my tasks. I followed your orders to the letter. If you think my plate’s too light, maybe that’s on your scheduling, not me. Look at your own decisions.”
The retort—bold, unyielding—caught Miranda off-guard, her words faltering as Valeria’s defiance rang out before the office. Colleagues froze, their breaths held, as Miranda regained her footing, her retort sharp and venomous. “Oh, the newbie’s schooling me now? Don’t think you’re off the hook tomorrow. Come in and work extra hours to make up for today!”
Valeria stood her ground, her voice steady as steel. “I disagree. I’ve hit every deadline you set. You’ve got no right to drag me in on Saturday.”
“Really?” Miranda sneered, crossing her arms with a defiant tilt. “Then I’ll tell management you’ve been slacking—push them to fire you!”
Valeria’s brow furrowed, irritation flickering in her eyes like a storm brewing. “Saturday’s not a legal workday. I’ve got critical commitments tomorrow—ones that could unravel things you can’t handle if I miss them.”
Miranda scoffed, her disdain a bitter lash. “Oh, come off it, Valeria! Enough with the excuses. What could possibly be that urgent? More important than your job?”