FALLEN

Nicholas Leonard glanced at his wristwatch and frowned.

It was already past four in the afternoon.

He looked towards the employee making a presentation in front of the conference room, then back at his watch. He had been trying to concentrate on the meeting, but his thoughts kept drifting elsewhere.

Finally, he could take it no longer.

"All right, gentlemen, I think we should bring this meeting to a close," he announced, rising from his seat.

The room fell silent.

Mr. Jude, who had been presenting, paused mid-sentence. He stared at Nicholas, wondering whether he had said something wrong.

"Sir, is there a problem with the presentation?" he asked cautiously.

Nicholas turned towards him.

"No, Jude. Your presentation was fine. In fact, you did an excellent job."

Mr. Jude released a breath he hadn't realised he was holding.

"Thank you, sir."

Nicholas nodded and gathered the documents in front of him.

"Rebecca will take over from here. She'll ensure the remaining details are sorted out, and I expect the final report on my desk tomorrow morning."

"Yes, sir," Rebecca Roberts replied from her seat beside the conference table.

Nicholas gave the room a final glance.

"If there's nothing else, you're all dismissed."

With that, he walked out of the conference room, leaving several employees exchanging curious looks.

Mr. Jude watched him leave, his brows furrowed.

"Did I do something wrong?" he whispered to the colleague sitting beside him.

His colleague shook his head.

"Not that I know of. Perhaps something urgent came up."

"Then why didn't he say so?"

"Your guess is as good as mine."

A few employees began whispering among themselves, trying to figure out what could have made their usually composed boss end a meeting so abruptly.

One of them leaned towards another.

"It's probably about his son."

"His son?"

"Yes. Perhaps something happened to him."

"That would explain it."

It was no secret that Nicholas Leonard was a demanding businessman who took his work seriously. He rarely allowed personal matters to interfere with company affairs.

However, there was one person who could make him abandon everything without a second thought.

His six-year-old son, Alexander.

---

Victoria Jones sat quietly on the couch in the small apartment she shared with her best friend, Rebecca Roberts.

Rebecca had been complaining about her boss for the better part of an hour, and Victoria had listened patiently, occasionally offering a comment or laughing at one of her friend's dramatic descriptions.

"Honestly, Toria, I don't know how much longer I can keep doing this," Rebecca grumbled, throwing her hands into the air. "That man can be so frustrating sometimes. Does he ever consider that his employees have lives outside the office?"

Victoria chuckled.

"Becca, you say this almost every week."

"And every week, he gives me another reason to complain!"

"Then perhaps you should find yourself another job."

Rebecca turned to her with a horrified expression.

"Another job? And leave my salary behind? My dear, let me complain in peace."

Victoria burst out laughing.

"All right, all right. I won't disturb your suffering."

Rebecca picked up a cushion and tossed it at her.

"Very funny."

They both laughed, but when their laughter faded, Victoria's expression changed.

Rebecca noticed immediately.

"What's wrong?"

Victoria hesitated.

"There's something I need to tell you."

Rebecca sat up.

"Okay. I'm listening."

"I resigned from my job yesterday."

For a moment, Rebecca stared at her as though she hadn't heard correctly.

"You did what?"

"I resigned."

"Victoria Jones, are you serious right now?"

Victoria lowered her eyes.

"I wish I weren't."

Rebecca moved closer to her.

"But why? I thought you loved that job. You were always talking about how much you enjoyed working with Mr. Linn."

"I did love it," Victoria replied quietly. "I really did."

She swallowed, struggling to find the words.

"Everything changed after Mr. Linn died."

Mr. Linn had been the director of the company where Victoria worked as a secretary. He had died in a plane crash about a month earlier, leaving everyone shocked and heartbroken.

Victoria had respected him greatly. He was professional, considerate and never made her feel uncomfortable in the workplace.

His death had been devastating, but she had hoped things would eventually settle down under new management.

Unfortunately, they had only become worse.

"After Mr. Linn's death, Mr. Greg took over as director," she continued. "At first, I thought we would be able to work together. I tried to give him a chance, but I was wrong."

Rebecca listened without interrupting.

"He started making inappropriate comments about my appearance. Then he began asking me out, even after I made it clear that I wasn't interested."

Victoria's fingers tightened around the cushion on her lap.

"He sent me sexual videos and intimate pictures I never asked for. Sometimes, he would find an excuse to touch me whenever we were alone. I tried to avoid being in the office with him without other people around, but it wasn't always possible. I was his secretary, Becca. I couldn't exactly refuse to do my job."

Rebecca's expression hardened.

"That disgusting man!"

Victoria gave a humourless laugh.

"I thought ignoring him would make him stop. I thought if I remained professional, he would eventually get the message."

She paused, taking a deep breath.

"But yesterday, he went too far."

Rebecca reached for her hand.

"What happened?"

Victoria looked away.

"He called me into his office. I thought he needed some documents, so I went in. The next thing I knew, he was trying to grab me."

Her voice trembled slightly.

"I tried to get away, but he held me and forcefully kissed me."

Rebecca's mouth fell open.

"He did what?"

"I slapped him."

"Good!"

Victoria managed a small smile at her friend's immediate response, but the memory still left her unsettled.

"I told him I wasn't interested in him and that he had no right to touch me. Then I walked out of his office and handed in my resignation."

Rebecca pulled her into a hug.

"I'm so sorry, Toria. You didn't deserve any of that."

Victoria rested her head against her friend's shoulder.

"I know. But I keep thinking about how everything went wrong so quickly. I had a job I loved, a boss I respected and a career I was building. Now I have to start all over again."

"Did you report him?"

"I tried."

Victoria sighed.

"But Mr. Greg is now the director and the head of the disciplinary board. I couldn't get anywhere with my complaint. I felt as though I was fighting a battle I couldn't win."

Rebecca shook her head in disbelief.

"That man shouldn't be allowed to get away with this."

"I know, but I couldn't keep working there. I couldn't keep waking up every morning and dreading the thought of going to the office."

She wiped at the corner of her eye.

"I had to leave, Becca. I had to protect myself."

"And you did the right thing."

Victoria looked at her friend.

"You really think so?"

"Of course! No job is worth sacrificing your peace or allowing someone to treat you that way. You deserve to feel safe where you work."

For the first time since the conversation began, Victoria felt some of the weight on her chest ease.

"Thank you."

Rebecca squeezed her hand.

"So, what's the plan now?"

"I've been applying for jobs. I have a few interviews tomorrow, and I'm hoping something good comes out of them."

"That's more like it!" Rebecca exclaimed. "And don't worry. I'll keep an eye out for opportunities too. If I hear of anything suitable, you'll be the first person I tell."

Victoria smiled.

"Thank you, Becca. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Probably spend all your time being dramatic by yourself."

Victoria laughed and nudged her playfully.

"You're impossible."

"And you love me."

"I really do."

For a moment, they sat quietly, enjoying the comfort of each other's company.

Victoria knew the road ahead wouldn't be easy. She had bills to pay, a career to rebuild and an uncertain future to face.

But she had made one decision she wouldn't regret.

She would never again allow anyone to make her feel that she had to sacrifice her dignity to keep a job.

Whatever came next, she would face it on her own terms.