The Success
Cast of Characters:
🔵 Olivia – our main character, new at Digital Spark Agency
👔 Jack – Olivia’s colleague and growing love interest
☕ David – café owner, former Digital Spark employee, protective of Olivia
👩💼 Sarah – HR Manager, knows more than she shows
💻 Tom – IT specialist, involved in mysterious „Project X”
🌟 Lucy – Olivia’s friendly coworker and confidante
👨💼 Marcus – Project Lead, hides secrets behind his authority
Previously in 365 English Journey…
On the following Monday, the office was filled with stress as the deadline for the international project approached, and a sudden company restructure left Olivia with a new, untrustworthy supervisor. New security protocols heightened the tension, as staff were increasingly monitored, and Jack grew distant, even vanishing without a word, leaving behind only an email stating he was on leave. While reviewing old documents, Olivia found a chilling journal by a former employee, E. M. Holloway, describing strange anomalies and „mirror versions” of people, including his unsettling encounter with his own reflection. That night, Olivia received a disturbing call from someone claiming to be Tom, but not the Tom she knew, warning her about the danger within the company, leaving her with a deep sense that something was terribly wrong.
The Success
The days following Jack’s disappearance were a blur of confusion and unease. Olivia’s work, which had once been fulfilling, now felt like a performance rather than a productive effort. The project deadlines, the endless meetings, and the new security measures—all seemed to converge into one overwhelming mass of pressure. Olivia felt a gnawing sense of trepidation
Despite the mounting pressure, Olivia was awarded the best project prize for her recent work. It wasn’t just a trophy; it was a statement of recognition, a validation of her skill. The new responsibilities were almost overwhelming, but she couldn’t help but feel a small sense of accomplishment. Alongside her promotion in the team, Olivia was now tasked with managing parts of Jack’s projects.
However, as she juggled these new duties, the absence of Jack weighed heavily on her. She had never imagined this would be her role, but life at the company had shifted drastically. Olivia slowly started taking over Jack’s responsibilities. At first, it was manageable, but she couldn’t ignore the creeping suspicion that there were more questions than answers surrounding Jack’s disappearance.
Then came a strange twist—Jack returned. Or at least, it seemed like him. A cryptic email appeared in Olivia’s inbox one morning. The subject line read: „I’m Sorry.” Olivia opened it eagerly, hoping for answers. Instead, she found an apology, a vague message, and a cryptic warning: „They know I’ve uncovered things… you need to look at Sarah. Trust no one.” Jack had clearly been involved in something deeper than just work—something dangerous.
As the tension mounted, Olivia found herself getting closer to David. After weeks of silence, he reached out again. They met one afternoon, away from the office, and his demeanour was more serious than ever.
“They’re watching you,” David said, speaking in hushed tones. “You’re getting too close. You need to stop digging, Olivia. They’re monitoring everything. Not just the project… you.”
„Why didn’t you tell me this before?” Olivia asked, her voice barely a whisper.
„I couldn’t,” David replied. „They’re everywhere. I’ve been part of this for too long. I can’t help you, but I can warn you. Trust no one.”
The next day, as Olivia reviewed the project reports, she found an unexpected email in her inbox. It was from Jack again. His words echoed in her mind: „Sarah isn’t who she says she is. She’s playing both sides.”
As the day wore on, Olivia noticed Sarah acting strangely—her usual professional demeanour seemed forced. During a meeting, Olivia noticed Sarah’s hand trembling ever so slightly. It was a small detail, but it sent a chill down Olivia’s spine. Was Sarah hiding something? Was she involved in something sinister?
Later that night, while everyone else was heading out of the office, Olivia stayed behind. As she walked through the silent hallways, Olivia found something she hadn’t seen before—a door tucked away behind a stack of forgotten files. Curiosity led her to open it, and inside was a small, dimly lit room filled with computers and monitors. There, on one of the screens, she saw something that made her heart stop.
It was a grainy video feed. Sarah was sitting at a desk, typing furiously. And there, in the background, was someone else. It was Jack. But not the Jack Olivia knew. He was a hollow-eyed version of himself, thinner, with a look of deep, desperate fear in his eyes.
Olivia’s mind raced. This wasn’t just about the project. The evidence in front of her confirmed something even more chilling—Sarah had been involved in time experiments, and Jack had known something all along.
