“A Truth Too Quiet”
But not quiet enough to die.
Alice sat on the company sofa in the lobby, silently crying. She was letting go of something she had dreamed of deeply, but she didn’t let the brokenness in her heart show on her face. She sat still, holding herself together with quiet strength—one last effort to stay composed.
Just then, Mr. Andre walked briskly through the lobby, a phone pressed to his ear as he discussed something with his manager. He passed by without noticing her. And Alice, lost in her struggle to stay strong, didn’t notice him either.
Later, she checked her watch and walked up to the receptionist.
“Where’s the CEO? I didn’t see him,” she asked.
“He already passed by, ma’am,” the receptionist replied.
“Oh... sorry, thank you.” she said.
She walked to his office and found him inside.
“You’re late!” he snapped.
She replied calmly, “It doesn’t matter.”
“What?” he asked, puzzled.
“You were supposed to be here before I arrived,” he continued. “You're my PA, Alice. You need to be in the office ahead of me. You should’ve already set and scheduled everything for today. How can you be so irresponsible?”
She took a deep breath. “I’m done.”
“Done with what?”
“With all of this. I can’t take this pain anymore. I’m sorry.”
He blinked, confused. “Wait... am I missing something here?”
With a heavy inhale and exhale, she finally said it:
“I want to quit.”
“What?” he asked, clearly shocked.
“Yes,” she nodded. “You think this is a silly thing to give up easily? "You will regret it; you will lose the thing you love the most," he asked.
She replied softly, "No. This is the best decision I’ve ever made, and I have already lost the thing I love the most, so it doesn’t matter."
And without another word, she walked out of his office, tears filling her eyes.
Unbeknownst to her, someone had been watching the entire scene from outside.
It was Priya.
Alice cried like a child all the way home. Her mind was spinning, and her heart felt like it was shattering.
The moment she reached her apartment, she collapsed on her bed and screamed into the pillow. Her eyes drifted to a framed photo of her father on the wall. He had passed away when she was just nine. She had grown up watching her mother struggle to make ends meet. As soon as she was old enough, Alice started doing part-time jobs to help. But one thing had never changed—her passion for reading and writing. It wasn’t just a hobby for her; it was a fire in her soul.
That passion came from her father. He had been an editor-in-chief at a respected publishing house and a gifted writer. But years of stress and overwork had taken a toll. One day, he collapsed from a silent heart attack. Even his death didn’t stop Alice from dreaming. She couldn’t afford college, but she never stopped writing. She kept trying, submitting stories to publishers and saving up for future studies.
The Andre Corporation was one of the top book publishing companies—famous for bestsellers and known across the country. When Alice learned they had a writer vacancy, she applied immediately, holding on to hope. But during the interview, she heard the same painful words again.
“We’re sorry. We really liked your stories... but we require a degree for this position.”
Heartbroken, she walked out through the company lobby with her head low.
But then—
“WAIT…!”
She turned around, startled.
A man walked up to her and asked, “You’re Alice, right?”
“Yes?” She replied, unsure.
“I was seeing your interview through the CCTV. I read your stories. It reached me a little bit late, so sorry for interrupting as you’re about to leave,” he said. “I liked them. Look, we do need a graduate for the writing post. But... I’d like to offer you something else. Would you be open to hearing it?”
“Of course,” she said, surprised.
“There’s another vacancy opening up soon,” he explained. “Since you’re already here and clearly love writing and books, I thought you might be interested.”
“Maybe,” she said cautiously. “But I’m not sure what you mean…”
“Yeah, sorry—I’m explaining this terribly.” He chuckled, then added, “Let me be clear. We have a PA position for the CEO. The previous assistant was fired this morning for being irresponsible and... let’s say, unpleasant. So, would you like to apply for that instead?”
She stared at him with uncertain eyes.
Joseph told her gently,
“I know you came for the writing vacancy. Even though they loved your stories, they have to reject you because you don’t have a graduate certificate. But I assure you—you can work here and continue your studies. In the future, you can become a writer for this company.
Look, I’m here to support you. I know this might seem like a strange position, and maybe it’s not what you dreamed of, but think about it—this could change your life. As a PA, you’ll still be surrounded by the world of books you love the most. Just give it a thought and let me know.”
He paused, smiled, and added,
“By the way, I’m Joseph—the general manager of the company. Nice to meet you.”
