The gossip at work had taken a new turn, and this time, it wasn’t just whispers in the corners of the office. People were talking about me, about us. About Tristan and me. About our... connection.
The rumors weren’t even subtle. “Did you see Mia and Tristan? They’re practically inseparable now.” “I heard they’re seeing each other outside of work.” “Well, I guess Mia’s got to be careful, Tristan’s got that dangerous edge. I’m not sure what she’s thinking.”
None of it was kind, and none of it was even close to the truth. It was frustrating and, quite frankly, exhausting. But it wasn’t just the gossip that had been getting to me. It was the fact that some people—Adele, to be specific—seemed to have taken it upon herself to spread the most hurtful rumors of all.
I had already heard her talking about me in the break room earlier that week, laughing about how obvious it was that I was “just another one of Tristan’s conquests” and how she pitied me for thinking I could handle someone like him. I had managed to ignore it at first, but the more I heard it, the more it gnawed at me.
It was time to confront her. I couldn’t let this go on any longer. I was done hiding and letting people talk about me behind my back. I saw Adele walking into the office right as I talked about her, her heels clicking with her usual overconfidence as she passed by my desk. I stood up, the decision made. I wasn’t going to let her get away with this. Not anymore.
“Adele,” I said, my voice firm as I walked up to her, catching her before she could slip into her usual smug routine.
She turned to me, her expression guarded but still with that sneer that she wore too often. “Mia. What’s up?” she asked, her voice dripping with false sweetness.
“I need to talk to you,” I said, my tone cold and steady. “Now.”
Her eyes flickered with something—amusement, maybe a little nervousness—but she didn’t back down. “Sure. What’s on your mind?”
Without wasting time, I pulled out my phone and pressed play on the recording I had made of her conversation the other day. Adele’s eyes widened, and she stiffened immediately as the sound of her voice, clearly mocking me, filled the air.
“You really think I’m that stupid?” I asked, my voice rising slightly, catching the attention of a few people nearby. “You’ve been spreading rumors about me, Adele. About my relationship with Tristan. And you think I wouldn’t hear it? Think again.”
Adele’s face flushed with embarrassment, but she quickly masked it, crossing her arms defensively. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said, her voice shaking just slightly now. “I never said anything about you.”
“Really?” I snapped, raising an eyebrow. “Because I have you recorded, Adele. I heard everything. Your nasty little comments about me. About Tristan. And you know what?” I stepped closer even though I’m bluffing about having that recording, my gaze unwavering. “You’re not just gossiping. You’re being a fucking bully.”
For a moment, Adele said nothing. Her eyes shifted from me to the people around us, but no one was speaking up. They were all watching, waiting for her to either lie her way out of this or accept what she’d done.
“I don’t know what your problem is with me when we’re not friends,” I continued, my voice steady and cutting. “But you need to understand something. I’m not just some easy target for you to talk shit about when you feel like it. And honestly? I’m tired of you thinking it’s okay.”
Adele’s lips trembled for a moment as she opened her mouth, but before she could defend herself, I heard the unmistakable sound of heavy footsteps approaching.
I turned around, and there he was—Tristan.
He’d been standing back, listening to the conversation unfold, but now, he stepped forward, his eyes locked on Adele. There was no hesitation in his movements, no sign of his usual emotional detachment. This was different. This was personal.
“You really thought you could get away with that, didn’t you?” Tristan’s voice was low but full of controlled fury, his gaze cold and unwavering as he stared down Adele.
Adele faltered under his gaze, clearly not expecting Tristan to intervene. She had expected me to be the one to stand up for myself, but she wasn’t prepared for him.
“You have a problem with Mia and me?” Tristan’s voice grew colder, his tone sharp like a blade. “Because you think you can just talk about her behind her back like she’s some kind of joke?”
He didn’t wait for her to respond. “I don’t care what kind of twisted game you’re playing, Adele,” he continued, stepping closer, his eyes dark and commanding. “But if you ever think it’s okay to talk about her like that again, you’ll be hearing from me.”
The force of his words hit me harder than I expected. He wasn’t just standing up for me, he was defying his usual detachment. He was risking something, putting himself in the line of fire, and for once, it wasn’t just about his usual self-preservation. It was about me.
Adele’s eyes darted around, clearly caught off guard by his sudden support. She tried to speak, but her voice wavered. “You can’t be serious,” she said, her voice trembling with frustration. “You’re backing her up, after everything I said?”
“Yes,” Tristan responded flatly, his jaw tightening. “I am. Mia’s not the one who needs to be put in her place, Adele. It’s you. So you’re going to walk away, and you’re going to keep your mouth shut, or I’ll make sure everyone in this office knows exactly what you’ve been saying.”
The silence that followed was deafening. No one had ever seen Tristan speak like this before, let alone defend someone. He wasn’t the type to stick his neck out for anyone, much less get involved in office drama. But he had just put himself in the middle of it for me.
Adele stood there, rooted to the spot, her face flushed with anger and embarrassment. Finally, without another word, she turned and walked away, the sound of her heels echoing in the silence that followed.
I stood there, in stunned silence, my heart pounding in my chest. Tristan had defended me. In front of everyone.
“Tristan,” I whispered, still trying to process what had just happened. “You really did that?”
He turned to face me, his gaze softening just slightly, but the usual cool detachment was still there, like a barrier he couldn’t fully let down. “You didn’t deserve what she was doing, Mia. And you don’t need to deal with that kind of shit alone. Not while I’m here.”
I couldn’t find the words to respond. I had never expected him to stand up for me like that, not in public, not in front of everyone. The Tristan I knew didn’t risk himself for anyone. But he had. And it meant everything to me.
“You just did something... crazy,” I said, still in shock, but there was something else in my voice, something like awe. “You really risked it all for me.”
He shrugged, trying to brush it off, but there was a hint of something in his eyes that I couldn’t quite place. “I’m not letting people treat you like that, Mia. Not when it’s my fault too.”
The room was still silent. No one moved. But the air felt different now. Everyone had witnessed something no one expected—Tristan had defied his usual emotional distance and taken a stand for me. And it was more than just a simple gesture. it was a shift in our relationship, one I hadn’t anticipated.