Amber
I sat silently, unsure whether to feel relieved or worried. He looked serious—too serious. Was it concern or control? I couldn’t quite tell.
“You didn’t have to come in today if you were shaken up,” he added after a moment, though his tone lacked the softness you’d expect in that kind of sentence.
“I’m fine,” I replied quickly, straightening my posture. “I don’t want special treatment just because of an unfortunate incident.”
His eyes darkened for a moment. “You wouldn’t be getting special treatment, Amber. You’d be getting respect. There’s a difference.”
There it was again. That tone. The one that came with warning signs tucked behind every syllable.
“I appreciate that,” I said. “But I needed to show up today. For myself.”
He gave a small nod and tapped the pen once more bef
