36 Chapter 36 – The Accused Freeloader
36 Chapter 36 – The Accused Freeloader
“We’re ordering lunch,” she announced, holding out a collection of bills. “Since you’re not busy with actual work, you can pick it up for
everyone.”
Everyone in the room froze, attention shifting from me to the breathless Ian Coleman, whose face showed nothing but pure, unbridled astonishment.
“Sir?” His assistant knocked lightly on the door frame. “The board is asking about the R&D situation.”
Leo’s face was flushed with anger. “Just go, Mrs. Sterling. Go back to your luxury office or penthouse or wherever you actually belong. We have real work to do here.”
When I finally reached the archives, I headed straight for the neuroscience section. The specific book I needed-“Neural Connectivity in Thermal Response Systems“— should have been on the third shelf. But when I reached the spot, it was gone.
“I’m happy to contribute,” I said evenly, “but I can’t leave right now. I’m finalizing my solution for the coolant problem.”
“I am contributing,” I insisted. “I’ve been working on the coolant problem-”
I remembered how intently he’d been studying my work earlier. He must have taken the book to better understand my approach. The thought both flattered and frustrated me. I needed that reference.
Leo looked at me directly, his patience clearly gone. “Letting Arthur’s wife play scientist in my department! You’ve contributed nothing since you arrived except disruption. Your so–called solution was an empty file, and now you won’t even help
with basic tasks.”
That got his attention. “What complaints?”
I looked at the money, then up at her expectant face. “I’m actually in the middle of something important.”
The room had gone deadly quiet. Everyone was watching, some with sympathy for Leo, others with barely concealed satisfaction at seeing me put in my place.
“YOU DON’T BELONG HERE!” Leo shouted, his professional demeanor finally cracking
36 Chapter 36 – The Accused Freeloader
under the pressure. “You’re a distraction my team can’t afford! Just leave!”
Arthur’s jaw tightened. “Noted.”
“Enough!” Leo’s voice rose sharply. “I stuck my neck out for you because Arthur insisted you had ‘valuable insights.‘ But all I see is a privileged freeloader taking up space while my real engineers work overtime!”
“Oh look, it’s Mrs. Sterling,” someone muttered.
“Right,” Claire drawled. “That’s why Leo stuck you at a desk in the corner with no actual assignments.”
“You’re the boss’s wife,” he said, as if explaining to a child. “You’re not actually expected to contribute anything useful.”
“What was a mistake?” I asked quietly.
My temper flared, but I kept my voice steady. “I have a doctorate in thermal engineering. I’m here because I’m qualified.”
I watched Ian walk away, his skepticism obvious in every step. I knew what he was thinking–that I was bluffing, that whatever I’d done was either plagiarized or worthless. Sighing, I turned my attention back to my workstation. I had more important things to worry about than his opinion.
The silence that followed was deafening. Every eye in the department was on us. I felt heat rising in my cheeks, not from embarrassment but from anger–at being misjudged, at having my capabilities dismissed without a fair chance.
Rather than cause a scene, I stepped back. “Fine.”
Meanwhile, in his office, Arthur was indeed hunched over the neuroscience text, his brow furrowed in concentration. The complex diagrams showing neura‘ thway modeling applied to thermal systems were unlike anything he’d seen in standard. engineering texts.
“My file wasn’t empty,” I said, struggling to maintain my composure. “If you’d just-”
I stood my ground, though my hands were trembling. “I deserve to be here just as much as-”
I glanced at the elevator. Six people in a space designed for twelve. “There’s plenty of
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36 Chapter 36–The Accused Freeloader
room,” I said, stepping forward.
Claire’s eyebrows shot up. “More important than helping your team? Everyone else pitches in.”
Snickers erupted from the small group. A man named Jason stepped forward. “Look, Mrs. Sterling, we all know why you’re here. You don’t have to pretend.”
“The coolant problem is being handled by our senior engineers, Leo cut me off. “If you want to help, do what’s asked of you. Otherwise-” He ran a hand through his hair in frustration. “God, I knew this was a mistake.”
“No,” Arthur cut him off. “I’ll handle that too.”
“Also, there have been… complaints about Mrs. Sterling.”
Leo’s tired eyes focused on me. “Mrs. Sterling, I don’t know what game you’re playing, but this department runs on cooperation. Everyone contributes.”
“From the R&D team. They say she’s not contributing, just wandering around the building. Leo Finch is particularly upset.”
After his assistant left, Arthur returned to the book, tracing a diagram with his finger. “Fascinating,” he murmured.
I was about to reply when Leo himself emerged from his office. He looked haggard, the pressure of the deadline clearly weighing on him.
The assistant lingered. “Should I speak with her about-
Arthur didn’t look up. “Tell them I’m handling it.”
Claire gestured at me. “She refuses to help the team.”
Arthur Sterling.
“Leo! You need to see this right now!” Ian exclaimed, his eyes wide w excitement.
disbelief and
Back in the archives, I gave up my search and returned to the R&D floor. I’d have to work without the reference or find a moment to ask Arthur about it directly. The thought of approaching him after our earlier encounter–that unexpected hug when he caught me–made my cheeks warm.
36 Chapter 36 – The Accused Freeloader
I frowned, checking nearby shelves in case it had been misplaced. Nothing. This was strange. That book was highly specialized and rarely used by anyone except…
The doors closed on their snickering faces. I pressed the button again, tapping my foot impatiently. This childish behavior was exactly why I preferred working alone.
“Excuse me?”
The archives section held critical research data I needed to complete my analysis. The elevator doors opened, and I stepped forward, only to find it already packed with my colleagues from R&D.
The moment I stepped back into the department, I felt the hostile atmosphere. Conversations stopped. Eyes darted away. I straightened my spine and walked to my desk with as much dignity as I could muster.
A man whose name I couldn’t remember shifted to block me. “Sorry, weight capacity,” he said with a smirk that suggested he was enjoying this petty power play.
The accusation stung more than I wanted to admit. After years of fighting to be taken seriously, to have my work recognized on its own merits, I was back to being dismissed as nothing more than someone’s wife.
Melissa, who’d been so cold earlier, gave me a tight smile. “Maybe wait for the next one? We’re pretty full.”
“What’s going on here?” he demanded.
Nalers
Just as I opened my mouth to respond, the door to lan’s office burst open. He rushed out, face flushed with excitement, papers clutched in his hand. He moved so quickly he nearly collided with Leo, grabbing his arm to steady himself.
I had barely settled in when three of my colleagues approached, led by a woman named Claire.
