The morning started later than usual for Mary. All night, her mind was tangled in Nicholas's double-sided behavior and Diana's confrontation with Ava. The whirlwind of thoughts and conflicting emotions had kept her from sleeping. When she glanced at the clock and realized it was already past nine, her heart sank. She jumped out of bed, got ready at record speed, and rushed to the office.
She hadn't even reached her desk when Mr. Connor's voice called from his office: — "Mary! Can you come in here for a moment?"
Her heart sank further. Taking a deep breath, she walked toward the office. Before entering, she paused in the doorway, kept her eyes on the floor, and said: — "Good morning, Mr. Connor. I'm sorry for being late… I couldn't sleep last night and overslept."
But Connor, looking serious, gestured toward the corner of the room. Mary looked up—and froze at the sight of Rachel's uncle—Mr. Richard. Instantly, she straightened up and stepped in more formally.
Mr. Connor spoke calmly: — "It's okay. Come in and have a seat. Mr. Richard wanted to speak with you in person."
Mary forced a polite smile, greeted him, and sat across from Richard.
With his usual mysterious air of disdain, Richard said: — "I'm here on behalf of the holding company for a project. I thought I'd take the chance to meet you in person. Rachel has spoken highly of you."
Mary replied in a neutral, courteous tone: — "Ms. Rachel has always been kind to me."
Richard glanced briefly at Connor before continuing: — "Although… after the holding selected you for the southern province assignment and everything suddenly changed, I'd say you've received kindness from others too."
His sarcasm was obvious. Mary pressed her lips together, but calmly responded: — "Not going to the southern province turned out to be lucky for me. I was tied to another project that didn't allow me to leave the city."
Richard raised an eyebrow: — "So, you don't know Mr. James personally?"
Mary, aware that Deniz didn't want their connection to James revealed, answered calmly: — "No, I just know he works for the holding."
Richard gave a cryptic smile, then shifted the topic: — "Anyway. I wanted to ask you to accompany Rachel on a new assignment."
Mary frowned in confusion: — "What kind of assignment?"
— "Rachel is being sent on an important mission by the holding. I requested someone to accompany her to help things move faster."
Mary glanced between Richard and Connor. — "I don't think I'm the right person for that… As I said, I'm currently committed to another project and can't leave the city."
Connor nodded gently: — "That's true. Mary has a packed schedule for at least a month."
Richard, still calm but now firm, said: — "I'm sorry. I wasn't aware of that. But your name has already been submitted and approved. You have to go."
Mary, struggling to contain her frustration, said: — "But I already told Ms. Rachel I couldn't go. I don't understand why you're insisting. With all due respect, I decline the request."
Connor, sensing the rising tension, intervened: — "Mary, please… stay calm."
He turned to Richard: — "I believe Ms. Anisa is a better fit. She has direct experience with project coordination and her presence would benefit the holding."
Mary nodded with hopeful eyes: — "Exactly. She's a better choice."
But Richard replied coldly: — "The decision is already finalized with the holding."
Mary stood up angrily: — "Without even asking my opinion?!"
— "This is not an opportunity one declines. Your opinion wasn't necessary."
Mary opened her mouth to respond, but Connor quickly interrupted: — "Mary, please return to your desk. We'll discuss this later."
Mary looked at him. Connor gave her a gentle look that clearly meant now wasn't the time to fight. Without another word, she walked back to her desk, heart pounding. From a distance, Rachel watched her with a smug grin. Mary opened her bag, pulled out her phone, and called Deniz.
— "Hello, Deniz?"
Deniz's cheerful voice answered: — "Hey Mary! Miss me already? I haven't even arrived yet. Should I turn back?"
Mary, her voice heavy, said: — "I wish you were here… I'm really upset today."
— "What happened? Something wrong?"
Mary glanced at Rachel, who was subtly watching her. Lowering her voice, she said: — "Hold on a second. I can't talk here."
She got up and stepped out onto the balcony. — "Deniz… you won't believe it. Rachel won't leave me alone. It's like she's trying to destroy my life."
— "What now?"
— "Her uncle came to the company. He wants me to go on an assignment with Rachel. He submitted my name without even asking me—it's already approved!"
