It felt as if all the air had been sucked out of the room in an instant.
Every sound, every mocking remark, and every look of smug satisfaction froze on everyone's faces.
The triumphant smile on Scarlett's face turned stiff and lifeless.
"You... what did you just say?" She spun sharply toward her assistant, her voice rising to a shrill, cracking pitch. "Who? Who are you calling director?"
Startled by the sharp tone, the young assistant flinched and turned pale.
She scrambled to pick up the fallen tablet while bowing repeatedly toward me, her voice trembling with fear.
"I'm so sorry, Director Katarina! I had no idea you were here... having dinner. Please forgive the interruption! I'll gather these documents right away!"
"Director Katarina?" Madeline Lancaster, who had just mocked me
