The Tenth Canary Is My Trap

As the spring internship cohort wrapped up their onboarding, I was showing three new interns around the office when a strange, disembodied voice suddenly echoed in my mind.

[The chat feed says this woman is the male leads ninth canary. Doesn't that make her the villainous rival standing in my way?]

[Locked away in an asylum in the end... classic villainess fate.]

[Wait, my first meeting with the male lead is about to happen. She better not ruin it for me.]

My steps faltered for a fraction of a second. I turned back, offering a polite smile to the three interns.

"You girls might want to tie your hair back," I said softly. "The CEO hates it when women leave their hair loose."

Ruin it for her? Far from it. Id gladly hand over every single one of my benefactor's quirks and preferences on a silver platter to this self-proclaimed "heroine."

After all... nobody wanted the arrival of the tenth canary more than I did.

1.

Hearing my advice, the three girls paused, immediately reaching up to tidy their hair.

One of them, a girl named Daisy Campbell, kept her eyes lowered. The tips of her ears flushed a faint pink, and she offered a shy, polite smile.

"Thank you, Ms. Nancy."

Her voice was soft, sweet, and entirely unassuming. She looked like a girl who didnt have a single scheming bone in her body.

Yet, her inner voice crashed into my mind with crystal clarity:

[What's with the sudden kindness? Theres got to be a catch.]

[The chat says she's the classic villainess. Always playing dirty behind people's backs. I can't let her play me for a fool.]

[Thank god I have this live feed, or she'd have me wrapped around her finger.]

I kept walking, the smile on my face fading slightly. I didn't bother to reply.

A quiet amusement settled in my chest.

Let her think what she wanted. I had no intention of hurting her; I just wanted her to secure her place quickly so I could finally be replaced.

As we approached the main office floor, Daisys mental voice grew increasingly frantic and unhinged.

[What is going on? Why does every single female employee have their hair up?]

[In the hallways, the breakroom, the cubicles... not a single loose strand.]

[Ugh! Why is the chat feed only telling me now that the CEO despises loose hair? She was actually helping me!]

She instinctively reached up, running her fingers through her loose, long hair, her eyes darting around in a panic.

A moment later, she scrambled to pull a hair tie from her bag, hurriedly weaving her hair into a messy side braid.

I caught the movement in my peripheral vision and let my lips curl into a faint, silent smile.

We entered the elevator, ascending to the executive suite. At the end of the long corridor was the CEOs private office.

Addison Pierce stepped out just as we arrived. Impeccable in a tailored black suit, he stood tall and imposing. His features were cold, sharp, and carried an oppressive weight that warned anyone against getting too close.

His gaze swept over the group, finally lingering on Daisy.

The look in his eyes was entirely different from the way he usually looked at me. There was a spark of undeniable, predatory interest.

Daisy froze, her fingers clutching the hem of her blazer. Her cheeks burned red, and she ducked her head, looking very much like a startled fawn.

Mentally, she was screaming:

[Its happening! Our first official frame together! Hes looking at me! He really is!]

[The feed was right. We are absolutely destiny!]

Addison didn't linger. He turned to me, his tone characteristically cool.

"Once you're done showing the new hires around, come to my office."

I nodded. "Of course."

For the rest of the day, I guided the three interns through the standard procedures- introducing the departments, explaining the corporate policies, and outlining the daily routines.

Daisy remained quiet and cooperative throughout, but she kept gravitating toward me, her eyes drifting toward the executive suite whenever she thought I wasn't looking.

Her mind was buzzing with excitement:

[An easy start. Favorability maxed out. Success is just around the corner.]

[Easier than the feed said. He's practically mine already.]

Listening to her, I could only find it tragic.

The young always believed the world was simpler than it was.

That evening, I returned to the estate.

Addison arrived shortly after. He didnt wrap his arms around me as he usually did, nor did he ask if my day had been exhausting. There was no touch, no warmth.

Instead, he sat on the leather sofa, turning an unlit cigarette between his fingers, acting entirely casual.

"That new intern, Daisy Campbell. What do you think of her?"

Here it comes.

I kept my face perfectly blank, taking a slow sip from my glass of water.

"She seems sweet. Quiet. Unspoiled."

"Unspoiled?" He looked up, his gaze probing my face. "That's all?"

I lowered my eyes, my fingers tracing the rim of the glass. I let my voice soften, injecting a faint, carefully measured note of hurt and insecurity into my tone.

