Tension in the air

Sophia felt a strange connection to Alexander. Every day, as they worked together, she hoped he would notice her efforts. But it seemed like all he cared about was his business. He rarely smiled, and his mind was often elsewhere.

That morning, Sophia arrived at the office with a mix of excitement and anxiety. She was ready to tackle the day and finish the presentation they had been preparing. She sat at her desk, reviewing her notes, her heart racing. It was her chance to show her skills and prove herself.

A few minutes later, the door to the office swung open. A tall woman walked in with a confident stride and a sharp gaze. Sophia could feel the change in the atmosphere as the woman entered.

“Is Alexander in?” the woman asked, her voice loud and demanding.

“Yes, he’s in the conference room,” Sophia replied, trying to sound friendly.

Without a word, the woman brushed past Sophia, ignoring her completely. Sophia felt a knot form in her stomach. Who was this woman?

Moments later, the conference room door flew open, and the woman stormed out, anger written all over her face.

“Alexander!” she shouted. “Why didn’t you tell me you were busy?”

Alexander stepped out, looking confused. “What do you mean, Jess?”

Sophia’s heart raced as she realized this was Alexander's girlfriend, Jess. The tension in the air thickened, and Sophia felt nervous.

“I was just in there,” Jess snapped. “Do you always have to have your little pet projects around?” She glanced at Sophia with a scornful expression, as if she didn’t like the idea of anyone being near Alexander.

Sophia felt her cheeks heat with embarrassment. “I’m just working on the presentation for our clients,” she said, trying to defend herself.

Jess stepped closer, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Yeah? Well, maybe you should stay out of Alexander’s way. He doesn’t need distractions.”

Before Sophia could respond, Jess moved suddenly, her coffee cup tipping over. Hot coffee spilled all over Sophia’s shirt.

“Oh my gosh! I’m so sorry!” Jess exclaimed, feigning shock. “What a clumsy mistake!” She stepped back, pretending to be innocent.

Sophia felt her anger rise as she wiped the coffee off her shirt. “It’s fine,” she said through gritted teeth, trying to keep her composure.

Alexander turned to her, concern in his eyes. “Are you okay, Sophia?”

Sophia forced a smile. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

Jess rolled her eyes, clearly enjoying the situation. “Maybe you should be more careful next time,” she said, a smirk on her lips.

Sophia clenched her fists, feeling frustrated. “I will,” she replied, trying to stay calm.

As Alexander led Jess away, Sophia’s heart sank. She had been excited about the day, but now Jess's presence made everything feel tense. It was hard to focus when Jess seemed to hate her for no reason.

The morning passed slowly. Sophia tried to concentrate on her work, but her mind kept drifting back to Jess. She didn’t understand why Alexander was with someone like her. Jess seemed mean and rude.

Finally, it was time for the presentation. Sophia walked into the conference room, her heart pounding. She stood in front of the team, ready to present their ideas. She took a deep breath and started speaking, trying to ignore Jess sitting at the back with a scowl on her face.

“This approach will help us attract new clients and show our creativity,” Sophia explained, her voice steady. She glanced at Alexander, hoping to see support in his eyes.

When she finished, she looked at Jess, who was busy whispering to another coworker, clearly uninterested in what Sophia had just said.

“Great job, Sophia,” Alexander said, though his tone lacked excitement. “Let’s see if the clients like it.”

Jess jumped in before Sophia could respond. “I think it’s too risky. We should stick to what we know,” she said, crossing her arms with a dismissive look.

Sophia felt her frustration rise. “But we need to try new things to stand out,” she argued, her voice firm.

Alexander looked back and forth between them, sensing the tension. “I understand both sides, but we need to be practical too.”

“Practicality is important, but so is having a vision,” Sophia replied, determined to make her point.

Jess rolled her eyes again. “Maybe if you weren’t so focused on impressing Alexander, you’d understand that.”

Sophia felt her cheeks burn with anger. “I’m here to work, Jess. That’s what matters.”