“Yeah,” she replied with a soft smile.
As they parted ways, his words kept echoing in her mind. Suddenly, she turned back and called out,
“Joseph… I’m in!”
With a surprised and warm smile, he responded,
“Alright! Come at 7:30 AM. I’ll be here, okay?”
She nodded with a big smile. They waved goodbye, both feeling something good had just begun.
The next morning, as employees entered the office, a small briefing was held in the lobby. That was the first time Alice saw Mr. Andre. To her, he appeared arrogant, overly confident, stylish—maybe even a bit cold.
Before introducing her to Andre, Joseph spoke to Alice in a serious tone.
“Listen, Alice. If you give up halfway, you’ll lose your chance to study here. You won’t be eligible to become a writer for this company. So please—be perfect, smart, and loyal, and stay faithful to your work.
If Andre is impressed, trust me, your dream will come true very fast. He respects hard work and talent. And here’s something important—you’re going to be his first female PA. All the previous ones were male. It took a lot to convince him, but I did it—because I believe in you. I’ve read your stories. I know there’s a true writer in you. I just don’t want your talent to go to waste. That’s why I offered you this. I hope I’m not wrong. Please… don’t make me regret this.”
He gave her a gentle smile. She smiled back—and then signed the contract.
At that moment, Mr. Andre walked in, still on a call. He looked up and asked,
“Yeah, all set?”
Both Alice and Joseph looked startled but quickly responded,
“Yes, all set,” Joseph said.
“Yeah,” Alice echoed.
Andre nodded and said,
“Great. Now meet my friend Joseph—though I know you’ve already met. Still, for formalities.”
He turned to Alice and added with seriousness,
“I’ll make one thing clear. Professionalism and work come first with me. Got it?”
“Yes,” she replied calmly.
“Good. Then let’s start.”
He extended his hand. Alice shook it and smiled politely. As she walked forward into her new role, she looked back at Joseph and smiled. He smiled back before heading off to his duties.
Unnoticed by them, Priya had been watching and overhearing everything from behind. The same Priya who had gotten the writing job because of her degree.
“She managed to get in…” Priya muttered, her eyes narrowing.
Days passed. Alice settled into her role with quiet grace and dedication. Work went smoothly. Joseph was happy—his instinct to help her had been right. He and Alice grew close quickly, bonding over their mutual love for books and writing.
Even Andre—known for his strictness—was beginning to be impressed by Alice’s work ethic and sharp mind.
Priya, however, was uneasy.
She saw how Alice was slowly gaining trust, how Joseph liked her, and how even Andre was noticing her. Meanwhile, Priya’s stories were being rejected repeatedly. Though she held a degree, she lacked the soul of a true writer. And she knew it. Worse, she saw in Alice everything she feared: authenticity, talent, and rising influence.
One day, the company announced a writing contest. The best entry would be published on their website, and the winner would get a promotion. Excited writers submitted their entries.
Alice didn’t.
During a tea break, Joseph asked her,
“Did you enter the contest?”
“What contest?” she asked, surprised.
“Only one day left,” he said. “You should do it.”
“I don’t know…” she said, uncertain.
“It’s just a contest. “I know how much you yearn to write,” he encouraged. “Just give it a try. You’re amazing at this.”
After a pause, she nodded. “Okay, I’ll do it.”
Priya, who had been nearby and overheard the whole conversation, clenched her jaw.
“Oh, no… Joseph again?” She muttered under her breath. Her jealousy deepened. She didn’t want Alice anywhere near the spotlight.
The next day, the contest began.
Even Andre looked surprised to see Alice participating. Writers were given three hours to complete their entries. There was excitement in the air.
Later that evening, the stories were reviewed, and the staff voted on the best entry.
Everyone was buzzing with praise for one story in particular: “The Lovely Hat.”
Alice, quietly hopeful, smiled to herself.
But Priya had a wicked smile on her face.
Alice was busy with work when the final results were posted. When she finally got a break, she learned that The Lovely Hat had won and was trending on the company website.
Her heart jumped with joy.
“I did it!” she exclaimed.
But a co-worker chuckled and said,
“Why are you so excited? That’s Priya’s story.”
Alice froze. “What?”
She rushed to the site and saw it—her story, but with Priya’s name on it.
