"Hey, ex-friend… did you like the surprise?"
The mocking voice came from behind just as Dinah stepped out of the meeting hall.
Dinah rolled her eyes instantly.
Of course she already knew who it was.
Slowly turning around, she faced Natasha calmly.
"I was honestly expecting something like this," Dinah replied casually. "But isn't it a little childish?"
Natasha laughed softly, crossing her arms over her chest.
"You're smart enough, Dinah," she said with a smile that barely hid her bitterness. "So I'm sure you already know what's coming next."
Dinah stared at her quietly for a few seconds before speaking again.
"You really think I'll just leave a company I started working in long before you and your father trampled on the former owner to acquire it?"
Natasha's smile widened.
"Dinah," she said slowly, "you don't really have a choice anymore. Don't you get it?"
The hallway suddenly felt colder.
Several employees passing nearby slowed down subtly, pretending not to listen while secretly paying attention.
Dinah noticed.
But she didn't care.
Instead, she tilted her head slightly and smiled faintly.
"So you're still determined to take everything from me, huh?"
Natasha's expression darkened almost immediately.
"Everything from you?" she repeated mockingly. "What exactly do you even have left, Dinah?"
She stepped closer.
"Your sick mother can barely take care of herself, let alone take care of you."
Another step.
"Your father already abandoned you by dying."
Another.
"And sooner or later even Adah will get tired and move on with her own life."
Her lips curled cruelly.
"Christopher already belongs to me."
Natasha spread her arms lightly.
"So tell me… what exactly is left for me to take?"
For a brief second, silence filled the corridor.
But instead of anger—
Dinah simply looked at Natasha thoughtfully.
Is this really jealousy? she wondered inwardly.
After all these years…
Natasha was still competing with her.
Still obsessed.
Still angry.
It suddenly felt sad more than threatening.
"So," Dinah asked softly, "what exactly do you want from me, little Natasha?"
The nickname instantly irritated Natasha.
Click.
Click.
Click.
Natasha walked three slow steps forward until she stood directly in front of Dinah.
Then she leaned slightly closer and whispered coldly,
"I want you miserable."
A pause.
"Can you do that for me?"
Dinah stared at her silently for a moment.
Truthfully, she never believed Natasha and her father were directly responsible for everything that happened to her family.
Her father's downfall began the moment he allowed another woman into their home and destroyed his marriage himself.
That pain belonged to her father's mistakes.
Not Natasha's.
Still…
Natasha had clearly enjoyed watching her suffer.
And that disappointed her deeply.
"Natasha," Dinah said quietly, "you're walking down the wrong path."
Her eyes remained calm.
"And what you still don't understand is this…"
Dinah stared at her calmly , not hatred or anger just pity.
"I will never become miserable the way you want."
Her voice stayed gentle but firm.
"And I will never allow you or your family control my life."
Then without waiting for another reply
She turned around and walked away.
Because unlike Natasha…
She was tired.
It was already evening.
She simply wanted to go home.
Behind her, Natasha clenched her fists tightly.
Hatred burned inside her chest.
She hated this.
Hated how every confrontation somehow ended the same way.
Dinah never broke.
Never screamed.
Never lost control.
Instead
Natasha always ended up being the angrier one.
And that drove her insane.
Not far away, Benny Smith had just exited the meeting hall after being delayed briefly by one of her colleagues.
She only caught the final part of the exchange between the two women.
But it was enough.
Benny's nose wrinkled immediately.
"Ohhh damn it …"
Her face twisted dramatically in disgust.
"You seriously reek of bad odor," Benny said while pinching her nose exaggeratedly. "I can barely stand here."
Natasha froze instantly.
Slowly, she turned toward Benny.
"…Excuse me?"
Her voice sharpened dangerously.
"Who reeks of bad odor?"
Natasha looked offended beyond belief.
"Do you even know how expensive my perfumes are?"
Benny blinked innocently.
"Now which of your silly questions should I answer first?" she asked lazily.
Then she sighed dramatically.
"But honestly… girl, you smell terrible."
Natasha's face darkened completely.
For the first time all evening, genuine rage flashed through her eyes.
Without thinking
She raised her hand to slap Benny.
But before her hand could even land
PAK!
Benny slapped her first.
Hard.
The sound echoed sharply through the corridor.
Everyone nearby froze.
Natasha staggered backward in complete shock.
Benny tilted her head calmly.
"Do you lack manners or were you simply raised badly?" Benny asked coldly.
"I said you smell with my mouth, and your first instinct is to hit me?"
She folded her arms.
"What happened now?"
Her lips curled mockingly.
"Cat got your tongue?"
Natasha stared at her in disbelief.
She
Natasha Bones..
Had just been slapped.
For the first time in her entire life.
"You…" her voice trembled violently. "I'll kill you!"
She lunged forward recklessly.
But Benny only smiled.
Good, she thought calmly.
Let me give you your first real regret.
Just before Natasha reached her
Benny casually stretched out one leg.
And because Natasha had zero combat training, combined with her ridiculously high heels
She lost balance instantly.
"Ahhh!"
THUD!
Natasha crashed flat onto the floor.
For one second
Silence.
Then laughter erupted nearby.
Several workers who witnessed the scene quickly covered their mouths.
Others openly laughed.
Natasha's face turned pale with humiliation.
Benny crouched slightly beside her with a small smile.
"Well, little princess," she whispered mockingly, "it's obvious you don't have the stamina for fights."
She dusted imaginary dirt off her sleeve.
"So next time…"
Her eyes turned colder.
"Pick someone your own size."
Then after a brief pause, she added quietly,
"And stop messing with Dinah."
A dangerous glint flashed through her eyes.
"Because the next person won't go easy on you."
Benny stood up smoothly and turned around to leave.
Only to suddenly freeze.
Dinah had returned.
Apparently, she went to get her bag and just came out to go home , and saw everything.
The two women stared at each other silently.
Then Benny awkwardly raised one hand immediately.
"I didn't touch her," she said innocently. "She slipped."
Dinah stared at her for a few seconds.
Then suddenly laughed softly.
At this point, she was fully convinced.
Benny was definitely a bully.
A terrifying one.
But somehow…
Dinah couldn't stop feeling grateful.
This was already the second time today Benny stood up for her.
And nobody had done that for her in a very long time.
"Come on," Dinah said finally with a smile. "Let me buy you dinner."
Then teasingly she added,
"That is… if you don't mind."
Benny instantly brightened.
"I don't mind at all, my lady," she said dramatically while bowing slightly.
Dinah laughed again and dragged her away before she could continue acting.
Behind them, Natasha struggled painfully to stand.
A few female workers rushed over to help her.
But instead of thanking them
Natasha immediately brushed off the places they touched with visible disgust.
The girls exchanged awkward looks instantly.
Then quietly left.
A few minutes later
Christopher came rushing into the hospital after receiving the news.
And Natasha's father
Who can't remember the last time his precious daughter got injured ..
Abandoned an important business meeting midway just to come see his daughter.