I hurried down the hallway, the heels of my shoes clicking against the marble floor. The file I needed to deliver to Caleb was tucked tightly under my arm, a routine task, but my pulse was faster than usual. My mind kept going back to Monica’s face at the last event.. a subtle smirk that never left her lips, the way she whispered into Caleb’s father’s ear. I couldn’t shake it off. She was everywhere lately, inserting herself in ways that felt too deliberate, too personal.
I reached Caleb’s office, the door slightly ajar. I lifted my hand to knock but paused when I heard voices inside. One of them was Caleb’s. The other was unmistakably Monica.
“I just don’t see why you’re dragging this out,” Monica’s voice was low but clear, dripping with smugness. “Your father and I have already talked
