Routine.
Something that kept Leo grounded, stable. She got up at 6 a.m. like clockwork, making breakfast from the ingredients she’d prepped the weekend before, each Tupperware labeled by day. Dressed in her work attire, she checked her reflection in the mirror by the entrance—a calm, composed face stared back. She drew in a steady breath and left.
Paul was still asleep, one of those lucky bastards with “flexible” hours. On the metro, she barely hung on as the rush-hour crowd pressed in. By the time she got out, she was gasping for space, lungs straining to catch up.
Just a few months, she reminded herself. I’ll get that promotion to risk management and leave this hellhole behind.
Her office loomed above her, a skyscraper where each floor measured a department’s worth—the higher the floor, the heavier the responsibility. Josh, the lift guard, pressed twelve for her. She nodded a thanks, offered him the smallest of smiles.
At her desk, she adjusted her reading glasses and rechecked the documents for her presentation. This was it—her chance to prove herself, to get free of Steven’s thumb.
Time blurred until the presentation slot arrived. Gathering her laptop and papers, she joined her colleagues heading for the conference room.
She’d just opened her slides when the door slammed. Steven strolled in, smirk in place, and dropped himself into the chair near the manager’s spot, smug as ever. Leo’s pulse spiked, but she forced a breath, nails biting into the paper in her hand.
The manager entered with an HR rep, greetings exchanged with Steven before they turned to her. Another breath, then Leo began.
She spoke clearly, concisely—laying out the trends, their significance, the risks. With each slide her confidence built, her rhythm steady.
Her coworkers leaned in, nodding when data confirmed what they already knew. The manager took notes, listening closely, jotting questions for later.
Steven, meanwhile, inspected his fingernails. Then came the loud, deliberate yawn. The room froze. Slowly—like a caricature villain—he turned his chair toward her.
“Is this the best you can offer, Ms. Black?” he purred.
Leo’s blood surged hot. “This presentation is the result of four weeks of work and analysis, Mr. Levathon. We’ve used top-grade computing algorithms, quadruple-checked the logic for errors. Could you clarify what exactly you believe is flawed, so we can address it?”
Her voice stayed cool. She would not give him the satisfaction of cracking.
Steven reclined, settling in. “If you can’t even spot the problem yourself, are you fit to lead a team? I didn’t know Pearl Corp had such poor taste in its managers. Tsk, tsk.”
Around the table, chairs shifted, eyes darted. Uneasy glances passed, but no one spoke. The manager and HR rep stayed quiet, while Steven smirked, convinced he had her cornered.
Leo forced a smile, even as her hands itched to break her laptop over his head. “Since this presentation hasn’t met your standards, we’ll have it redone and updated to ensure there are no errors.”
Steven leaned in, mock sympathy dripping. “And waste company funds? Money is time, darling. This is why women shouldn’t take on work meant for men. Mr. Sterling, don’t you agree?”
The manager cleared his throat. “Of course, Mr. Baltimore. I understand the sentiment.”
“Then let’s wrap this up. Unlike you, Ms. Black, we actually have work to do.” Steven rose, smirk fixed, strutting out as though he mattered.
“Don’t take it to heart,” the manager said, patting Leo’s shoulder with condescension. “He has powers beyond your reach.”
He left, the HR rep trailing behind, leaving Leo with her colleagues.
Whispers erupted, gossip swirling about Steven’s behavior. The conference room buzzed like a hive.
Mila, Leo’s one friend from risk management, approached gently. She found Leo still staring at her laptop, frozen in place.
“You okay?” she asked softly.
“Yeah. I’m fine.”
The mask snapped back into place. She packed her things with brisk efficiency, redirecting her team to work.
Inside, she compressed every raw emotion into a tight, hidden knot. Around her, the gossip spread like wildfire, but Leo shut it out.
Numbers, logic, code—those were safe. Those never lied.
YOU ARE READING
Bound by Variables
RomanceLeonia and William? Yeah, they don't exactly get along. She thinks he's an arrogant show-off. He thinks she's allergic to fun. Basically: oil, meet water. But then life decides to throw in office drama, family meddling, and-oh yeah-marriage papers. ...