Her hands trembled. Her eyes burned. She turned and saw Priya standing nearby, smiling sweetly as if nothing had happened.
Alice stormed to Andre’s office.
“Sir,” she called.
He was on a call. “Two minutes,” he said, holding up a finger.
“I need to speak now,” she insisted.
“I’m in an important meeting,” he snapped.
“I said now!” she shouted.
The voice on the other end of the call said, “It’s fine. We’ll talk later,” and hung up.
Andre slammed the phone down and glared at her.
“Can’t you knock before entering?”
“I did,” she replied, her voice sharp. “You didn’t hear me.”
"I have no time for this. I have more important things to do!" Andre shouted.
“‘The Lovely Hat’ is my story! It’s now published under Priya’s name on the website. Something’s wrong!” Alice cried out.
Andre paused, narrowing his eyes. “What? Are you serious?”
Just then, Joseph entered. He noticed the group of employees crowded around Andre’s office and quickly stepped inside.
“What’s going on?” Joseph asked, looking at Alice’s tearful eyes.
Andre gestured toward her dismissively. “I don’t know what she’s up to. She suddenly stormed in, claiming her story was stolen.”
Joseph turned to Alice. “What happened?”
Alice stammered, “I wrote 'The Lovely Hat'… but it's credited to Priya.”
Joseph looked shocked. “What?!” He turned to Andre. “This is not something to brush off, Andre!”
Andre scoffed. “Even if that’s true, does it really matter enough to create such drama? This is a professional workplace.”
“It matters to her. That story means something to her.” Joseph snapped, his voice sharp with emotion.
He turned gently to Alice. “I’ll look into it.”
Andre rolled his eyes. “Are you serious, Joseph? We don’t have time for this stupidity.”
Later, Alice sat alone on the terrace, her face heavy with sadness. Joseph came up behind her.
“Hey,” he said softly. She turned around slowly.
“I’m sorry,” he continued. “It’s really messed up. Since everything was submitted digitally, it’s hard to trace if anything was switched. I checked the CCTV, but I didn’t see anything obvious. I’m calling my friend who’s an expert. He’ll help next week.”
Alice didn’t respond. Her eyes were still wet.
“I hope you understand.”
She shook her head slowly. “I wish I could. But… this contest meant the world to me.”
“I know,” Joseph said with a quiet, sad smile. “But you’ll rise again… like a phoenix.”
Alice gave a small nod. “Yeah.”
A text from Andre interrupted her thoughts. “Come downstairs.”
Alice and Joseph returned to the office floor just in time to see Andre handing over a promotion and a gift to Priya in front of everyone.
“She deserves this recognition,” Andre said, smiling as Priya received the applause.
Alice’s body trembled. She couldn’t hold it in.
“It was mine, not hers!” She shouted, her voice cracking from pain.
Everyone turned. Priya stood still, her expression calm and clueless. Joseph moved toward Alice, trying to calm her, but Andre looked furious.
“This is not fair,” he snapped. “You need to learn to accept defeat.” Andre didn't know Alice's true talent; he thought she couldn't even accept her own defects and faults.
Alice burst into tears. Joseph stepped in.
“Stop it, Andre. You don’t know what she’s been through.”
Andre clenched his jaw and stormed out.
Joseph turned to Priya. “Hope you enjoy your victory—walking in someone else’s shoes.”
She gave him a smug look and turned away.
At closing time, Andre called Alice into his office.
“What kind of behavior was that?” he snapped. “You’re not the boss here. Next time you pull a stunt like that, don’t expect to keep your job. Understood?”
With tears in her eyes, she nodded. “Yes, sir.”
As she left, Joseph met her near the elevator.
“Feeling better now?”
Alice forced a smile. “Yeah… I’m fine.”
But deep inside, her heart was shattered.
“I have a business trip tomorrow. I’ll be back in three days. Take care, alright? I’ll text you once I land. And we will sort all this out, sorry.”
“Okay. Safe trip.”
They waved goodbye with a cute smile.
Back home, Alice collapsed into her bed, her face buried in her pillow as she cried endlessly. The pain wasn’t just about losing the contest. It was because no one believed her, and her dream—her story—was stolen in plain sight. Her writings and story and all mean that much to her, more than anything; that's the only thing that made her stronger even in her sad, happy, and down moments.
She cried like a child, her body trembling from the hurt.
Later, through the tears, a thought sparked.
