Her shoulders tensed, and she still couldn’t look at me. Her eyes dropped to her lap, shame written all over her face.
“I needed the money,” she murmured. “My mother’s chemo… it’s been draining everything we have. That’s why I accepted the offer. I didn’t know what else to do.”
Slowly, she lifted her head and met my gaze, her eyes glassy with unshed tears.
“I understand if you fire me,” she continued quietly. “If you blacklist me in the industry. I deserve it.”
I shook my head slowly and stood from my chair, circling the desk. She tracked my movement with uncertainty until I stopped beside her, leaning against the edge of the desk.
“Blacklist you?” I echoed, my voice flat and unimpressed. “That would be giving you too much credit. You’re not worth the trouble.”
She inhaled sharply at
