Zelinda stepped into the glass lobby of Kingsley Enterprises, her heels clicking against the polished marble. The air smelled of coffee and ambition, just like it had three years ago when this was her empire. Now, she was a stranger in her own world, armed with a fake ID and a résumé crafted with Stella’s help. Zelinda Hart is now the secretary to the editor-in-chief. The job opening had felt like fate, a crack in the door she could slip through to get closer to Olivia and Thomas.

Her heart thudded as she rode the elevator to the 12th floor.

The editor-in-chief’s office was a sleek space with floor-to-ceiling windows. Her new boss, Ms. Carver, barely looked up from her laptop. “Zelinda, right? You’re early. Good. We’ve got a big meeting today. Grab a notepad and follow me.”

Zelinda nodded, her throat tight. “Yes, ma’am.”

The conference room was already filling up when they arrived. Executives in crisp suits, assistants juggling tablets, and the hum of pre-meeting chatter. Zelinda took a seat near the back, her eyes scanning the room. Then she saw them.

Olivia stood by the coffee station, her dark hair pulled into a flawless bun, her red dress screaming power. She laughed at something a man said, her hand grazing his arm. Thomas sat at the head of the table with his perfectly tailored suit and a mask of calm authority on his face. Zelinda’s stomach churned. She’d shared a bed with that man, built a life with him, and he’d kissed her forehead before sending her to her death. Her fingers tightened around her pen as the plastic creaked.

Ms. Carver clapped her hands. “Let’s get started. We’re closing a major deal today, and we’ve got a new partner joining us. Mr. Walker from Walker Tech.”

Zelinda’s head snapped up. Varnie’s father? Or… Varnie himself? Her pulse raced. She hadn’t expected her fake marriage to collide with her revenge so soon.

The door opened, and Mr. Walker, Varnie strode in, his presence was commanding. “Good morning,” he said with a smooth voice. “Walker Tech is excited to partner with Kingsley Enterprises on this venture. It’s a game-changer.”

Thomas stood, shaking his hand. “Absolutely, Mr. Walker. This deal will put us on the map.”

Olivia slid into a seat beside Thomas, her smile practiced. “We’re thrilled to have you on board.”

Zelinda kept her head down, scribbling nonsense on her notepad. Her skin prickled under Olivia’s gaze, but there was no recognition, just a flicker of curiosity, like she was sizing up the new girl. Thomas didn’t even glance her way. To them, Isabelle Kingsley was dead, and Zelinda Hart was nobody.

The meeting dragged on, numbers and projections flying over her head. She forced herself to focus, catching snippets about the deal, a tech-fashion fusion, leveraging Walker Tech’s AI for Kingsley’s brand. It was the kind of bold move she would’ve made. Now, Thomas was taking credit, his voice dripping with confidence she’d once loved.

When it ended, Zelinda lingered, gathering papers to avoid rushing out. Olivia passed her, her perfume sharp and familiar. “New secretary?” she asked Ms. Carver with a dismissive tone.

“Yes, Zelinda. She’s sharp,” Ms. Carver replied.

Olivia’s eyes flicked to Zelinda. “Hope you last longer than the last one.” She said as she walked away, her heels clicking like a countdown.

Zelinda exhaled with trembling hands. She wanted to scream, to grab Olivia and shake the truth out of her. Instead, she tucked her notepad under her arm and left, her resolve hardening. She’d play this role, gather evidence, and tear them down from the inside.

After work, Zelinda stepped onto the sidewalk, the city buzzing around her. The weight of seeing Olivia and Thomas clung to her like damp clothes. She was about to hail a cab when a familiar voice called out.

“Zelinda!”

She turned. Varnie leaned against his black car, arms crossed, a half-smile on his face. The setting sun caught his disheveled hair, making him look almost boyish.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, her guard up.

“Saw you leaving the building. Figured I’d offer my wife a ride home.” He winked, but his eyes searched hers, like he sensed something was off.

She shook her head. “Thanks, but I’ve got somewhere to be.”

“Hot date?” he teased.

“Therapist,” she said flatly. “Missed my appointment the other day.”

His smile faded, replaced by something softer. “Everything okay?”

She hesitated. For a second, she wanted to tell him about Olivia, Thomas, and the betrayal that burned in her chest. But Varnie was a means to an end, not a confidant. “Just a long day,” she said, forcing a smile. “I’ll see you later.”

He nodded, stepping back. “Take care, princess.”

She watched him climb into his car, then turned toward the subway. Dr. Beckett’s office was a 20-minute ride, a safe space to untangle the rage and grief knotting inside her. She needed it now more than ever.

The session with Dr. Beckett was grueling. Zelinda sat on the worn couch, her hands twisting in her lap, recounting the meeting. “Seeing them there, in my company, acting like they earned it… I wanted to scream. To break something.”

Dr. Beckett nodded, her eyes kind but firm. “That anger is valid, Zelinda. But you’re choosing to channel it, to plan. That takes strength.”

Zelinda exhaled, her shoulders loosening slightly. “I just don’t know how long I can keep this up. Pretending I’m nobody when I’m… me.”

“You’re not nobody,” Dr. Beckett said. “You’re Zelinda Hart. And you’re rewriting your story.”

The words stuck with her as she left the office. She was halfway to the subway when her phone buzzed. A text from Stella: Call me when you’re home. Got something big.

Zelinda’s heart skipped. Stella had been digging into Olivia and Thomas’s financials, using her network to uncover anything suspicious. “Big” could mean proof, something to expose them. She quickened her pace, her mind racing with possibilities.

In no time, she was at the door of her house when her phone buzzed. It was a text message from an unknown number.

“Be careful who you tell your secrets to. I don’t think you should go back there, Isabelle.” The message read.

After glancing at her phone, she froze. And then Stella opened the door.

“You want to come in?” she asked with confusion spread on her face. She had heard her walk up to the porch, but after a few minutes of not seeing her decided to come out.

Zelinda hadn’t realized how long she had stood there. The only thing on her mind was the text that popped up, which made her freeze, sending shivers down her spine.

Her heart pounded in her chest.

Someone knew…