The smell of newspaper ink calmed my torn nerves significantly. I sighed and ran my fingers through my hair, as I walked into the office and headed up the stairs to speak with Carl.

The moment I stepped into his office I knew something was wrong.

The reason was glaringly obvious. Gabby sat in a chair in front of Carl, polishing her nails and looking like the cat that caught the canary... 

"Alex would you please take a seat?" Carl gestured to the seat beside Gabby.

I blinked in surprise, forgetting how to form words.

It was strange how I now wished to be back in Paris running from the smugglers. That was much less stressful. 

"What's going on?" I asked nervously, edging my way round Gabby, giving her a wide berth. 

Gabby crossed one leg over the other and smirked at me as I sat down tentatively in my chair.  

Carl cleared his throat and spoke,"Gabby here has brought some information to my attention."

"And that is?" I asked.

"She says you've been scooping her." Carl furrows his bushy grey eyebrows.

"What?!" I exclaim. 

"I have proof!" She pouts, crocodile tears forming. 

"Even if she does, Scooping someone isn't illegal or anything!" I exclaim. 

"You see how she is?!" Gabby exclaimed, tears filling her eyes.

I turn to her and gasp, "What?!"

Carl shook his head at me. "Under the circumstances. I've decided to let you go."

"Under the circumstances?! What circumstances?! This is wrongful termination!!!" I shriek. 

"You see how violent she is?" Gabby sobs. 

"It's alright Gabby." Carl replies comfortingly. 

I stood up and clenched my fists.

"I swear I'll sue you if you do this!" I growl. 

Carl leaned over and pushed a button on the phone on his desk.

"Martha could you send security for miss Griffin?"

"What?! seriously?!"

I gasp as the uniformed guards appear to escort me out of the building.

I walked out of the offices with a heavy heart and a box full of my desk items.

I'd never felt so ashamed. I knew I didn't do anything wrong, and I should have been suspicious about how odd Carl was acting. But I was too angry to think.

I walked along the busy London street as it started to rain.

I took a walk through the park, and wandered for about half an hour. Finally I was brought out of my moping by the noise of my phone going off.

Briing briing.

"Hello?" I answer dully. 

"Hey girl I'm done work, where are you?" Cindy chirps. 

"I'm going for a wander." I reply tiredly. 

"Why what happened?" She asks. 

"I'd rather not talk about it, I'm just going to get a tea and get some air... I'll be home soon."

"Okay..." She replies skeptically. 

Beep, I hang up on her. 

I walked over to one of my favorite coffee shops.

And ordered my usual Chai Tea Latte.

I tipped the barista and took the warm cup outside to the park across the street. Sitting down on the frosty bench I gazed at the sun setting over my beautiful city.

I took a sip of the tea and felt tears pricking my eyes. It seemed like no mater what I did everything went terribly wrong.

"Bad day my dear?"

I looked up at the beautiful woman with dark brown hair and eyes.

"Pretty much the worst." I admitted as the woman took a seat next to me.

"I've been told I'm a very good listener." She remarked staring off into the lake. 

"I highly doubt you want to hear about all the drama in my life." I scoffed. 

"Try me."

I sigh. "Fine but you asked for it..." There was no easy way to say this... "Well, my ex roommate slept with my boyfriend, then I went to Paris and I come back and she's stolen my job too, she got promoted instead of me. And then to rub salt in a bleeding wound. She got me fired... And I'm not even sure how she managed that one!"

"Why that sounds terrible my dear. Tell me. Is there not one good thing in your life?" She asked.

"Well... I met a man in France." I admitted. 

"You mean you met a murderer..." She spat coldly. 

"I beg your pardon!" I exclaimed. 

"That man murdered my son, my only chance at happiness. And now I aim to return the favor." She snarled turning to glare at me.

She waved her hand in front of my face and my eyes closed.