CHAPTER 25: THE FALLING EDGE
Arianna stepped into the office building, the familiar sound of her heels against the marble floors echoing through the otherwise silent lobby. The usual buzz of energy; the chatter of colleagues, the hum of phones ringing, was absent.
The quietness hit her like a heavy fog. Normally, her colleagues greeted her with smiles, friendly hellos, the usual politeness of a workday morning. But today, as she passed the reception desk, there were only fleeting glances, no smiles and no warmth.
Arianna’s pulse quickened slightly. She didn’t pause to dwell on it. Instead, she headed straight for the elevator. The silence followed her, pressing in from all sides.
As the elevator doors closed, she took a deep breath. Her mind wandered, replaying bits of the past week, o
