Chapter 4 Subtle Shifts

By the second day, the heroine no longer felt like a stranger wandering into forbidden territory. She arrived early, just as she had learned to do on the streets, and quietly began her work without drawing attention to herself.

The office was already buzzing. Phones rang, printers hummed, and footsteps echoed along the polished floors. Some employees still glanced at her with thinly veiled curiosity, but others had begun to treat her presence as ordinary.

Alexander noticed the change immediately.

From his office, he watched her move through her tasks with quiet efficiency. She listened more than she spoke, observed carefully, and adapted quickly. There was no hesitation in her work, no attempt to impress. That alone impressed him.

During a brief meeting, Alexander stepped out into the open office space. Conversations softened instantly. The heroine did not look up until he was standing close.

"You're settling in well," he said calmly.

"Yes, sir," she replied, her tone respectful but not nervous.

He nodded once and walked away, but the exchange did not go unnoticed.

Whispers followed.

Later that morning, the rich girl returned.

She entered with the confidence of someone who believed the space belonged to her. Her eyes scanned the room until they landed on the heroine once more. This time, she did not simply observe.

"So this is her," she said lightly, her voice carrying just enough to draw attention. "The new hire."

The heroine paused, then continued working without responding.

The rich girl smiled, clearly amused. "Interesting choice," she added, glancing toward Alexander's office.

A few nearby employees exchanged looks.

Alexander stepped out moments later, his presence cutting through the tension. "Is there a problem?" he asked.

"Not at all," the rich girl replied smoothly. "I was just curious."

"Curiosity should not disrupt work," he said, his tone even but firm.

The smile on her lips tightened slightly.

For the rest of the day, small things began to shift. Tasks were reassigned. Conversations stopped when the heroine approached. Mistakes she had not made were quietly blamed on her. None of it was obvious, but all of it was deliberate.

She noticed, but she did not react.

Instead, she focused on her work, double-checking everything, remaining calm and unshaken. Each quiet correction she made exposed the false accusations without confrontation.

Alexander noticed that too.

By evening, the rich girl left the office with irritation clear on her face. Her plan had not worked, at least not today.

As the office slowly emptied, Alexander paused near the heroine's desk. "You handled yourself well," he said.

She looked up, surprised. "I just did my job."

He studied her for a moment before nodding. "That is enough."

As she packed up to leave, the office felt different. The balance had shifted, just slightly.

And everyone felt it.