“What’s the point of staying in a place that doesn’t value my honesty or my work?”
She hesitated at first. This job was the only hope she had to become a writer, as she can work and study. But slowly, her courage rose.
“I have nothing left to lose. But I do have my self-respect.”
And with that strength, she made her decision.
The next day, Alice submitted her resignation letter to Andre. She walked away not because she wanted to, but because she had to. The moment felt heavy… but liberating.
Because sometimes, walking away is not giving up.
It’s standing tall.
For her, self-respect mattered more than anything. Writing had always been her passion—that's what led her to take this job in the first place. And now, this is what she was left with? A broken heart and a stolen dream.
She blamed her emotions for reacting the way she did. As she walked out of the office, tears brimming in her eyes, Priya stood nearby, secretly listening. A smirk formed on her lips. “It’s over,” Priya thought. “Now, everything Alice lost will build the beginning of my shining career.” She was already lost in her own daydreams.
Three days later, Joseph returned from his business trip. He immediately tried contacting Alice—but couldn’t reach her. Confused, he asked the receptionist,
"Why can't I get in touch with her?" Did something happen?"
The receptionist looked concerned. "Sir, I’m not sure. But she left a resignation letter while you were away. That’s all I know."
Shocked, Joseph stormed into Andre’s office.
"What is going on?" I was away for three days, Andre. And you let her go just like that?"
Andre shrugged coldly. "I don’t want to hear anything about that arrogant girl."
Joseph’s eyes flared. Without another word, he turned and slammed the door on his way out.
Using the last location shared by Alice, Joseph found her apartment. When he entered, his heart sank—Alice was lying weak and fragile, barely able to move or speak.
He immediately rushed her to the hospital.
While waiting for the doctor, he checked her recent contacts and called a number labeled “Neha—Close Friend.”
"Hello, I’m Joseph. A colleague of Alice. She’s in the hospital. Do you know what happened to her?"
Neha was shocked. "What?!" Oh my gosh. Is she okay?"
"She’s stable, but very weak. She hasn’t eaten in days. "I just brought her in," he replied.
Neha’s voice cracked. "The day she resigned, she was completely broken. She told me not to tell her mom and that she’d contact me when she was okay. I didn’t expect it to get this bad… She told me about you, by the way. She said you were kind. She didn’t want you to see her like this."
"I understand. But please don’t tell her mother yet. I’ll text you the hospital address—could you come and be with her for a bit? I need to handle some things."
"Of course," Neha replied. "I’ll be there soon."
Later, Joseph told her gently, "I’ve got some urgent work to handle. Can you watch over her for me?"
"Don’t worry. I’ll take care of her," Neha assured him.
Joseph, though exhausted, had made a decision. He couldn’t just let this go. Alice had lost her confidence, her job, her dreams—and part of herself. He felt responsible for not acting sooner.
So he made a call.
"Alex, I need your help. It’s urgent."
His close friend Alex agreed and soon met him at the office. They entered Joseph’s cabin.
"Listen," Joseph began, "something’s off. Alice’s story got stolen, but the CCTV during that time was disabled. I want to know if there's a way to recover it."
Alex raised a brow. "Weird. Disabled at that exact time? That’s suspicious."
"I thought it was just a mistake. But… this hit her hard. Alice is in the hospital. She’s not just any employee, Alex—she’s kind, innocent, and a genuine talent. This isn’t fair."
Alex looked at Joseph for a second longer.
"Wow… I’ve never heard you talk about anyone like that before."
Joseph chuckled awkwardly. "Don’t read into it. She’s just someone who didn’t deserve this."
Alex smirked. "Whatever you say. But yeah, I can see it—in your eyes, man."
Joseph rolled his eyes. "Don’t start. Just help me fix this."
"Alright, take me to the CCTV room."
As Alex began working, Joseph left briefly and gathered all the original stories Alice had submitted during her interview. He walked straight into Andre’s office and placed them on the desk.
"Before you judge her again, take a look at these," Joseph said. "You think she overreacted? These stories—every single character that made 'The Lovely Hat' a success—started in her older drafts. It was her creation."
Andre gave a tired sigh. "I’m done with this drama, Joseph. Just let it go."
Joseph didn’t argue. He simply said, "Keep those. When the truth comes out, you’ll need them." Then he walked away.
