Devil's Prisoner of Love by Prefer

The entire room froze at Aurora's sudden declaration.

"What? Miss Montgomery, what did you just say?" Willow Shore was stunned. She had only exchanged a few angry words, and now Miss Montgomery was saying she should stay and work here? She must have misheard. Or maybe she was still dreaming.

"I said, from now on, you'll take her place," Aurora replied, her voice crisp and to the point.

"Aurora, if you want to humiliate me, there's no need for such theatrics. If you want me gone, I'll leave," Gemma said, her face clouded with resentment. She had just spent ages begging for the position, only for Aurora to ignore her. Now, inexplicably, the spot was being handed to a juice-bar waitress. How could she accept this?

"You're mistaken," Aurora said, her expression unchanged. "I never do anything pointless, and I certainly wouldn't change decisions because of you. You're not as important to me as you imagine."

Aurora truly had no reason to humiliate Gemma-it wasn't worth her time. If she wanted to embarrass her, there were plenty of simpler and more effective ways. But Aurora didn't care enough. For her, there were far more pressing matters to attend to. Gemma barely registered in her thoughts. If not for this incident, she might have forgotten Gemma altogether.

"Miss Montgomery, I haven't done anything. Why would you hire me? I don't know how to do anything..." Willow Shore stammered, completely confused.

Only Heather seemed to understand Aurora's nature. She was not someone to act without reason. If Aurora said something, there was always a purpose behind it.

"Miss Montgomery must think you have a strong memory and sees potential in you. She likely wants to cultivate that talent," Heather offered after some thought. Gemma sneered. "A good memory? Who knows if she just happened to glance at the desk and counted the items out of boredom. This is pure luck! A person who didn't even go to college-how low are the company's hiring standards that you'd bring her in?"

Aurora's eyes narrowed slightly. "Luck, you say? Very well. Willow, tell me-what distinctive features did the manager you just saw have?"

a cup

scene, and then spoke. "The manager was wearing a brown

that's nothing special. I

was a pearl brooch on the left side. The sleeves were three-quarter length. She had medium- length, slightly wavy chestnut hair. There's a small mole on her chin and another near her

than Willow had, yet she had never noticed the tiny mole on her face until Willow mentioned it. The girl's memory was indeed remarkable. Gemma felt bitter, but there was no denying the truth. "Excellent," Aurora said with a

but quickly nodded enthusiastically. "I'm willing! Thank you, Miss Montgomery, for giving me this opportunity. I've watched your perfume launches online before, and I've always admired you. I can't believe I

said, confident she had made the

in frustration. To be so easily replaced by

dispassionate glance at Gemma. Her eyes held no anger or reproach. The matter was resolved, and Aurora had suffered no loss. That was enough for

bitterness, and helplessness. Aurora's lack of scolding

Heather out of the room, Gemma watched Willow Shore bombard Heather with curious

feel free to ask me or another colleague. Once your paperwork is done, I'll

walking past them. The other employees were still in the dark about what had happened. Why was

instead led Willow away

were gone, the

what's going on? Why are you packing?

I'm leaving the company," Gemma replied

is doing so well! Why would you leave now, especially when we're on an upward trajectory? It