"Mary hesitated, unsure if she should confide in Lisa about her earlier conversation with Julian. It was a sensitive matter, and she wasn't ready to share it with anyone just yet.
"Oh, it's nothing," she said, dismissing the thought. "Just some office politics. You know how it is."
"Yeah, I know," Lisa said, her voice slightly disappointed. "So, you think he's just trying to be a good boss for once?"
"Maybe," Mary said, her voice noncommittal. "Or maybe he's trying to distract us from something else. I don't know. I just find it hard to believe that Julian Thorne is capable of such genuine generosity."
"Well, whatever the reason, I'm not complaining!" Lisa said, her voice brightening. "I can definitely use the extra money. I'm planning to treat myself to a nice dinner and maybe even bu