"What else do you want me to say? Shes fresh out of college, young and vibrant. Unlike me. Ive been with you for years, Addison. Im sure the novelty wore off a long time ago."

A flash of irritation crossed Addisons eyes, fast and cold.

"Go get some rest," he said, his voice dropping several degrees.

Without another word, he stood up and walked upstairs, never looking back.

I sat in the quiet living room, watching his retreating figure with absolute indifference.

Perfect. The more annoyed he was with me, the faster this transition would go.

Over the next few days, the shift in Addisons behavior became glaringly obvious.

He stopped requesting my presence for lunch, choosing instead to eat at the corporate cafeteria.

And, "by sheer coincidence," Daisy always seemed to cross paths with him there. Sometimes she would sit across from him with her tray, acting clumsy and flustered; other times she would bring a notebook to ask for professional advice, her demeanor perfectly balancing innocence and eagerness.

With every encounter, her mind practically sang with triumph:

[Too easy! Hes coming to the cafeteria every day just to see me.]

[The feed is right. Hell throw that old woman away soon. Im the only one he sees.]

[Poor thing, shes like a discarded toy. I almost feel bad for her.]

Whenever she passed my desk, Daisy would cast a lingering look in my direction.

It was a look of unshielded amusement, laced with a patronizing pity.

She kept repeating the same thoughts like a mantra:

[So sad. Shes about to be discarded.]

[Why did she have to stand in my way? Look at the miserable end shes heading toward.]

I kept my head down, ignoring her completely. Soon enough, she would realize who the pitiable one really was.

2.

As the weeks bled into one another, Addison's fascination with Daisy became public knowledge.

The office rumors spread like wildfire.

There wasn't a soul in the building who didn't know that the new intern was receiving special attention from the billionaire CEO.

The gossip was discussed in the breakrooms, the elevators, and the private group chats.

Naturally, I was dragged into the company-wide group chat as well.

The messages flashed across my screen in rapid succession:

- Whats Daisys deal anyway? She hasnt even been here that long and shes already got the big boss running to the cafeteria every day.

- Who knows. She plays the innocent card well, but she clearly knows how to climb.

- @Nancy, youve been with him the longest. Any inside scoop?

- Yeah, Nancy used to be the only one who had his ear. Whats the vibe now?

Everyone knew I was the ultimate legacy hire, brought into the firm solely because of my relationship with Addison.

I looked at the screen, my fingers tapping out a cold, distant reply:

- I have no idea. He doesn't discuss those things with me.

The chat fell dead silent immediately. No one sent another message.

I assumed they had simply migrated to a separate, private channel to talk about me behind my back.

It didn't matter. I locked my phone and returned to my spreadsheets.

A few days later, the real bomb dropped.

HR issued a formal announcement: Daisy Campbells probation period was waived, and she was promoted to a full-time position effective immediately.

But the real shocker was her new assignment. Addison had personally instructed HR to transfer her to the executive suite as his personal assistant's aide.

The news sent shockwaves through the office.

A waiver of probation was rare enough, but a direct appointment to the executive suite was unheard of.

All eyes naturally turned to me.

Some looked with curiosity, others with pity, and a few with naked amusement, waiting for me to shatter.

On the day Daisy moved her things to the executive suite, she made a conscious detour to pass my desk.

She wore a pristine designer blazer, her hair tied back neatly. She offered a modest smile to the surrounding staff, but her eyes remained locked on me, heavy with silent mockery.

Her mind was practically screaming in triumph:

[Look at that. I'm in the executive office now. One step closer.]

[The feed is spot on. She's getting dumped.]

[Eventually she'll lose her mind and end up in a psych ward. Perfect villainess ending.]

[Look at her trying to act calm. Hilarious.]

The colleagues around us stole glances at me, their faces painted with varying degrees of sympathy.

I sat straight in my chair, keeping my expression neutral as I organized my files, my fingers tightening slightly on the paper.

None of them knew the truth.

I wasn't grieving.

In fact, my chest was tight with an excitement so intense I could barely breathe.

I was finally, finally reaching the end.

I was finally going to be free of Addison Pierce.

3.

Once Daisy settled into the executive suite, her relationship with Addison accelerated at an alarming pace.

Many of the events and high-profile meetings that used to be my exclusive domain were now handed to her.