— "What?! Without asking you? Mary, do you want me to talk to James? Maybe he can fix this."
— "No! We can't let him get suspicious. If James gets involved, your relationship will be exposed and Rachel will ruin everything."
— "I don't care. Let her find out!"
— "No, Deniz. You don't understand how toxic she is. She might already be retaliating for what I did to bring you back… We have to stay away from her."
— "But what are you going to do?"
— "I don't know. Mr. Connor stopped me from speaking up. I have to figure something out."
— "I get it. If you had pushed back, they might've fired you."
— "Even now, I don't know what's going to happen to me. But this time, I'm not giving up on my dreams… I might leave this company."
— "Wait, Mary. You're angry right now. Don't make a hasty decision. Rest a little, then think about it."
— "Okay… Sorry for bothering you. Please don't say anything to James."
— "You can count on me. Take care of yourself."
Mary ended the call. Hours later, as the workday ended and she was about to leave the office, a car horn sounded beside her. It was Mr. Connor's car.
— "Mary, get in. I need to talk to you."
Inside the car, silence lingered between them. Then Connor said: — "I know you're upset… but you have to accept this assignment."
— "How can I? It's obvious they're playing with me. First the southern province, now this…"
— "Maybe you're right. Maybe Rachel is retaliating because Deniz came back. I might be next."
— "I'm sure Rachel knows I'm working on a joint art project. She's deliberately scheduled the mission to sabotage it. But I won't give up, even if they fire me."
— "That's exactly what she wants. Mary, you've worked in this company for years. You shouldn't back down now. If you leave, they'll only grow bolder. Next, they'll come for Deniz, Anisa… even me."
— "But I can't lose this opportunity for my dreams."
— "It's only a one-week mission. You can continue afterward."
— "But I'm working with three other people on this project. I can't sacrifice them for Rachel's games."
— "I'm not forcing you. Just think carefully. Mr. Richard is very serious this time…"
As soon as Mary arrived home, she silently slipped into her room. She dropped her bag on the floor, sat on the chair by the window, and fixed her gaze on the three paintings hanging on the wall. Each one seemed to hold a fragment of her forgotten memories and dreams. The silence of the room wrapped around her like a warm blanket, while her mind remained entangled in the events of the past few days. But the exhaustion was too overwhelming for her to go on.
Her eyes gradually grew heavy, and before she could even realize it, sleep had taken her.
Two hours passed, without her sensing the flow of time.
Suddenly, she jolted awake in a panic. Her eyes shot to the clock, and the ticking seconds pierced her heart like daggers.
"Oh no… I'm late!" she exclaimed, jumping up from the chair, her heart pounding.
At the same moment, Helen entered the studio. The scent of paint and wood filled the calm space of the class, and the gentle sound of brushes on canvas was the only music playing. Nicholas and Yong were deeply focused on their work, each immersed in painting.
Helen walked in, glanced around, and said, "Hey, guys. Mary's not here yet?"
Yong glanced briefly at the clock. "No. She's running a bit late today."
Helen paused for a moment, then continued in a more serious tone, "Actually, I came to talk to you both about Mary."
Nicholas looked up, curious. "Did something happen?"
Helen nodded. "Deniz called me a few hours ago. Apparently, something's come up at the company."
Yong asked, concerned, "What kind of problem?"
"One of Mary's colleagues—who never really got along with her—found out she's working on a joint painting project with us. He took advantage of that and initially tried to send her on a business trip. Deniz stopped it, but today a new assignment came in through his uncle, who's in a high position at the company."
Nicholas frowned. "What a jerk. What's his name? We need to put him in his place."
Yong cautiously replied, "Hold on. If he's got connections at the top, any move from us could backfire on Mary. We shouldn't act recklessly."
Nicholas muttered, "But he's clearly sabotaging her on purpose…"
Helen said firmly, "Exactly. We need to do something for Mary."
Yong nodded. "For now, we have to deal with the company's terms. If Mary pushes back too hard, they might fire her."
Helen sighed. "But this painting project… it was really helping her feel better."
Suddenly, Nicholas stood up, a spark of inspiration lighting up his eyes. "Guys… I think I just came up with an idea."