Chapter 2 The Power Play

The Power Play

That very Monday morning, I woke up very early; it was a big day for me. I knew that I had to make an impression, and I couldn't afford to be known as the lady who started work on her first day late. That would be a bad impression. So, I rushed into the shower and washed up right, and then I went into my wardrobe and handpicked the best clothes and shoes that I had. After dressing, I stood before the mirror and bled out a satisfying smile. I knew that I was good to go. "Dad, the journey had just begun," I said as I took to my heels, walking like an assassin on a mission. I entered the corporate jungle, and I noticed that it was a world unlike any I had ever known. The office was sleek and modern, with gleaming glass walls and polished floors. Everywhere was like a mirror; I could see myself through the far corners of the hall, the walls, the floor, and even the ceiling. This was indeed a place of power, and every person inside was determined to climb the ladder to success. It was like a gladiator arena, where all the people in it, both men and women, were the gladiators, ready to kill anyone for the price of success. Looking at the place and the people on it, I somehow felt this sense of inferiority, but being the tigress I had always been, I quickly swept that feeling of weakness off. I walked through the halls, surrounded by men and women in expensive suits and designer shoes. I realised that everyone here moved with purpose; no one moved because they felt like it; they all had one significant reason or another. The sound of high heels was consistently clicking against the floor, and the murmur of voices was constant in the air. There was a tension that hung over the office, a palpable feeling of ambition and competition. Everyone seemed to compete with each other; it was conspicuously shown on their faces and their countenance.  I walked directly into my office and sat on my desk, which had been prepared for me even before I had arrived. As I sat on my desk, my eyes kept scanning the room. I watched as the monster Nathan strode in, his tailored suit emphasizing his broad shoulders and chiselled jaw. Hmm, he was quite handsome, but there was something about him that often swayed me whenever I set my eyes on him, almost making me forget that I had a plan. He exuded power, commanding the attention of everyone in the room. I wouldn't lie, and I must confess that I somehow felt his authority getting on me, but I tried as much as I could to never let him truly conquer me; my respect for and fear for him must only be a facade and not a real one. And I have this special weakness for men with authority, and he was the definition of everything I needed in a man. He carried himself with so much pride. "What a proud fool, wait till I am done with you," I thought to myself. As the days passed, I navigated the politics of the office, learning how to play the game. I knew that I was not equal to the competitors I met at the office. And like my father will always say, "Realising your weakness is not a sign of weakness; it is only strong people who could, because they need to know the part which they are not good at so that they can work on them and become better."  So, I tried my best to learn more, including more about politics and even how to do some of the jobs; I won't lie, and I don't regret it, but I had to use a couple of weak staffers whom I could find, most of whom were males. As time went on, I listened to the whispered conversations in the break room, gathering information about Nathan's wrongdoings. I smiled and nodded at my coworkers, all the while plotting my next move. I was sleek about it; no one ever suspected what I was up to. I was always at the meetings with Nathan, so, in the meetings, I watched and relished the feeling I got when the executives sparred with each other; they were very formal with their combats; no one threw their first; it was a war of words; their words were sharp and calculated, always hitting their target with a strain velocity, like a dart thrown by a professional. It was indeed a dance of power, with each person vying for the upper hand. Well, I found myself drawn into the world of the office, my very own hunger for success fueling my drive. And one other thing that made me suspect that I might be falling for the enemy was the fact that I now enjoyed his company; even though I know that he must taunt me, I will still want to spend my time around him, looking at his sexy body, which housed a bag of an arrogant bastard. I knew I had to get to the highest point if I were to achieve my goal. So, I followed in the footsteps of the ones I was already perfecting in the field, and I worked long hours, poring over spreadsheets and memos, with my mind constantly throbbing with ideas, which even Nathan saw as impressive. But as I dove deeper into the world of the office, I began to see the cracks. The ruthless pursuit of power had led to a cutthroat environment where backstabbing and betrayal were the norm. No one really cared for anyone here; the people in this jungle called office only cared about their selfish gain, and this is what I now found myself in. I realised that I didn't want to be like them. I didn't want to play the game at the cost of my own integrity. But I was in too deep, and I knew that there was no going back. The office was a world of power, but it was also a world of secrets. I knew that Nathan had a dark side—just what I wanted to know—and I was determined to expose him. But I wished that I knew exactly what I was getting myself into. As I dove deeper, I realized that the price of vengeance was higher than I ever could have imagined. It now seemed to be more than I bargained for. But there was certainly no going back; I must avenge my father. Nathan has to pay. He must pay for what he made my father go through.