Emily Meyers sat at her desk, glaring at the greasy remnants of the giant plated lizard's "visit" to her workspace. The sticky keyboard, the faint musky smell, and the sideways glances from her coworkers had pushed her well beyond her breaking point.

"Enough is enough," she muttered, pulling out her phone.

If no one in the office was going to take action against Luke's animal antics, she would escalate the situation. She Googled the Bronx Zoo's contact information and, with a deep breath, pressed call.

"Bronx Zoo, how can I assist you today?" a cheerful voice answered.

"Hi, this is... a concerned citizen," Emily began, struggling to keep her voice steady. "I work at a hedge fund in Midtown, and I'm calling to report a workplace violation. Someone has brought wild animals into the office."

There was a pause. "Wild animals?"

"Yes," she said, her voice rising slightly. "Lizards, snakes, a chameleon named Claude. They're all roaming freely, and it's completely unsanitary."

"Ma'am," the zookeeper said carefully, "are you suggesting there's an unregulated animal exhibit in your workplace?"

"Exactly!" Emily exclaimed, relieved someone was taking her seriously. "These animals need to be relocated. Immediately."

There was another pause, and then the zookeeper spoke again. "Can you confirm the location?"

Emily rattled off the office address, adding, "It's urgent. This is completely unsafe."

The zookeeper thanked her and promised to send a team as soon as possible. Emily hung up, feeling a rare sense of triumph.

A few hours later, just as Luke was mid-story about how Claude the chameleon "changed his life," the office erupted in commotion.

A group of uniformed zookeepers burst through the doors, carrying crates and nets. One held a clipboard, barking orders.

"Alright, team, let's round them up!"

The room fell silent as the zookeepers began inspecting the office. Employees watched in stunned confusion as the team moved with precision, collecting reptiles and carefully placing them into containers.

"What is going on?" Luke asked, stepping forward with Tandi the lizard still perched on his shoulder.

The lead zookeeper turned to him. "We received a report about unauthorized wildlife in this office. These animals are being confiscated and relocated to the Bronx Zoo."

Luke's jaw dropped. "Confiscated? These are part of South Africa Day! They're educational!"

"Sir, these animals are not permitted in a corporate setting," the zookeeper said firmly. "We'll be taking them with us."

Emily, standing off to the side, crossed her arms smugly. For the first time all day, she felt like justice was being served.

As the zookeepers rounded up the last of the animals, one of them approached Emily's desk. He reached for Tandi, who was now lounging on her monitor.

"Careful," Emily said with mock concern. "She's Luke's favorite."

The zookeeper nodded, carefully lifting Tandi and placing her into a crate. Emily couldn't suppress her smile.

"Hey!" Luke shouted, stepping toward them. "You can't take her! She's the star of this event!"

"She's going to a better place," Emily said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "A place where she belongs."

Luke turned to her, his eyes narrowing. "This was you, wasn't it?"

Emily shrugged innocently. "I don't know what you're talking about."

As the zookeepers prepared to leave, Luke made one last-ditch effort to stop them. He stepped in front of the lead zookeeper, holding up his hands.

"Wait," he said, his voice filled with exaggerated emotion. "These animals aren't just reptiles—they're my coworkers. My friends. My family."

The zookeeper stared at him, unimpressed. "Sir, step aside."

"But Claude!" Luke cried, pointing to the chameleon's crate. "He and I had a connection. You can't just rip us apart!"

"Sir," the zookeeper said firmly, "if you don't move, I'll have to call security."

Luke sighed dramatically, stepping aside. "Fine. Take them. But just know you're breaking hearts today."

Emily rolled her eyes. "Oh, please."

As the zookeepers left with the animals, the office erupted into whispers and nervous laughter. Emily returned to her desk, satisfied that the chaos was finally over.

But her relief was short-lived. Moments later, Luke stormed up to her desk, his face red with frustration.

"You called the zoo," he accused.

She didn't even try to deny it. "Someone had to."

He pointed a finger at her, his voice low and dangerous. "You've crossed the line, Meyers."

"And you crossed it when you turned my desk into a reptile exhibit," she shot back.

Luke leaned closer, his eyes narrowing. "This isn't over."

"Good," she said, meeting his glare. "Because I'm just getting started."

Later that day, as she worked on salvaging her now lizard-free workspace, Emily's phone buzzed with a notification.

Luke Edmunds: Instagram Story

She groaned, opening it.

The video showed him standing outside the Bronx Zoo, dramatically holding a tissue. "Breaking news: A workplace hero fights to save wildlife—and loses. #JusticeForTandi #ZooGate "

Her blood boiled as she typed out a reply:
"You're unbearable."

His response came almost instantly:
"And you're predictable, Safari Queen. "

She threw her phone onto her desk, glaring at the cracks in her keyboard.

The feud wasn't over—not by a long shot. But as Emily sat there, plotting her next move, she vowed that Luke—and his newfound martyr complex—would regret underestimating her.

Because if he thought this was the end, he was sorely mistaken.