Marianna had always prided herself on her cunning and sharp intellect. As the queen bee of the office, she relished in the power she held over her coworkers, especially the young cleaner, Valya. She had noticed the girl’s quiet nature from the first day she had stepped into the office—a timid, almost invisible figure, always cleaning up after others, never standing up for herself. But Marianna found Valya to be more than just an easy target. To her, she was a challenge, an opportunity to prove her dominance.

Valya had always dreamed of a better life, one where she didn’t have to work long hours just to survive. Her family had always struggled with money, and the position she had at the office was a stepping stone to a brighter future. But she never could have predicted that her path would lead her into the crosshairs of Marianna, the office's undisputed star.

It all began on payday, a day Valya had been eagerly awaiting, the one time she could take a breath of relief from the monotony of her cleaning duties. But that day was unlike any other. The CEO, Nikolai Ivanovich, a man whose presence filled the entire office with a palpable air of authority, walked in. The office went silent as if the very walls had swallowed their voices. The employees, who always trembled in his presence, straightened their backs and tried to act as if they weren’t nervous. But Marianna stood out. She wasn’t intimidated. Her confidence, sharp as a blade, seemed to be her weapon of choice.

Nikolai Ivanovich, a former military man with a statuesque physique, scanned the room. His eyes briefly met Marianna’s, and for a split second, there was a silent exchange between them—something unspoken, but understood.

As Nikolai made his way through the office, Marianna stood up from her desk, gracefully smoothing out the wrinkles in her pencil skirt, her heels clicking on the polished floor as she approached him. The coffee she had been sipping sloshed in her cup, spilling slightly on her desk. But she was unfazed.

“Hello, Nikolai Ivanovich. Why haven’t you visited us for so long?” Marianna’s voice was smooth, laced with a flirtatious edge. Her lips curled into a smile, but it was a smile that could melt even the coldest of hearts.

Nikolai raised an eyebrow, his stern expression softening for a moment. He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, his gaze swept across the room, acknowledging the employees around him, and then briefly rested on Valya, who was wiping down the copier with a napkin, oblivious to the scene unfolding before her.

Marianna’s sharp eyes immediately caught the sight of the girl, and her smile turned into something more malicious.

“Though,” she continued, her voice dripping with disdain, “you know, there’s no missing out here. The HR department hires who knows what kind of people. The new cleaner does such a terrible job cleaning the office. We might as well be sitting in a pigsty.”

Marianna’s words were like venom, slipping effortlessly from her lips as she turned back to Nikolai Ivanovich. She took his arm, guiding him closer to her workstation with practiced ease. She purposefully pointed at the coffee stain on her desk, the one that had spilled just moments ago, her face contorting in mock anger.

“See? Do you see how our cleaner maintains my workspace? She completely ignores it! It’s always dusty and dirty here,” she added with exaggerated exasperation, her eyes glinting with malicious glee.

Nikolai Ivanovich’s eyes darkened. His usually composed face tightened into a frown as he surveyed the room. He was a man who valued discipline, order, and precision. It was no secret that he abhorred disorder in any form. He turned to Valya, who was standing a few feet away, looking flustered and unsure.

“Come to my office,” he said sharply. His voice was cold, and the words hung in the air like an ominous cloud.

Valya froze. Her heart raced as she tried to comprehend what was happening. What had she done wrong? She had been working diligently, trying to do her job well. But Marianna’s cruel words had cut deep, and now the CEO himself was calling her into his office.

As Valya entered Nikolai Ivanovich’s office, the door closed behind her with a soft click. The air felt heavy, suffocating. She stood before him, her hands trembling as she tried to maintain her composure. The CEO’s piercing gaze was trained on her, and she could feel the weight of his stare.

“Why is there a mess in the office?” he asked, his voice like ice. “Why are you performing your duties so poorly?”

Valya swallowed hard, feeling a lump form in her throat. She had never been good with confrontation, and now, facing the wrath of the CEO, she felt completely exposed.

“I... I don’t know, sir,” she stammered, trying to make sense of his accusation. “I’ve been cleaning every day, and I do my best—”

“You do your best?” Nikolai interrupted, his voice sharp. “Your best isn’t enough. Do you realize the effect your incompetence has on this company? Your job is to maintain order, and you’re failing. Why should I keep you on if you can’t even keep a simple office clean?”

Valya felt her face burn with shame. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, but she fought to keep them back. She wanted to speak up, to defend herself, but the words caught in her throat. She had been trying so hard to do her job, to make sure everything was in order. But it seemed like no matter how hard she worked, it was never enough.

As she stood there, the silence in the room thickened. It was then that she heard a voice, low and calm, cutting through the tension.

“Is this how you treat your employees, Nikolai Ivanovich?”

Valya turned, startled by the voice. To her surprise, it was Marianna. She had followed her into the office, her heels clicking sharply against the floor.

“Excuse me?” Nikolai asked, his voice cold and imperious.

“I’m just saying,” Marianna continued, her voice dripping with sarcasm, “you’re blaming her for the mess when it’s clearly not her fault. Maybe you should consider the fact that the rest of the office is a mess too. But no, you’re going to single her out, aren’t you?”

Nikolai’s expression darkened. “Marianna, this is not your business.”

“But it is,” she replied smoothly, a sly smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “You’ve been treating her like dirt, Nikolai. And for what? Because she’s just doing her job? Maybe you should look at your own behavior and see where the real problem lies.”

Valya’s heart raced as she watched the scene unfold before her. For the first time, she saw Marianna in a different light. She had always thought of Marianna as someone who was above her, someone who had everything and treated her like an insignificant speck. But now, she was standing up for her. She was defending her.

Nikolai stood there, speechless for a moment. His eyes flicked between Marianna and Valya, and for the first time, Valya saw a flicker of doubt in his gaze.

“You should go,” Marianna said, her tone final. “We’re done here.”

Nikolai didn’t say another word. He turned and walked out of the office, leaving Marianna and Valya standing there, the weight of the moment hanging between them.

Valya stood still, her heart still pounding in her chest. For the first time, she felt like someone had fought for her.

“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Marianna smiled, her usual coldness replaced with something softer. “You’re welcome. Don’t let him get to you. You’re better than that.”

As Valya left the office, she felt a strange sense of empowerment. She had faced her fear, stood up for herself, and had someone fight by her side. For the first time in a long time, she felt like she mattered.

And as she walked back to her desk, she realized that the battle wasn’t over. But she was ready for whatever came next.

The power of standing up for yourself—of having someone stand by your side—was stronger than any accusation. And for the first time, Valya felt like she had the strength to take on the world.