Emma returns from her sick leave, only to find that her spot in the office has been taken by her husbands sister.
Michael, youve forgotten to turn the tap off again! The basin is spattered with rustcoloured streaks! Emma stands in the bathroom, eyeing the orange lines on the white porcelain.
Emma, I wasnt even in the house this morning, Michaels voice comes from the kitchen, irritated. Did you maybe forget yourself?
Ive been on sick leave for a month. Did I really have time to fiddle with the tap?
Michael leans out of the kitchen, wiping his hands on a towel.
Maybe the faucet broke on its own. Well call a plumber.
Emma waves him away. She doesnt feel like arguing; after the operation she still lacks strength and every movement is a struggle. She shuffles into the kitchen, lowers herself onto a chair, and Michael places a bowl of porridge in front of her.
Eat. The doctor said you need proper nutrition.
I know, Emma says, chewing slowly. The porridge is bland, but she has to swallow it. Her body is healing, very slowly.
It has been almost a month since the ambulance rushed her to the hospital. An appendicitis with complications required surgery, followed by an infection. Two weeks in hospital, then another two weeks at home. Emma has lost weight, looks pale, feels as if she were sixty, even though she is only fortyfive.
Michael, hows work? Who have you called? she asks between spoonfuls.
I rang Mr. Thompson. He told me to take it easy, not to rush.
Anything else?
Something in Michaels tone sounds off. Emma watches him more closely. He averts his gaze and starts vigorously scrubbing a frying pan.
Michael, youre holding back something.
No, everythings fine! Dont make things up.
Im not making it up. I can feel it.
Michael sighs, puts down the sponge, and turns to her.
Listen, something did happen, but you dont need to worry, okay? You must stay calm.
Emmas heart quickens.
What happened?
Well Charlotte has started working in your office, temporarily, while youre on sick leave.
Silence falls. Emma stares at Michael, disbelief flashing across her face.
Charlotte? Your sister? In the accounts department?
Yes. She was looking for a job, remember? And when Mr. Thompsons vacancy opened, he hired her as a cover.
My place, Emma says hoarsely.
Technically, yes. But its only temporary. Youll come back and everything will be as it was.
Emma pushes the bowl away; her appetite disappears. Charlotte Michaels twentythreeyearold sister, tall, whitetoothed and ambitious as a skyscraper. Emma never liked her. From the first meeting, when Michael introduced them, Charlotte looked down on Emma as if she were unworthy of her brother. After the wedding, the contempt became obvious.
Michael married an accountant, Charlotte used to brag to friends, and Emma heard every word. Can you imagine? An accountant! How boring!
Michael does love Emma, or at least he seems to. They have been together fifteen years, and throughout that time Charlotte has stayed on the periphery, turning up for holidays, bringing token gifts, then slipping back into her own life.
Now she has taken Emmas spot.
Why didnt you tell me? Emma asks, trying not to let her voice shake.
I didnt want to upset you. You were ill.
When did this happen?
Two weeks ago.
Two weeks! And you kept quiet?
Emma, calm down! It isnt permanent. Youll recover, youll return, and Charlotte will go.
Charlotte, Emma repeats bitterly. Always Charlotte.
She rises and heads to the bedroom. Michael stays in the kitchen, muttering under his breath.
Lying on the bed, she watches the ceiling and imagines Charlotte sitting at her desk, in her office, handling her paperwork, smiling at Mr. Thompson with that practiced grin.
Emma closes her eyes and recalls how, twenty years ago, she walked into this company full of enthusiasm. She started as an assistant accountant, worked her way up to senior specialist, knowing every figure, every file. She has always worked honestly and diligently.
Now a stranger, a relative, occupies her place.
Emma spends another week on sick leave. The doctor extends it, saying its still too early to return. But she is desperate to go back, to reclaim her desk, to drive Charlotte out like an invader.
Michael urges, Take another day. Health comes first.
Emma senses he is hiding something. He returns from work later than usual, answers questions evasively, spends evenings glued to his phone, smiling at someone on the other end.
Who are you talking to? she asks one night.
Charlotte. Shes asking about work, Im explaining.
Why doesnt she ask me?
Probably doesnt want to bother you.
Emma stays quiet, but the suspicion deepens.
Finally, the doctor clears her to go back. She dresses carefully, puts on her best suit, does her makeup, fixes her hair, and looks in the mirror at a pale, older version of herself. She hides the worry.
Im off to work, she tells Michael over breakfast.
Maybe you should rest a bit longer? Youre still weak.
Im fine. The sick leave is over, its time to work.
Michael walks her to the door, kisses her cheek, and wishes her luck.
Emma rides the bus to the office, nervous about what awaits her, how colleagues will react, what Mr. Thompson will say, and what Charlotte will do.
