The Trap They Built Around Her
For a moment, Marina thought her manager might stop it.
Mr. Cardoso watched from a distance with a stiff, tight face.
Marina stepped toward him anyway, desperate for a sliver of fairness.
“Mr. Cardoso, may I—”
He cut her off and pulled her into a corner like she was the problem.
“You’re causing a scene at a charity event with sponsors,” he hissed.
“But he—”
“I don’t care who started it,” Cardoso said. “That man pays your salary. Understand?”
Marina nodded because survival teaches you to swallow anger quickly.
“Either you leave now with ‘dignity,’ or you perform in their circus,” he added. “We’ll talk about your job later.”