As Olivia processed the horrifying realisation, her phone buzzed. It was another email from Jack, which was short and desperate. “I’ve found them… the fractures in time. They’re manipulating everything. I’m sorry for not telling you sooner, but you need to stop Sarah. The experiment is real. You’re in danger.”
She had always trusted Sarah. But now, the doubts crept in. Could Sarah really be playing both sides? Olivia had a lot of answers to find—and fast.
And just as she was piecing together the horrifying truth, she realised one thing—whatever was happening, it was far from over.
She was in deeper than ever.
▶️ Listen to the audio
- Blur (blɜːr)
- Meaning: zamazanie, zatarcie
- Example: The days following Jack’s disappearance were a blur of confusion and unease.
- Note: A state of confusion or something that is unclear or indistinct.
- Performance (pərˈfɔːrməns)
- Meaning: występ, przedstawienie
- Example: Olivia’s work, which had once been fulfilling, now felt like a performance rather than a productive effort.
- Note: An act of doing work, often implying a show or display rather than genuine effort.
- Converge (kənˈvɜːrdʒ)
- Meaning: zbiegać się, łączyć
- Example: The project deadlines, the endless meetings, and the new security measures—all seemed to converge into one overwhelming mass of pressure.
- Note: To come together at a point or to meet.
- Overwhelming (ˌoʊvərˈwɛlmɪŋ)
- Meaning: przytłaczający
- Example: Everything seemed to converge into one overwhelming mass of pressure.
- Note: Something that is too much to handle or overpowering.
- Demeanour (dɪˈmiːnər)
- Meaning: postawa, zachowanie
- Example: David reached out again, and his demeanour was more serious than ever.
- Note: A person’s outward behavior or manner.
- Cryptic (ˈkrɪptɪk)
- Meaning: tajemniczy, zagadkowy
- Example: Instead, she found an apology, a vague message, and a cryptic warning.
- Note: Having a hidden or mysterious meaning.
- Trembling (ˈtrɛmbəlɪŋ)
- Meaning: drżenie, wstrząs
- Example: During a meeting, Olivia noticed Sarah’s hand trembling ever so slightly.
- Note: Shaking or quivering, typically from fear or cold.
- Curiosity (ˌkjʊəˈrɒsɪti)
- Meaning: ciekawość
- Example: Curiosity led her to open it, and inside was a small, dimly lit room filled with computers and monitors.
- Note: A strong desire to know or learn something.
- Fractures (ˈfræktʃərz)
- Meaning: pęknięcia, złamania
- Example: I’ve found them… the fractures in time. They’re manipulating everything.
- Note: Breaks or cracks, often used metaphorically for splits or breaks in something abstract, like time.
- Manipulating (məˈnɪpjʊˌleɪtɪŋ)
- Meaning: manipulowanie
- Example: Jack had known something all along. The evidence in front of her confirmed something even more chilling—Sarah had been involved in time experiments.
- Note: Controlling or influencing something, often in a skillful or deceptive way.
- Chilling (ˈtʃɪlɪŋ)
- Meaning: przerażający, mrożący krew w żyłach
- Example: It was a grainy video feed. Sarah was sitting at a desk, typing furiously. And there, in the background, was someone else. It was Jack.
- Note: Causing a feeling of fear or discomfort.
- Trepidation (ˌtrɛpɪˈdeɪʃən)
- Meaning: niepokój, obawa
- Example: Olivia felt a gnawing sense of dread.
- Note: A feeling of fear or anxiety about something that may happen.
Coming Next Week
Olivia’s life takes a dramatic turn as she moves into a new apartment, marking the beginning of a fresh chapter both personally and professionally. As she takes on the leadership of a high-stakes project, she quickly realizes that with great responsibility comes overwhelming pressure. The sudden appearance of Jack raises more suspicion than relief, and his cryptic warnings only deepen Olivia’s sense of unease. With David’s support, she uncovers startling truths, but the deeper she digs, the more dangerous the consequences become. As she navigates a world full of hidden agendas and time-bending mysteries, Olivia is faced with a choice: embrace the truth or keep running from it. Will she uncover the truth before it’s too late?
Practice Time! 🎯
Use these expressions to describe:
- Your everyday life duties
- Your routine that you had when you were younger