Adeline Carter's POV:
I stubbornly held out for a week, refusing to give Gill an answer.
The consequences were swift and brutal. My position as team lead was revoked. I was demoted.
To make matters worse, a petty, small-minded woman was promoted to my old position. She became my new superior.
Every day, she found new ways to harass me. “Adeline, is that report finished? Or are you too busy dreaming about a promotion you'll never get?”
Another week passed. I still didn't respond to Gill.
The bullying intensified. My new supervisor humiliated me in front of the entire team during a meeting, tearing my work to shreds. “This is garbage, Adeline! Worthless! Are you even trying?” My face burned with shame. I felt exposed, my dignity trampled.
Three weeks passed.
My desk was moved to a corner right next to the overflowing office trash bin. Coworkers, eager to please Gill, intentionally threw trash outside the bin. “Adeline, could you pick that up? You're right there.”
I couldn't quit. Our company was an industry leader. If I left, Gill would blacklist me, ensuring I'd never find a decent job in New York again.
He wasn't just my boss; he was a powerhouse in New York society with deep connections. I was a nobody, a disposable pawn. I had no leverage.
My will was breaking. But I couldn't tell Brock. I couldn't burden him when he was already under so much pressure.
Even as my world crumbled, I clung to my principles. My love for Brock, though battered, still flickered like a fragile candle in the dark.
