ke

ain course of humiliation was served an hour later, piped di

n the phone rang, its shrill cry cutting through the

rred with malice. It was Jaden. She must have gotten m

pantry machine uses pods, not fresh grounds. I'm trying to

er Americano. That means two shots of espresso, hot water poured over it-not the other way around, do you understand? The

he wasn' t just asking for coffee

added, her voice droppi

ng up before she could add

The elevator ride was a slow torture, each ding of a passing floor amplifying the pressure. The machine was a gleamin

o shots to pull, my phone buzzed

? Jaden seems a

oat. A little on edge? She was on a warpath, and he was

way, started ringing again. The sound was frantic, insistent. I grabbed the mug as

as staring at me. The ringing

e you been? Are you incompetent? I asked for a simple coffee

p," I said, my voice tight with forc

te my constitution is? The acidity is probably all wrong now because it sat for

e a mixture of pity, disgust, and a healthy dose of fear. This was their da

t the sheer absurdity of it all. "I assure you, Ms. Juarez

mug in hand. But she was faster. She met me in the

coffee sloshed over the rim, scalding my skin. I cried out,

bbed it. She took a theatrical sip, then made a face of utter

already turning an angry red. There wa

without hurting yourself. I'm going to have a word with Connor.

ter. My fingers curled into a fist. Every instinct screamed at me to wipe that smug

e, do

my arm, his eyes wide with terror. He physically p

d, his voice placating. "She's new. It

begging. It was h

lake. For God's sake, let it go. She will get you fired. She will get us all fired." He e

low, triumphant smile spread across her lips. She had won. She had

ipping with condescension. "Si

to the assembled, captive audience of developers. "This place feels a bit stuffy. I think I'll take a little to

ndreds of employees. It was a place with strict health and safety pr

steely, "the cafeteria is a restricte

my arm again, a silent, desp

sure Connor won't mind. After all," she added, her eyes locking

of a threat. She wasn't just a friend of the CEO

rk whispered frantically in my ear. "Just because she d

I had made. We were supposed to be building a company on respect and integrity

breaking glass. "Cat got you

ing with smug victory. "Let's see wha

a trail of stunned silence and the f

ed over her shoulder, a final, parting