Chapter 3

The night air carried a chill as I stepped into the employee parking lot, my mind still processing the day's events. A bride had returned to thank me for finding her perfect wedding lipstick, and an elderly gentleman had purchased three bottles of cologne after I helped him find a scent reminiscent of his late wife. Small victories that made the day worthwhile, despite Melina's persistent shadow.

My thoughts scattered as I approached my parking spot. Something was wrong.

Both tires on my custom scooter lay flat, the distinctive slash marks unmistakable even in the dim security lighting. A folded note was tucked under the windshield wiper—a childish gesture that made my stomach clench with anger rather than fear.

"Know your place, nobody."

I slipped the note into my pocket, my fingers automatically finding my mother's silver bracelet. The cool metal against my skin grounded me as I assessed the situation with clinical detachment. The security camera mounted on the corner of the building had a perfect view of my parking space. I made a mental note to speak with Jared in the morning.

Rather than causing a scene, I pulled out my phone and requested an Uber. As I waited, leaning against a concrete pillar, I noticed movement across the street—Melina, watching me from the shadows of a coffee shop, a satisfied smirk playing on her lips before she disappeared into the night.

The next morning, I arrived early, my scooter safely at a repair shop after being towed. Jared was already in his office, coffee in hand, reviewing the previous day's sales figures.

"You're here early," he commented, looking up.

"I need to speak with you about security footage," I said, closing the door behind me. "My scooter was vandalized last night. Both tires slashed."

Jared's expression darkened. "On our property? Did you call security?"

"I'm handling it," I said, touching my bracelet. "But I'd like to preserve the footage from the camera overlooking the employee lot. Just in case."

He studied me for a moment, then nodded. "Consider it done. Anything else?"

"Not yet," I replied, "but I suspect there might be."

I was right. Three days later, an envelope appeared on Daniel Morris's desk in HR—plain, unmarked, containing a single sheet of paper with accusations that would make anyone's blood run cold.

*To Whom It May Concern,*

*I regret having to bring this to your attention, but I've observed inappropriate behavior between Sales Associate Victoria and Manager Jared Kelley. Their relationship appears to extend far beyond professional boundaries, with special treatment and schedule preferences given to Victoria despite her relatively new position.*

*This creates an uncomfortable work environment and raises questions about favoritism that undermines morale.*

*A Concerned Employee*

Daniel Morris read the letter twice, his brow furrowing. The handwriting was careful, deliberate—clearly disguised. And the timing was suspicious, coming just as Victoria's performance metrics had skyrocketed.

He picked up his phone and scheduled separate meetings with both Victoria and Jared.

I was restocking the Lancôme counter when Rebecca appeared at my elbow, her expression troubled.

"Victoria, HR wants to see you. Right away."

My heart rate remained steady as I nodded. "Thank you, Rebecca. I'll finish here and head up."

Daniel Morris's office was sterile and impersonal—much like the man himself. He gestured for me to sit, his expression carefully neutral.

"Victoria, I need to ask you some questions about your professional relationship with Jared Kelley."

I met his gaze directly. "Of course. Jared is an excellent manager who has been nothing but supportive of my work."

"This is difficult," Daniel continued, clearing his throat. "But there's been an anonymous complaint suggesting... impropriety between you and Mr. Kelley."

I felt a flicker of anger—not at Daniel, but at Melina's escalating campaign. "I understand," I said calmly. "And I assure you, our relationship is strictly professional. Jared has been mentoring me, as he does all promising employees."

Daniel nodded, making notes. "And your performance has been exceptional."

"It's been my focus," I replied, touching my bracelet. "Since starting here, I've made it my goal to understand our products and customers better than anyone."

As I left Daniel's office, I caught sight of Jared entering with a grim expression. Our eyes met briefly—two professionals caught in a web of jealousy and lies.

But what Melina didn't realize was that she'd just made a critical error. The postmark on the envelope would show she'd mailed it from across town—far from where any legitimate "concerned employee" of Sterling Department Store would have access to mail services during business hours.

And the security footage of her slashing my tires was safely preserved, waiting for the perfect moment to reveal the truth about who was really undermining company values.