Born to Rule, Destined to Destroy Novel 29

Chapter 29
The office buzzed with turned heads and hushed whispers, a wildfire of curiosity and judgment licking at Valeria’s heels. Miranda stood at the center of it all, her features carved with smug triumph, her confidence swelling like a tide ready to crash. Yet Valeria remained a still point amidst the storm, her calm demeanor an unshaken pillar, as if she were merely a spectator to the chaos swirling around her rather than its beating heart.
Miranda’s eyes narrowed, the absence of panic or shame on Valeria’s face stoking a sharp pang of disappointment. She pressed her assault, her voice a piercing blade dipped in venom. “Valeria, your gall is unbelievable! Your secrets are splayed out for all to see, and here you stand, bold as brass, acting like it’s nothing. If I were you, I’d be too humiliated to linger another second!”
Valeria’s response was a soft chuckle, a ripple of indifference threading through her tone. “Why shouldn’t I stay?” she mused aloud, her words light yet edged with steel. “I’ve no need to justify myself—especially not to you. I’m curious to hear what other fables you’ll weave next. Let’s clear the air: your accusations are groundless. First, I’m already divorcing Dominic. Second, there’s nothing untoward between me and the man you’re fixated on. Even if there were a shred of truth to your wild guesses, it’s my business—beyond even my soon-to-be ex’s grasp. What right do you have to play judge? You’d do well to mind your own affairs instead of meddling in mine.”
Her clarity sliced through the room, sparking a murmur of support from the crowd. “Exactly!” a voice piped up, emboldened by Valeria’s steady resolve. “If she’s telling the truth, what’s it to Miranda? Why’s she sticking her nose where it doesn’t belong?”
The words struck Miranda like a lash, igniting a furious blush across her cheeks, her rage flaring hot and bright. “You!” she spat, her voice trembling with indignation. “Fine, wiggle out of that if you can—but what about your lies? You swaggered in claiming ties to Starbright’s vice president, but it’s all smoke! You exploited that fake connection to slither into this company. You don’t belong here!”
Valeria paused, the timing a jagged thorn in her side. Revealing her bond with Diego now, before this gawking throng, risked unraveling her carefully laid plans. The brief hesitation fanned Miranda’s confidence, her sneer deepening as she pounced. “Humph, tongue-tied now, are you?” she taunted, her scorn a bitter drip. “I can’t dictate your personal mess, but your deceit taints Starbright’s honor. There’s no room here for a lying wretch like you. You’re fired—effective immediately!”
Valeria’s brow creased, impatience threading through her voice. “You don’t have the power to sack me without senior management’s nod.”
“I’ll take it to the execs tomorrow,” Miranda shot back, her stance rigid with unyielding resolve. “Kicking you out benefits the company—they won’t fault me for it.” In her mind’s eye, she saw herself toasting the victory with Adriana, who’d revel in Valeria’s downfall. The thought fueled her, a wicked spark driving her next move. “Security! Security!” she bellowed, her voice cutting through the office like a whip.
Within moments, uniformed guards converged, their heavy steps echoing a reluctant authority. Miranda pointed with a decisive flourish. “Get this lying bitch out of here before I lose my last shred of patience!”
The guards exchanged wary glances, unease flickering in their eyes. Company rules bound them tight—ejecting an employee without protocol was a line they rarely crossed. Yet Miranda’s seniority loomed large, her oft-touted ties to Adriana, soon-to-be mistress of the Barnett Group, a shadow they couldn’t defy. After a tense beat, jaws clenched, they edged toward Valeria.
Miranda folded her arms, her lips curling into a sneer as she savored the vision of Valeria’s humiliating exit. But just as the guards closed in, a distant hum stalled their advance—the elevator’s soft chime, its doors parting to reveal a courier, breathless and hurried. He froze at the sight of the assembled crowd, then called out, “Excuse me—is Valeria Gordon here? I’ve got a package needing her signature, urgent!”
Heads swiveled, the mention of Valeria’s name a jolt through the throng. Miranda’s scowl deepened, her voice snapping like a brittle twig. “Can’t you see we’re in the middle of something? That package can wait!”
The courier blinked, rattled by her sharpness, but his brow furrowed as he stood his ground. “Ma’am, this is a critical, confidential document from the Five-Star Building,” he said, his tone firm despite the tremor beneath it. “It requires Valeria’s signature—directly. If it’s delayed because of you, you’ll be the one answering for the fallout.”
A hush swept the room, his words a thunderclap that left the air thick with tension. The Five-Star Building’s name hung like a specter, its weight silencing the whispers as all eyes turned to Valeria, the calm at the storm’s heart.