High-level negotiations, exclusive galas, private board meetings- she was always by his side, quietly taking notes, pouring his drinks, and acting with perfect, calculated discretion.

The only exceptions were the late-night business dinners where heavy drinking was required. Addison still insisted on bringing me.

The reason was simple: I could hold my liquor, and Daisy couldn't.

Daisy didn't mind this arrangement. In fact, she saw it as a sign of her own elevation.

Her inner thoughts grew sweeter, more confident by the day:

[He can't live without me now. He consults me on everything.]

[The feed says I'm his lucky charm, that I'll help him reach new heights.]

[Once I secure my place, that woman is history.]

Armed with the "spoilers" from her mental feed, she began subtly advising him on upcoming projects, steering him toward lucrative municipal contracts before they even went public.

Within months, the entire company was singing her praises, calling her Addison's indispensable partner.

Addison's satisfaction with her was absolute.

His visits to my estate grew sparser, until eventually, they ceased altogether.

He either stayed late with Daisy or retreated to his private penthouse downtown. The sprawling suburban villa he had bought for me became nothing more than a quiet, empty cage.

I welcomed the silence.

The less I saw of him, the safer I felt.

On Valentines Day, the city was practically dripping with manufactured romance.

Social media was flooded with bouquets, jewelry, and luxury getaways.

Daisy was in a state of high anxiety and excitement all day. Her mind kept looping the same thought:

[The feed says he's proposing tonight! I can't wait!]

[After all this preparation, the day is finally here!]

[What kind of ring did he get? I'm going crazy!]

That evening, Addison indeed took Daisy to the city's most exclusive rooftop restaurant.

I was there too, sitting alone in a dim corner, slowly nursing a glass of Cabernet.

From across the candlelit room, I watched Addison sink to one knee, retrieving a velvet box from his pocket. He murmured something to her.

Daisys eyes welled with tears as she nodded frantically, throwing her arms around his neck. They kissed as the surrounding patrons erupted into polite applause.

I watched from the shadows, my fingers tightening around the stem of my glass. The cold glass sent a chill straight to my chest.

If he had proposed, then my sentence was served. I could leave.

But that night, Addison seemed to have forgotten my existence entirely.

I waited in the corner until the restaurant closed, receiving nothing.

The next morning, Daisy floated into the office, her face glowing with a sweet, arrogant pride.

She walked past my desk, her gaze brushing over me with casual disdain.

[Just a harmless villainess. She doesn't even deserve my attention.]

[Since she didn't actually manage to hurt me, there's no need to destroy her.]

[I'll just have Addison fire her, give her some severance, and send her on her way.]

Sure enough, that very evening, Addison brought Daisy to the villa.

He stood in the center of the living room, looking sharp and untouchable in his designer suit. His voice was flat, devoid of any warmth or history:

"There's a black card on the table. The balance is more than enough to ensure you never have to work again. Hand in your resignation tomorrow and leave the city."

There was no negotiation, no lingering affection.

I looked at him, forcing a look of quiet heartbreak and submission onto my face while my chest hammered with absolute joy.

"Okay. I understand."

Daisy stood beside him, her eyes narrowing as she watched me with sharp suspicion.

[Is she planning something? The feed says she'll pretend to agree but stab me in the back.]

[That's how villainesses are. Obedient on the surface, poisonous underneath.]

She couldn't help but speak up, her voice laced with warning: "Youd better not try any tricks, Nancy. Don't think about revenge, or things will get very ugly for you."

I looked up, letting my gaze rest on her face for a moment before giving a small, weary smile.

"Don't worry. I don't have the stomach or the courage for that."

"If it makes you feel safer," I added, "I'll pack my bags and buy a ticket tonight. You can watch me go through security."

Daisy blinked, clearly caught off guard by my compliance.

She calculated the risks quickly in her head, then nodded. "Fine. Let's do that."

I didn't waste another second. I packed a single suitcase and drove straight to the airport with them tailing close behind. Under their watchful eyes, I purchased a ticket for the nearest outbound flight and walked through the security gates.

Daisy let out a visible sigh of relief, wrapping her arm around Addison's as they turned to leave.

[Perfect. The villainess is gone. My happily ever after begins!]

I watched their retreating figures through the glass. Once they disappeared into the crowd, I took a deep breath, walked to a ticketing kiosk, and booked a flight to a completely different destination.