The office sits in an old building in central London. Emma steps onto the third floor, pushes open the familiar door, and meets Olivia, the receptionist.
Emma! Youre back! How are you?
Fine. Im recovered. Wheres Mr. Thompson?
Hes in his office. Come in.
Emma walks down the corridor, passes the accounts department, and catches a glimpse of Charlotte at her desk. Charlotte, in a sleek dress, hair down, looks as bright as a peacock, laughing with Sarah, Emmas colleague. Emma turns away and moves on, then knocks on the managers door.
Come in, says a voice.
Inside, Mr. Thompson sits at his desk, leafing through papers. He stands as Emma enters.
Emma Thompson! Good to see you. Hows your health?
Fine. Heres my fit note, she says, handing him the document.
He scans it quickly. All right. So youre back as of today?
Yes, from today.
He pauses, then says, Emma, I need to speak with you. Please, have a seat.
Emma sits, heart racing.
You know that while you were away I hired Charlotte Miller, your husbands sister, to cover your role.
His sister, Emma repeats, stunned.
Yes. Shes performed well, learned quickly, and the clients are happy.
What are you saying?
Mr. Thompson leans back, folds his hands.
Youre an excellent employee, but given your age and recent illness, perhaps you should consider a lighter position.
Emma feels a cold rush.
Youre firing me?
No, not firing. Im offering a transfer to HR as a junior officer. Same pay, lighter load.
And my desk will stay with Charlotte?
Basically, yes.
Emma stands, hands trembling, fists clenched.
Mr. Thompson, Ive worked here twenty years without a single complaint. And now, because of some young woman
Emma, calm down. This is a business decision, nothing personal.
Nothing personal? Youre taking my job!
Im offering an alternative. You can stay in HR, or you could look elsewhere.
Mr. Thompson shrugs. Your call.
Emma leaves the office, barely holding back tears, and walks back to the accounts department. Charlotte looks up, her face breaking into a sweet smile.
Hey, Emma! How are you feeling? All better?
What are you doing here? Emma asks coldly.
Im working. Mr. Thompson offered me the role, I accepted. Youre not opposed, are you?
Of course Im opposed.
Charlottes smile hardens.
Emma, its just business. Nothing personal.
Second time Ive heard that in ten minutes. You and Mr. Thompson must have rehearsed it.
She shrugs, turns back to her computer. Think what you like. Im here legally.
Emma stands in the middle of the department, feeling the eyes of Sarah, Olivia, James, and the others on her. All glance away, embarrassed, uneasy.
Is no one saying anything? she asks the empty room. Everyone okay with this?
Silence.
She turns and walks toward the exit.
Outside, she sits on a bench by the building, pulls out her phone, and calls Michael.
Emma, hows work? he asks.
Theyve demoted me. Your sister took my place. Did you know anything about this?
There is a pause.
Emma
Answer me. Did you know?
Charlotte told me Mr. Thompson was pleased with her work
You knew they were moving me?
Not to move you, just to suggest another role
You all conspired! Emmas voice trembles. You, your sister, the boss! Everyone against me!
No, no! Emma, calm down! Michael replies.
She hangs up, watches pedestrians pass, cars roll by, life goes on. Her world feels stripped awayher job taken, her husbands betrayal, family turned foe.
She reflects on how she met Michael. Both were thirty, a bit past their youth, weary of loneliness. He was an engineer, she an accountant. They met at a mutual friends birthday, swapped numbers, began dating. Michael was steady, reliable. Emma craved stability, and Michael gave it. They married after six months, rented a flat, then bought a house. They lived quietly. No children, due to Emmas health issues, but Michael never pressed.
Charlotte had shown up at the wedding, Michaels younger sister, attractive and bold. She congratulated them, gave Emma a sharp glance, and said, Well, congratulations. Someone finally has a husband to chase after. Emma kept quiet, not wanting to spoil the celebration, but the comment stuck.
All those years Charlotte kept her distance, studying, hopping jobs, always supported financially by Michael while Emma stayed silent.
Now that family has taken a bite out of Emmas life.
That evening Emma returns home. Michael is in the kitchen trying to cook dinner. He sees her, flusters:
Emma, lets talk calmly
I dont want to talk.
Please, I didnt want it to end like this!
How could you want it? To hand my place to your sister, to be happy?
I thought it was only temporary while you were ill!
Mr. Thompson offered me a junior HR post. A junior post! Do you realise how humiliating that is?
Ill speak to her, ask her to leave.
Its too late. Shes entrenched. Mr. Thompson is pleased, the staff are silent. Im alone against everyone.
Youre not alone. Im with you!
You? The one who knew and kept quiet? Who let your sister take my place?
I didnt allow it! She did it herself! I learned about it only after it happened!
And you kept silent. Lied for two weeks.
Michael stays silent, unable to argue.
