"I'll deal with you myself," Ella whispered under her breath as she made her way home. Her steps were slow, deliberate, each one measured against the weight in her chest. The office had become unbearable. A suffocating arena of whispers, prying eyes, and insults. She needed peace, even if only for a few hours, to steady her thoughts and reclaim a sense of calm.
As Ella opened the door, a flicker of disappointment ran through her. Rita was nowhere to be seen.
"Oh, sh*** …" Ella muttered quietly, the tension in her chest tightening. Relief and unease twisted together in her stomach, leaving a hollow weight that she couldn't shake.
Later that evening, Ben returned. He walked straight to his room, his jaw clenched, his eyes dark with barely contained fury.
"Rita… I know what you did. I need an explanation. Now!" he demanded, his voice low, sharp, and authoritative.
Rita did not flinch. Calm, composed, deliberate, she approached him slowly, every step measured, her confidence radiating.
"Why are you so worked up over her, huh?" she asked, her tone teasing yet icy. Her palm rested lightly on Ben's chest, leaning in closer, a kiss poised on her lips, a gesture of both provocation and entitlement.
Ben recoiled slightly, maintaining his distance. His expression remained unreadable, but his stance was firm, unyielding.
"You know this is my company," he said, his voice tight, restrained, threaded with controlled anger. "Anything that affects the company affects me. Period."
Rita froze. The weight of his words pressed down on her, a rare crack in her confidence.
"If she is gone… who will run the company smoothly?" Ben continued, his eyes locked onto hers, unwavering. His tone left no room for debate, for pretense, for excuses.
Rita's usual arrogance faltered. "I… I didn't think about all that. Please forgive me. I was carried away by my emotions. It won't happen again," she admitted, her face flushed, a rare vulnerability breaking through her veneer of control.
Ben's gaze hardened. "Let this be the last time you do something like this," he ordered, voice calm but edged with steel. Without another word, he began to undress and stepped into the shower, leaving no room for argument.
Rita's voice trembled with disbelief and panic. "Where are you going?!" she called after him.
But Ben ignored her entirely. His focus was absolute, his resolve unwavering. He left her standing there, her words hanging in the air, powerless. The fragile balance of their household, and the delicate peace surrounding Ella, remained teetering on the edge.
Meanwhile, Ella sat in her room, silently listening to the tension between Ben and Rita unfold.
"Oh… I thought he wouldn't talk to her that way," Ella whispered, a small, satisfied smile tugging at her lips.
"She deserves it," she added under her breath, her chest easing slightly as relief mixed with vindication.
The next morning, as breakfast was served, Ella's mood contrasted sharply with the previous day. She hummed a soft, calm tune, her voice light and measured, almost as if she had won something precious without realizing it.
"What's going on?" Rita asked, her voice sharp, laced with suspicion. "What are you doing…?"
"Mind your business," Ella snapped, cutting her off mid-sentence. Her tone was calm, but it carried an undeniable edge that silenced Rita immediately.
"I have a busy day today, so don't ruin it with your arrogance and idleness," Ella added, her eyes steady and resolute, leaving no room for argument.
Rita, momentarily stunned, could only fume in silence. The balance had shifted subtly, imperceptibly, yet undeniably. Ella was quietly reclaiming her strength, one small act of defiance at a time.