Anger and Meeting

Seated in the meeting room on a chilly Monday morning at 10:00 AM, the members of the Information Technology department exuded anticipation as they eagerly awaited Mr. Taylor's announcement of the company's newest software creative director, with many speculating that Elena would be the chosen candidate.

Amongst her peers in the software creative department, Elena Walter stood out for her exceptional zeal, hard work, and energy as a Software creator.

Elena was ecstatic when she landed a job at one of the most prestigious Technology companies in the country after earning a Bachelor of Tech degree in Information Technology from Alaska University in Fairbanks. For the past five years, she had dedicated herself to Nixon Tech, working tirelessly and sacrificing her social life for her career.

As Mr. Taylor finally revealed the name of the new Software creative director, the room fell silent, and even the faint sound of a dropped pin seemed loud. The announcement left everyone stunned momentarily until a person rose from their seat and began to applaud and cheer. Soon, the rest of the room joined in the euphoria, except for Elena, who remained seated.

Elena had nurtured a dream of creating exceptional software, apps, and websites for various purposes since her childhood. She persevered through obstacles to make this dream a reality. Now, all she longed for was to hear her name called as the new Information Technology creative director. The thought of moving into her dream office excited her to no end.

Elena felt as though she was caught in a downward spiral as the name Gianna Jones echoed through her mind. Her body trembled slightly as she watched everyone cheering and celebrating, her mind unable to process what was happening in the room.

Throughout the week, Elena received praise and recognition from her colleagues, including her boss, Mr. Ford, who commended her for the excellent Software proposal presentation.

"I truly admire your exceptional work ethic, remarkable organizational skills, and boundless creativity," Mr. Ford had complimented Elena with a smile. "You handle stress like a pro, and you are undoubtedly one of our most talented Softwares Developers. This company is incredibly fortunate to have you on board. At this rate, you'll be ready to sit with the boss in no time."

Elena couldn't help but had felt a sense of pride and accomplishment as Mr. Ford had lauded her performance. She had worked hard to earn the recognition, pouring all her energy and creativity into her software. It was gratifying to receive validation from her boss and peers, and it gave her the motivation to keep pushing herself even further.

"Thank you, Mr. Ford," Elena had replied, her own smile reflecting his. "I'm honored to receive your compliments, and I'll continue to give my best to this company and the team." Elena had said happily that day.

Elena couldn't help but wonder what Mr. Ford's compliments and praise had been all about. Had he been aware that she wasn't going to receive the promotion? Was this a cruel game where the hero gets sidelined, and the sidekick takes all the glory? The uncertainty left her feeling frustrated and disheartened, questioning her worth and contributions to the company.

Elena's frustration boiled over as she thought to herself, "Why in the world is everyone cheering for Gianna? That position was supposed to be mine!" Fortunately, she managed to keep her outburst to herself, as the room was too busy celebrating Gianna's appointment. The only one who seemed to notice Elena's reaction was Scarlett.

In a barely audible voice, Elena heard herself say, "Gianna is my student, for goodness' sake," her words almost choking her as emotions overwhelmed her.

Despite the room being well-ventilated, Elena felt a sudden surge of heat that made her body feel suffocated. As she struggled to stand, her legs trembled beneath her. "You are a brave, intelligent, strong, and beautiful woman," she reminded herself, taking a deep breath to steady her nerves. Summoning all the courage she could muster, she rose to her feet and fixed Mr. Ford with a withering glare before storming out of the meeting room.

"Elena, wait!" Scarlett called out, equally surprised by the turn of events. As Elena stormed past her, Scarlett wished she could play the role of a fairy godmother and make things right, but she knew they were both working for the same conniving bosses.

Elena marched straight to her desk, grabbed her bag, and left the building without acknowledging Scarlett's attempts to reach her. She also ignored Mrs. Smith, the Data Scientist, who sat at her desk with a concerned and empathetic expression, ready to offer her usual lengthy speech to console Elena.

Elena felt a vortex of anger and frustration swirling inside her veins, causing her body to quiver with fury. She struggled to contain her emotions, knowing that expressing them in public would only make things worse.

As she strode purposefully toward the parking lot, her mind was flooded with conflicting thoughts and emotions, leaving her disoriented and unresponsive to her surroundings. She barely noticed the cars coming and going around her until the deafening screech of a tire made her freeze in her tracks. The blaring sound of a car horn jolted her back to reality, and she quickly moved out of the way to avoid getting hit.

Elena screamed at the top of her lungs, "Are you crazy? What's wrong with you? Are you blind or something?" Her scowl deepened as she glared at the driver of the black exotic car, her mind racing with thoughts to make his morning miserable. The fury within her had been building up, and she finally found a scapegoat to vent her frustration on.

As the car door opened, a tall and strikingly handsome young man emerged with effortless grace. His sun-kissed skin added to his charm, giving him the air of a warrior prince. Clad in a dark blue, perfectly tailored suit that accentuated his broad shoulders and athletic build, he looked every bit the epitome of sophistication and style.

As Elena prepared to unleash her anger, she found herself stunned into silence, her eyes widening in awe at the sight before her. How could one man possess such a combination of amazing qualities? From his neatly trimmed light brown hair to his sharply defined jawline and perfect lips, everything about him exuded perfection.

Lost in thought, Elena was startled when the handsome man interrupted her reverie, his genuine concern evident as he asked, "Are you alright?"

His voice, deep and husky, was like sweet music to Elena's ears. His silver eyes were simultaneously hypnotic and domineering, drawing her in and leaving her lost in their bottomless depths.

"S-sorry," Elena stammered inwardly, her mind reeling in a daze. "Can you hear me? Are you okay?" the man repeated, his voice tinged with impatience and a hint of amusement.