Emma retreats to the bedroom, lies on the bed, stares at the ceiling, a cold emptiness inside.
The next day she returns to the office and meets Mr. Thompson.
Ill accept the HR transfer.
He nods, pleased.
Wise decision. Well process the paperwork.
Emma begins work in HR, handling personnel files, filling formsmonotonous, far from her former role. Charlotte struts through the office in new dresses, high heels, perfect hair, greeting Emma sweetly:
Hi, Emma! How are you?
Emma turns away, says nothing.
Colleagues feel sympathy; Sarah leans over and whispers, Emma, hang in there. This is unfair. No one steps up to defend her.
A week passes. Emma does her HR duties, talks little with Michael, who tries to reconnect but she rebuffs him.
Emma, can we at least discuss this?
Nothing to discuss.
He persists, Youre being unreasonable!
She replies, I can be.
One evening her friend Lucy calls.
Emma, I heard about your trouble at work. Is it true?
Yes, they moved me.
How did they move you?
Emma explains.
Thats nasty! Your sisterinlaw!
Exactly.
What are you doing? Fight back!
I cant. The boss sides with her. My husband betrayed me.
Dont give up, Emma. Youre a fighter!
Im tired of fighting, Lucy. I just want peace.
Not on someone elses terms. Lets meet.
They meet at a café the next day. Lucy, a lively teacher, has known Emma since school.
Tell me everything from the start, Lucy says over coffee.
Emma recounts the hospital, the surgery, the replacement, the conversation with Mr. Thompson. Lucy listens.
I think somethings off, Lucy says. A senior employee isnt usually swapped for a newcomer without a good reason.
What do you mean?
Maybe Charlotte has something with the boss.
Emma ponders. Mr. Thompson usually values experience, so why this sudden switch?
Maybe theres more, Emma muses.
Lucy suggests, Watch them. Look for clues.
Emma begins to observe. She notices Charlotte often visits Mr. Thompsons office, stays long, leaves smiling. Mr. Thompson returns the smile, watches her go.
She asks Sarah, Dont you think its odd how quickly he kept Charlotte?
Sarah shrugs, I dont know what they talk about. Im scared to say anything, might lose my job.
Emma realises everyone is afraid.
She decides to act. She arrives early, stays late, eavesdropping, noting details. One afternoon she hears a fragment through a slightly ajar door:
…the promotion we discussed you promised it within a month
Right, the promotion. Ill look into it.
Emma steps back. PromotionCharlotte isnt just a temporary cover; she aims to stay and move up.
Back in her HR cubicle, Emmas mind races. She calls Lucy.
Lucy, Ive heard Charlotte negotiated a promotion. Shes not leaving.
Good! Thats our opening.
Lucy urges, Find a mistake, something you can use.
Emma, familiar with the accounts, begins reviewing Charlottes work. She discovers a miscalculated tax rate in one filingsmall but noticeable. If audited, it could cause a fine.
She prints the document and goes to Mr. Thompsons office.
Mr. Thompson, I need to show you something.
He looks up, frowning.
What is it?
Ive found an error in Charlottes calculationsa wrong tax rate and an incorrect total.
He examines the paper, his face tightening.
Youre right. That needs fixing.
If the tax authority spots it, we could be penalised.
He nods, Ill tell Charlotte to correct it.
Emma hopes this will expose her. She returns to her desk, disappointed when he offers no further comment.
She digs deeper, finds four more slipups in Charlottes recent reports. She gathers them into a folder and goes back to Mr. Thompson.
More errors, Mr. Thompsonfive in a month.
He sighs, Emma, what are you doing? Spying on a colleague?
Im checking the paperwork. Its part of my job.
He leans back, eyes narrowing.
Emma, the decision stands. Charlotte stays. You can stay in HR or you can look for another job.
Are you firing me?
No, Im suggesting you think about it. You seem uncomfortable here.
Emma leaves his office, stunned. She walks the corridor, feeling the weight of being squeezed out.
That evening at home she tells Michael, Im resigning.
He drops the TV.
What?
Im leaving. Mr. Thompson made it clear Im not wanted.
He protests, But
No. Im tired of fighting. Let her have the job if she wants it. Ill find something else.
Michael embraces her, Im sorry, its my fault.
Im responsible too. I didnt protect myself.
The next day Emma hands in her resignation. Mr. Thompson accepts it without comment. She serves her twoweek notice; colleagues say goodbye, Sarah even cries.
Emma, you were the heart of the accounts team, Sarah says.
Yes, Emma replies.
Charlotte offers a perfunctory farewell, Good luck, Emma.
Emma exits the building for the last time, looks back at the old office, sighs, and feels a strange relief as the burden lifts.
Back at home, she opens the box of her belongings, puts itShe stepped onto the bustling London street, feeling the crisp air and a renewed certainty that her future, though uncertain, belonged entirely to her.
