Chapter 5 - The Corporate Viper
Not everyone in Meridian Tower was thrilled by Bailey’s sudden, meteoric rise from the cleaning staff to the executive suites.
Victoria Sterling, the Vice President of Corporate Operations—a woman whose tailored Chanel suits cost more than a modest car and whose ambition was as sharp as a razor blade—did not appreciate an ex-janitor occupying a mahogany-lined office on the forty-fourth floor.
It was Thursday afternoon, exactly two weeks after Bailey had stepped into her new role. She was reviewing safety compliance logs in her bright, sunlit office when the door swung open without a knock.
Victoria stood in the doorway, her arms crossed, a cold, venomous smile curling her painted lips.
“Well, well,” Victoria purred, stepping into the room and running a disdainful eye over Bailey’s simple, professional blazer and slacks. “The cleaning fairy has finally traded her mop for a desk. Tell me, Miss Montgomery, did you have to scrub Mr. Bennett’s floors on your knees to secure this position, or did your charm work better in private?”
Bailey didn’t flinch. She closed her folder, stood up slowly from her desk, and met Victoria’s gaze with the steady, unyielding calm she had learned while managing emergency rooms and surviving poverty.
“If you have a question about the new emergency evacuation protocols, Mrs. Sterling, I’d be happy to schedule a formal briefing,” Bailey replied evenly, her voice entirely devoid of fear. “If you’re here to question my professional qualifications, I suggest you take it up with Mr. Bennett’s legal counsel. They drafted the appointment papers.”
May you like
Victoria’s smile vanished, replaced by a flash of pure, unadulterated hatred. “Don’t get comfortable, little girl. Men like Lucas Bennett collect stray pets when they’re feeling charitable, but they drown them when they become a nuisance. You won’t last six months in this tower.”
“We’ll see about that,” Bailey said smoothly, walking past her to open the office door. “Have a wonderful afternoon, Victoria.”