The clients exchanged uneasy looks, sensing the conflict. Alexander tried to calm the situation. “Let’s concentrate on the ideas. Sophia has worked hard on this.”

As the meeting continued, Sophia tried to focus on the task at hand, but Jess’s glare made it hard. After the meeting ended, she felt exhausted. They had presented their ideas, but Jess’s attitude and Alexander’s coldness left her feeling defeated.

Once they were alone, Sophia turned to Alexander. “I don’t understand why Jess is so hostile toward me,” she said, frustration bubbling up. “I’m just trying to do my job.”

“I can’t control how she feels,” he replied, his tone sounding annoyed. “You need to focus on your work.”

“Right, because that’s so easy with her around,” Sophia shot back, her anger spilling over.

Alexander sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Look, just stay professional. That’s all I ask.”

Sophia felt her heart drop. “I am being professional. But it’s hard when she throws coffee at me and acts like I don’t belong here.” She wanted him to understand how much this was affecting her.

“Just ignore her,” he said, turning away. “We have bigger things to worry about.”

Watching him walk away, Sophia felt anger rise inside her. It wasn’t fair. She was trying her best, but Alexander seemed more concerned about his girlfriend than her efforts. The thought made her chest tighten with frustration.

Determined not to let Jess or Alexander bring her down, Sophia took a deep breath. She had come too far to let anyone distract her. She would prove herself, no matter what.

As the day went on, Sophia couldn’t shake off the feeling of tension in the air. She finished up some tasks at her desk but couldn’t help glancing over at Alexander’s office, where he was talking to Jess. Their voices were low, and Jess’s laugh echoed through the room, making Sophia feel even more isolated.

Later that afternoon, Alexander called her into his office. “Sophia, can you come in for a moment?”

She walked in, her heart racing. “Yes?” she asked, trying to sound confident.

“I wanted to go over the feedback from the presentation,” he said, his tone serious. “I think we need to adjust a few things based on what the clients said.”

“Of course,” she replied, eager to show she was willing to improve. They spent the next few minutes discussing the clients’ comments, and Sophia tried to focus, pushing her feelings about Jess to the back of her mind.

As they finished up, Jess popped her head into the office. “Hey, Alexander, are you coming to the cafe later?” she asked, her voice bright. “I want to show you something.”

Sophia felt a twist in her stomach. Jess always seemed to interrupt their work, and it irritated her. Alexander turned to Sophia. “Do you mind if I take a break? We can finish this later.”

“Uh, sure,” Sophia said, forcing a smile. “I’ll be at my desk.”

As Jess and Alexander left the office, Sophia sighed, feeling defeated. She glanced out the window, watching the clouds gather outside. It seemed like her whole world was clouded by Jess’s presence and Alexander’s indifference.

With her thoughts racing, Sophia decided to take a walk around the office. She needed a break from the tension. As she strolled through the halls, she overheard some coworkers gossiping in a corner.

“Did you see how Jess treated Sophia? It’s so unnecessary,” one woman said.

“I know! It’s like she feels threatened,” another replied. “Sophia is talented, and she’s just trying to fit in.”

Hearing them talk about her gave Sophia a tiny boost of confidence. Maybe she wasn’t alone in this after all. She took a deep breath and headed back to her desk, determined to keep pushing forward.

As she worked late into the evening, finishing up her tasks and planning for the next day, she felt a sense of resolve. She would not let Jess intimidate her, and she would not let her feelings for Alexander distract her. No matter what happened, she was determined to prove herself in this job.

Later that night, Sophia received a text from Alexander. “Sorry for earlier. Jess can be a handful. Let’s catch up tomorrow?”

Sophia stared at her phone, unsure of how to respond. She felt confused about their relationship. Was Alexander really interested in her work, or was he just trying to keep peace with Jess?

After a moment, she typed back, “Sure, I’d like that.” She pressed send, hoping this would be a chance to clear the air.