ZARA
“You can’t just barge into a meeting,” Monica said, trying to keep her voice even. “And expect us to roll with it.”
“She is a senior panther, Monica,” an older man spoke. “Of course she expects us to roll with him,” he continued, and she scoffed.
“Well, I’m a senior panther as well, remember,” she said, and I looked at her confused. “I have just as much authority as she does.”
“No one is disputing that,” another panther said. “She deserves the same respect as you do,” the man repeated, his voice calm but firm.
Monica clenched her jaw. I could tell she didn’t like being challenged in front of everyone. But she didn’t say anything. Instead, she sat down slowly, adjusting her blazer like she needed control over something.
I looked around the room. There were maybe ten people seate