Back in the CCTV room, Alex looked up.
"Almost done. Give me 30 more minutes."
"Alright. I’ll be back."
Alex watched him leave again, shaking his head with a smile. "This man’s changed..."
Joseph arrived at the hospital, checked on Alice's health records, and spoke to the doctor.
"She’s stable now," the doctor said. "But she needs nourishment. Her body is still weak."
Joseph brought her food and turned to her friend Neha.
"I’m taking her with me to the office. There’s something she needs to sort out. It might help her more than staying here."
Neha looked surprised. "She’s not well yet, are you sure?"
"Yes. I believe this will make her better."
"Then… would you mind if I came along too?"
"Of course. You’re welcome."
He handed the food to a nurse and asked, "Can you please give this to her?"
"Sure," the nurse replied.
A few minutes later, the nurse returned. "She’s awake—and wants to meet the person who brought her here."
Neha and Joseph exchanged a glance.
"Go," he said.
"Okay," Neha smiled and entered Alice's room.
Alice’s eyes lit up as she saw her. "Really? You came?"
Neha grinned. "Nope. I'm not the hero today." She leaned closer and whispered, "He's your lifesaver."
Alice smiled faintly, her cheeks coloring slightly.
Then Joseph stepped in. "Are you okay?"
"Of course," she replied.
"Shall we go?"
"Where?"
"Someplace where you'll find a piece of your strength again," he replied.
She looked at him curiously.
"Trust me," he said. "It’ll help."
She gave him a small, trusting smile.
An hour later, they arrived at the office. Joseph led them straight to the CCTV room, where Alex was finishing up. As Joseph opened the door, Alex was on a call but quickly ended it when he saw them.
"What’s up, man?" Joseph asked.
"Almost done. Just final touches." Then he noticed the two women.
"Alex," Joseph said, "meet Alice, ex-PA to Andre. And this is her friend, Neha."
He turned to the girls. "Guys, this is Alex, one of my closest friends—and the best tech mind I know."
After a few minutes of waiting, Alex suddenly shouted, "Yes! Got it!"
"Really?" Joseph leaned in.
"Yeah. Take a look."
Alex showed them two recovered video clips—one from the CCTV room and another from an employee’s cabin.
Joseph’s eyes narrowed. "These are the lost files. Alex, take this straight to Andre. I’ll meet you there."
"Are you sure?"
"He needs to see this with his own eyes."
"Got it."
Joseph turned to Alice.
"Do you want something to eat or drink?"
"No, I’m fine."
"Alright, come on. Let’s go get a coffee anyway."
Though she hesitated, she followed.
Meanwhile, Alex entered Andre’s office without knocking.
"Hey! What are you doing here?" Andre asked, clearly annoyed.
"Just here to show you something," Alex said coolly.
"What?"
"Wait. Watch this first."
Andre leaned back. "Fine. Show me."
Alex played the footage.
As the video played, Andre's face went pale. His fingers gripped the desk.
"What is this?!"
"That," Alex replied sharply, "is what’s happening in your office. I hope you’re proud."
"I… I had no idea," Andre stammered. "But how did you get this?"
Before Alex could respond, the door opened again.
"Ask him," Alex said, gesturing toward Joseph, who entered with Alice and Neha just behind him.
Andre’s eyes fell on Alice—her hospital band still on her wrist, the IV tape visible.
"What happened to her?" he asked.
"Side effect of your negligence," Joseph said.
He turned to Alice and Neha. "Wait here on the sofa. I’ll call you in when it’s time."
"Okay," Alice nodded.
Joseph stepped back inside.
"So? You saw it all?"
Andre looked shaken. "Yes."
"Then what are you going to do about it?" Joseph asked. "The truth’s right in front of you. Are you still going to act like nothing happened? Or will you give that girl the dignity and justice she deserves?"
Andre sighed, then met Joseph's eyes. "The same way we announced that contest to everyone, we’ll announce this too."
"How?" Joseph asked.
"We’ll see," Andre muttered.
He picked up his phone and called his current PA. "Are all employees in for the meeting?"
"Yes, sir."
"Good. Send out a reminder—tell them the meeting starts in half an hour. Ask all the editors and writers to join as well."
"Some are working off-site today, sir."
"Call them. Make sure they’re here. Did you hear me?"
"Yes, sir. Got it."
