The air in the room felt thick, almost suffocating, as Anna stood frozen in place. Her mind raced with every possible outcome of the next few seconds, and each one was worse than the last. The man seated before her leaned back slightly in his chair, his sharp gaze cutting into her like a knife. His piercing eyes demanded an answer, and she could feel the tension simmering in the room, threatening to boil over.
There was silence—an unbearable silence that stretched far too long. The man’s expression remained unreadable, but there was a dangerous glint in his eyes, a coldness that made her stomach churn.
“Are you joking?” His voice was calm, too calm, the kind of calm that felt like the edge of a storm. It sent a shiver down Anna’s spine.
Anna shook her head quickly, her hands trembling a
