Betrayal in the air.

Michael's heart sank as he trudged into the conference room. He could feel the tension in the air as soon as he entered. John Smith, his boss, sat at the head of the table with a stern expression on his face. Michael took a seat, feeling a knot form in his stomach.

"Michael, we've received reports that you've been misusing company resources," John said, his voice cold and unfeeling.

"What? That's not true!" Michael protested.

"We have evidence, Michael, that you've been using company time and equipment for your own personal projects," John said, his voice rising.

Michael's mind raced as he tried to figure out where this was coming from. He had always been a hardworking employee, going above and beyond what was asked of him.

"You've cost this company a lot of money, Michael," John said, his voice dripping with anger. "We've calculated it all, and it's a huge loss. You're going to have to pay it all back."

John grabbed a stack of papers and threw them in Michael's direction. The invoice smacked Michael in the face, causing him to flinch.

Michael took the papers and looked down at them with a sinking feeling in his stomach. The amount listed was astronomical, and there was no way he could pay it all back.

"I swear I didn't know," he stammered, feeling helpless and trapped.

"It doesn't matter if you knew or not," John said, his tone menacing. "The company trusted you, and you've betrayed that trust. You're lucky we're not pressing charges."

Michael felt like he'd been punched in the gut. He had no idea how he was going to pay back such a large sum of money. He stood up, anger bubbling to the surface.

"This is ridiculous! You have no evidence, you're just making this up!" He shouted.

John's face turned red with anger. "

Keep your voice down, Michael!"

Michael calm down.

" You're no longer an assistant manager in our company. Until you pay back the stolen money, you will work here as a janitor. And to think, I thought hiring a graduate from a third-tier university would be a good thing. You're not even fit to work here!"

" But..." Michael said before being cut off.

"You're just a middle-class guy who can't afford to pay back what he owes." John' tone was heated.

One of the other employees chimed in, "Yeah, you're nothing but a loser. You'll never make it in this industry."

Michael felt like he was being attacked on all sides.

"I'm sorry," he said, his voice quiet. He couldn't bear to be in the room any longer and stood up to leave.

As he walked out of the conference room, he could hear the laughter and snide comments from his former colleagues. He felt like humiliated and helpless, like he had hit rock bottom and didn't know where to turn.

As Michael walked through the office, he could feel the stares of his coworkers burning into his back. He could hear them whispering behind him, making snide remarks about his lack of success.

"I can't believe he thought he could get away with stealing from the company," he heard one say.

"He was probably just trying to supplement his meager salary," another sneered.

Michael clenched his fists in anger and frustration. How could they be so quick to judge him just because he was poor?

He suspected that this was a plot against him but from whom?

Feeling defeated, he slung his bag over his shoulder and headed towards the exit. As he passed by his coworkers, he could hear their laughter and jeers echoing in his ears.

"Don't let the door hit you on the way out, loser," one shouted.

Michael gritted his teeth and walked out the door, determined not to let their words get the best of him.

One day, he would prove all of them wrong.

On his way back, he think that now his girlfriend's company would be the best thing to take his mind off the tragedy.

As he entered his apartment, he was greeted by the sweet fragrance of jasmine candles, he thought his girlfriend Samantha Cooper had lit up to welcome him.

"Yes, baby!" Samantha called out from the bedroom.

Michael heard her, but couldn't make out why she was so upbeat.

He sighed. He had meant to tell her about his demotion but was not looking forward to the conversation. "Hey, Sam," he said, walking towards the bedroom.

As he got closer, he heard strange noises, and his heart began to race. It sounded like Samantha was flirting with someone else. Michael paused, unsure of what to do. In the end, curiosity got the best of him, and he pushed open the door.

The sight that met him was one he would never forget. Samantha was in bed with a man, dressed in a sexy slip dress , her hands running through the man's hair. Michael took a step back, and they both looked up at him, wide-eyed with shock.

"Michael, I can explain," Samantha began, but he didn't wait to hear the rest.

"Ryan? What the hell are you doing in my apartment?" Michael growled.

Ryan Smith, the son of Michael's boss John Smith, had always been boastful and entitled. Rumor had it that he had only gotten his job at the company because of his connections. Ryan smirked, flipping his hair back as he sat up in the bed.

"I'd ask you the same, but it's pretty obvious," he retorted.

Michael could feel his anger building, and he walked towards Ryan. "What's going on here? Samantha, what the hell is happening? Why are you in bed with him?"

To Michael's shock, Samantha didn't deny it. Instead, she grinned wickedly, her eyes gleaming with malice. "What can I say, Michael? Ryan's a catch,rich , handsome and I couldn't resist. You are just poor trash."

Michael took a step back, struck by Samantha's callousness. "Is that all you have to say? No explanation or apology?"

Samantha rolled her eyes. "You're just upset because you got demoted . Get over it, Michael. Life sucks sometimes, but you need to deal with it like an adult."

Michael could feel his blood boiling, how dare Samantha do this to him? cheat on him with Ryan?