The morning after dinner at the Del Valle's house, the company woke up to a scandal on social media.

A note published on a business gossip website insinuated that Román Del Valle was having an "inappropriate relationship" with one of his employees, and that his "closeness" had displaced consultants with years of experience, such as those from TierraNova.

They didn't mention my name.

But it didn't take long for social media to find it.

A blurry photo—taken from a distance, probably from a drone—showed Román talking to me at the construction site, near the restricted area. In the image, he had his hand resting on a railing, I was holding some plans, but they overlapped in such a way that it looked like he was holding me. Added to that, many people knew that my ex was Benjamin and could conclude that the accusations against TerraNova were just out of spite from a woman helped by her new lover. Therefore, the photo was not compromising at all... except for those who wanted to misrepresent it.

And they knew how to do it.

Eva intercepted me before I reached my desk.

"Don't look at your email. Don't open any social media. Roman wants to see you."

"Now?"

"Yes. Private meeting room."

I felt my heart race, but it wasn't fear. It was a feeling that this wasn't an accident.

It was a move.

***

Roman was standing by the window, the blinds half-open. His jacket was hanging on the back of the chair. The top button of his white shirt was undone. On the table was a tablet with the news story open on the screen.

"Was it you?" he asked bluntly.

"What?"

"Did you send that photo?"

I looked him straight in the eye.

"No. I don't need lies to get noticed."

Roman studied my face for several seconds. Then he slid the tablet aside and sat down.

"Do you know who it was?"

"I have my suspicions," I replied. "But without proof, it would be irresponsible to accuse anyone."

"The reporter who wrote the article worked with the Arriaga Group three years ago. It's clear that this was retaliation for the TierraNova thing."

"And what are you going to do?"

"Nothing."

I remained silent.

Román leaned forward, his elbows on the table.

"Isabella, in this business, I don't need victims. I need soldiers. And soldiers don't cry when the enemy throws mud at them. They wipe it off... and keep moving forward."

"I haven't cried," I said.

"I know. That's why I care about your answer."

He stood up and walked over to a metal box at the side of the room. He took out a black folder with the Aurea Project logo in gold.

"This is confidential information from block three. The entire design will be your responsibility. From now on, you report directly to me."

I felt a little dizzy.

"Why me?"

"Because Daniel submitted a mediocre proposal, and you spotted a structural flaw in less than thirty seconds in the open field. Because you got two degrees at once, architecture and engineering, so you're much more well-rounded. And because... sometimes pressure makes better diamonds."

I took the folder with both hands.

"Thank you."

"Don't thank me. Make it work."

Before leaving, I paused at the door.

"Roman... what if they keep attacking?"

"Then we'll respond aggressively and with lawyers. This isn't enough to take us down, and if necessary, I'll warn my competition and build a taller tower. So they can see me better."

***

I returned to my station under everyone's gaze. Daniel pretended to read something on his screen, but his white knuckles betrayed his anger. Pablo smiled discreetly. Eva simply passed me a note:

"You're on the radar now. Be careful."

I didn't need her to tell me; that promotion wasn't a reward. It was a declaration of war.

***

That night, while eating dinner in front of my laptop, I reviewed every plan in the black folder. Block three would be a community center within the complex: multipurpose rooms, a library, a daycare center, space for workshops. It was ambitious. And it was behind schedule due to TierraNova's suspension.

I worked until dawn, taking notes, redrawing lines, marking minor errors.

At 3:00 a.m., I received a message from an unknown number:

"You're good. But you're playing on a board that burns the best."

It didn't say who it was from. It didn't need to.

Camila.

***

The next day, the news had already faded under a new wave of media scandals. Attention was scattered. The cycle had run its course, yet the internal effects lingered.

In the cafeteria, some people whispered. Others watched me with a mixture of curiosity and caution. And amid all that murmuring, I noticed Daniel talking to a blonde woman from the administrative team. Very close. Very secretly.

Something didn't add up, I made a mental note.

***

At a coordination meeting, Roman was more focused than ever. He assigned tasks, approved decisions instantly, and made it clear that the schedule would not be changed for any reason.

"We need final plans for block three in two weeks. Isabella will be in charge."

All eyes turned to me.

Camila, who wasn't supposed to be there but had snuck in "as an observer," raised her hand delicately.

"Wouldn't it be more prudent for an architect with previous experience to lead that section? Perhaps Daniel or even Eva."

Roman looked at her without blinking.

"You don't work here."

"But I have a right to my opinion," she said, with her most charming smile.

"And I have the right to ignore you."

The room fell silent.

Camila stood up, her dignity intact, but her eyes burning.

As she passed by me, she murmured:

"Enjoy it while it lasts."

***

That night, while working on the 3D model of the block, I found something strange.

A duplicate file, the same plan. Same name. But with slight modifications. An emergency door removed. A poorly located evacuation exit was subtle. Barely visible. But enough to create serious legal problems.

And that file... was authored by Daniel.

"Are you trying to sabotage me?" I asked him the next day, confronting him in the hallway.

"I don't know what you're talking about," he replied with a fake smile.

"A poorly located emergency exit could cost us millions."

"Oh, it must have been a system error. You know... software sometimes does weird things."

"I already sent it to the central server. Roman will see it."

Daniel turned pale.

"You can't do that!"

"I already did."

He turned and walked away without saying another word.

I wouldn't stop him. He was destroying himself.

***

Later, Roman called me into his office.

"Good job."

"For what?"

"Daniel quit. He left me a note with excuses. You gave him the final push. But he was already falling on his own."

"What are you going to do about his position?"

"Do you want to take it?"

I thought about it for a second. And shook my head.

"Not yet. I want to finish block three without distractions."

Roman looked at me intently.

"You didn't come here for just any job, did you?"

"No," I admitted. "I want to shine with something impressive, and your company is the best option for me to grow."

"Then you'll have to keep improving, prove that you're really good enough to shine."

"I will."

And I would.

Because now I knew that snakes weren't my only problem. There was noise beneath the surface, and I was ready to break through the ground.