Alex raised an eyebrow. "So you’re exposing everything in today’s meeting?"
"Nope," Andre replied smoothly. "Just going ahead with the meeting… as planned."
"What?" Joseph asked.
Andre turned to him. "Yeah. And call her—I want to talk to her."
"Who?" Joseph asked.
"Alice. Call her in, man." Andre replied,
Joseph gave him a look but nodded and left.
A few minutes later, Alice walked in.
Andre looked up. "I won’t ask if you’re okay—I can see the truth in you. But I need to ask, are you ready for today?
She stared at him, unsure.
"I’m sorry, Alice. I didn’t know how bad things were. I failed you. I judged you unfairly. If you’ll accept it… I want to apologize."
Alice looked confused. "What’s going on? I still don’t understand."
Andre turned to Joseph. "She doesn’t know?"
Joseph replied, "No. I wanted her to hear it from you. You’re the one who hurt her most with your powerful words."
Andre nodded, regret showing on his face. "Right. My mistake. Let me try to make it right."
He turned his laptop toward Alice. "Please sit. Watch this."
As the videos played, Alice's eyes filled with tears. Her voice cracked.
"I told you... I told you that story was mine. It was mine, wasn’t it?"
Tears streamed down her face. Joseph knelt beside her.
"Hey, it’s okay. The truth is here now. You’re not alone anymore."
"Oh…!" Alex and Andre said in unison, overwhelmed by the moment.
Then Alex added, "Okay, now let’s call that other girl in, right?"
"Yeah. Who is she?" Andre asked.
"Her name is Neha," Alice said softly. "She’s my friend."
"Whoa, whoa, she’s my friend now," Alex interjected quickly, smiling.
Everyone laughed.
Andre grinned. "Relax, Alex. I’m not stealing your girl. But that was fast."
"Yea, the second I saw her," Alex replied proudly.
Andre glanced at Joseph and Alice. "I noticed it, but didn’t think much at the time. Now I see it clearly."
"What?" Joseph said, raising a brow.
"Nothing serious. Just a joke, right, Alex?"
"Yeah, yeah—serious jokes," Alex chuckled.
"Alright, alright. Call her. Let’s meet her. "We’re short on time," Andre said.
Alex dashed out and soon returned with Neha.
"Please come in," he said.
Neha entered. Andre smiled. "What’s your name?"
"Neha. "I’m Alice’s friend," she said, pointing to Alice sitting beside Joseph.
Joseph grinned. "So not my friend?"
"Nope. 'Theirs,'" she replied with a playful smirk.
"Hey, I’m Alex," he said.
"Nice to meet you," Neha replied.
Andre looked at Alex and teased, "Wow, Alex. Quick work, huh?"
"Oh, shut up," Alex muttered, making everyone laugh.
"Okay," Andre said, clapping his hands. "It’s time. Let’s head to the meeting room."
"Everyone?" Alex asked.
"Yeah—and take the laptop too," Andre replied.
"Really?" Joseph asked.
"Yes, man. Come on."
They knew everything was going to be out today.
They entered the meeting room, where the staff was already gathering.
Andre stepped up to the front. "Shall we begin?"
"Yes, sir," someone replied.
As he began speaking about new company proposals and projects, Priya sat stiffly. She couldn’t take her eyes off Alice, who was calmly seated with Joseph.
"What’s he doing?" Alex whispered to Joseph.
"Let him finish," Joseph replied.
Suddenly, Andre looked up.
"Priya, do you have any ideas to contribute?"
Priya, lost in her panic, didn’t even hear the question.
"I… I’ll look into it," she mumbled.
"So that’s Priya?" Alex asked.
"Yeah," Joseph confirmed.
"Ugh. Boring," Alex whispered.
"Focus," Joseph said.
"Okay, okay," Alex sighed.
Andre wrapped up the formal part of the meeting.
"Alright, that’s all for today’s agenda. Anything else to discuss?"
The room responded in unison, "Nope."
"So shall we call it a day?" Andre asked.
"Yeah," a few voices murmured.
Just as everyone began preparing to leave, Andre spoke again.
"Wait, I just remembered—we have one last thing to go over." He looked directly at Priya. "Priya, your story that's trending right now... how did you come up with the characters?" "Were they inspired by someone real?" Or was it pure fiction?"
A wave of silence fell over the room.
