The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the office floor as Lara settled into her cubicle, trying to focus on the numbers in front of her. Her mind, however, was still spinning from the events of the past few days. The mysterious messages, the rumors at the office, and her growing uncertainty about Ethan—it was all too much.
She glanced at her phone, but there were no new messages. The last one from "A" had left her unsettled, but she couldn't afford to let it consume her. Not today.
Just then, a knock on her cubicle wall made her jump. She looked up to find a woman standing in front of her, holding a stack of files.
The woman had short dark hair, bright eyes, and a calm demeanor. She smiled softly.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but I'm new here," she said, holding out her hand. "I'm Kara. I've heard a lot about you from Mila. She speaks very highly of you."
Lara raised an eyebrow, a little surprised. "Mila talks about me?"
Kara laughed lightly. "Oh, yes. She says you're one of the most hardworking people in the office. And... if I'm being honest, I heard a few rumors about you and Mr. Blackwood. But don't worry, I'm not here to gossip."
Lara felt a flicker of surprise and curiosity. "Rumors?"
"Don't take it seriously," Kara said quickly, waving her hand. "People talk, but it's not important. I just wanted to introduce myself. I'm new in the finance department, and I'm still getting to know everyone."
Lara smiled politely. "Nice to meet you, Kara. How's your first week going?"
Kara sighed. "It's been a whirlwind. I didn't expect everything to be so fast-paced here. But I'm learning quickly."
Lara nodded. "You'll get the hang of it. It takes time, but this place is full of people who are willing to help."
"Speaking of help," Kara said with a shy smile, "I was wondering if you could take a look at these files for me. I'm still not sure if I'm doing things right."
Lara took the files, glancing over them quickly. "Sure, I can take a look."
As she flipped through the pages, Kara leaned against the cubicle wall. "I hope I'm not bothering you. I've just been hearing so much about you lately. People say you've been through a lot recently... Is everything okay?"
Lara paused. The kindness in Kara's voice felt genuine, but she couldn't help but feel guarded. How much did she really want to share? Could she trust this new woman?
"I'm fine," Lara said, trying to sound casual. "Just a lot of things to deal with."
Kara studied her for a moment. "You know, I've been through my fair share of challenges. If you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here. I've got a good ear, and I'm pretty good at keeping secrets."
Lara looked up at her, surprised by her words. She wasn't sure why, but something about Kara's sincerity made her want to believe her.
"Thank you," Lara said quietly, her voice softening. "That means a lot."
Kara smiled warmly. "Of course. No one should go through things alone."
As the conversation ended and Kara returned to her desk, Lara couldn't help but wonder if maybe, just maybe, she had found someone she could trust.
But as the day wore on, the weight of the mystery still lingered. Who knew about her pregnancy? Who was sending her those messages? And could she really trust the people around her?