Alice’s eyes widened in shock. Joseph exchanged a look with her, just as confused.
"Ah... Andre... I..." Priya stammered.
"Oh, you don’t remember?" he said with a slight smirk. "That happens. It’s okay to forget, right?"
Priya gave a forced, uneasy smile. "Yeah..."
"But Priya... are you sweating?" Andre asked casually.
"No, no, I’m fine."
"Alright. Take some tissues if you need them. "Be comfortable," he said with a pointed look.
"Yes, sir. Thank you."
Andre turned to Alex. "Okay, let’s move to the final part. Alex, are you ready?"
"What?"
"The demo, go ahead."
"Ah, right!" Alex said, realizing the cue. He walked to the front and began setting up the video.
As the footage played, the entire room fell silent.
Two videos appeared on the screen.
Priya switching story names in Elisha's room, where she had been responsible for collecting stories for the poll.
Priya deleting the CCTV footage that showed her doing it—from Elisha’s cab's internal system.
She had acted innocent afterward, lying calmly about not being near the footage.
Now, visibly shaken, Priya was sweating profusely.
Andre spoke loudly, "Priya, I told you to bring tissues." You didn’t listen."
"Sir, I didn't—"
"What, you're lying again?" Alex snapped.
"No, I was just—" she tried to explain.
Andre raised his hand. "You should apologize to Alice."
"What?" Priya blinked, trying to process it.
Joseph stepped forward and said, "Do it, Priya. Everyone knows the truth now."
A tear rolled down Priya’s cheek.
"Okay, Priya," Andre said sternly. "Apologize, and then pack your things. You’re dismissed from this firm."
"Sir, please... I can explain..."
"No need," he said sharply. "Not now. Not anymore."
Priya turned to Alice. "I’m sorry, Alice. I made a mistake. Please forgive me..." Then to Andre, "Sir, I promise I won’t repeat it. Please—"
He replied,
"No. This firm stands for truth and talent. And you violated both. It’s over."
He then turned to Jimmy, his current PA. "Jimmy, we’ll move you to another department. And Alice..."
Andre smiled warmly at her.
"You’ll return as my PA starting tomorrow. Once you finish your studies, you’ll be promoted to a writer here. You deserve that and more."
Priya, devastated, turned and walked out, glancing one more time for the last time with tears. She went to Alice and said,
“Alice… I’m sorry,” Priya began, her voice low—not seeking attention, only honesty.
“You didn’t deserve what I did. I knew it even then. But I still did it.”
Alice looked at her silently, heart guarded but listening.
Priya’s voice trembled.
“I didn’t mean for it to go that far. My family… they never saw worth in anything unless it came with awards or recognition. I love writing—I always did. But this felt like the only way they’d finally notice me. I know it was wrong… I just wanted to matter.”
Alice stayed quiet for a moment. Then, gently:
“Writing isn’t about proving something to the world, Priya. Or to our families. It’s not a badge you wear to gain love. It’s the truth you carry inside… the part of you that dares to speak. That story wasn’t just words—it was my pain. My silence turned into sound.”
She stepped closer.
“If you truly love writing, then let it come from who you are—not from pressure or fear. Just give it a little try. The words will find you… not to impress, but to express.”
Neha scoffed from the side, arms crossed.
“Oh please, Priya. Are you seriously trying to win her sympathy now? That’s low, even for you.”
Priya turned to her, eyes clearer than ever.
“No, Neha. I’m not asking for sympathy. I’m taking responsibility. For once in my life, I’m not hiding behind what others expect. I’m finally speaking for myself.”
Alice turned calmly to Neha.
“It’s okay, Neha.”
Then she faced Mr. Andre, her voice steady:
“Please don’t fire her, sir. Priya made a mistake—a serious one. But she didn’t act out of cruelty. She was just… lost. Like many of us have been.”
Andre narrowed his eyes.
“Alice, this is a corporate offense. Stealing intellectual property is punishable. In many places, this would be handed over to the police.”
Alice stepped forward, unwavering.
“I understand. But I’m asking for mercy. Not just as a writer, but as someone who knows what it’s like to be broken and voiceless. Give her a chance to redeem herself.”
A long silence followed. Then Andre turned to Joseph.
“Handle this.”
Joseph nodded and looked at Priya.
“But this can’t be overlooked. Priya, you’re suspended until further notice. An internal review will follow. You may rejoin later—consider it Alice’s mercy and forgiveness. Without her, this decision wouldn’t have been possible.”
Priya lowered her head.
“I understand. Thank you.”
Then Joseph turned back to Alice with warmth in his voice.
“Your story will be published—under your name. Officially.”
Andre nodded firmly.
“Alright then. This meeting is over. Disperse.”
Everyone began to walk away—some in silence, some whispering. The tension that had filled the room now gave way to a quiet sense of relief.
As they exited, Joseph walked beside Alice.
Just then, Andre cleared his throat behind them.
Alice turned, a little surprised.
“Sir?”
Andre exhaled, adjusting his collar.
she said,
“Earlier… you asked Priya how the characters were related or born in the story—how did you know about it? Honestly, I had almost forgotten the characters from my own old draft. But when you asked that question, something clicked. I suddenly remembered. It took me a few minutes to process it… and that’s why I’m asking now. You brought it back to me.”
Alice nodded slowly.
Andre glanced toward Joseph, then back at her.
“A few hours before all this… Joseph came into my office and slammed a file onto my desk. It was your printed draft. He looked me straight in the eye and said,
‘These are the stories she submitted during her interview. Read the trending drafts. You’ll understand where these characters were born. And you’ll need this—when the truth comes out.’
Then he walked out without another word.”
Alex, still nearby, let out a quiet, “Oh wow… Joseph,” under his breath.
Andre paused, his voice softening.
“I didn’t expect what I found in those pages… but it was all there. The passion. The love for writing. The pain. The honesty. The heart. I read it—and at first, I wasn’t even sure it was really yours. But I waited. I trusted Joseph would find the truth. I didn’t know you were going through so much, Alice. I’m… sorry. But I’m also glad. Glad he did what he did.”
Alice turned to Joseph, her expression softening.
In the silence, a quiet gesture of love passed between them—no words, just a look filled with deep gratitude… and something more.
Joseph replied silently,
“As long as I’m here,” he said quietly,
“No one will ever hurt you again. Never.”
They gently, calmly smiled at each other, eyes meeting—a gesture of love shared quietly between two souls who had been through too much.
Alex, watching from a distance, smiled gently and murmured to Neha,
“Look, it’s a pure form of love… the kind we needed too.”
Neha gave a faint, understanding smile back.
Alice smiled softly, then looked down, her voice barely above a whisper:
“Thank you, sir.”
Andre gave a small nod.
And for the first time—a faint smile.
Joseph gently placed his hands on Alice’s shoulders. She looked up, eyes glistening—not from tears, but from quiet joy. No words were needed. Their hearts spoke in silence. After everything they had been through—betrayal, heartbreak, pain—there was finally peace.
Joseph softly brushed a strand of hair from her face.
She smiled shyly and held his hand for a moment longer.
Across the room, Neha stood surprisingly next to Alex, her eyes filled with admiration.
Alex leaned a bit closer and whispered, “So... a date?”
Neha laughed lightly. “Maybe?”
“Just making sure it’s a yes,” he grinned.
“It’s a yes,” she replied.
Andre, watching both pairs from across the office, shook his head with a mock frown.
“Seriously? Is this office turning into a dating site now?”
They all burst into laughter.
“No romance in my office, okay? That’s a strict rule.” Andre raised a finger as if issuing a law.
Alex smirked, “Then maybe you should go find yours, boss. The street’s full of possibilities.”
Joseph joined in, “He’s not wrong though.”
Andre sighed dramatically, looking around at his empty desk.
“So I’m the only one left alone?”
He placed his hand on his heart. “Tragic.”
Everyone laughed again, the tension finally replaced by comfort, warmth, and new beginnings.
As the office lights softened in the fading afternoon, Joseph and Alice looked out the window, standing side by side.
Alice whispered, “Thank you... for believing in me.”
Joseph replied softly, “Always.” With a calm smile.
It was the kind of love that didn’t need loud declarations. It simply existed—deep, quiet, and true.
💖 THE END 💖
🌈 MORAL OF THE STORY
Truth, like love, doesn’t scream—it stays.
Even when the world doubts you, stay honest, stay kind.
In time, the truth will shine, the liars will fall, and love will find you—not in grand gestures, but in silent moments of loyalty and care.
Because the greatest victories are quiet—the kind that happen in hearts.
