Emma returned to her desk, but nothing felt normal anymore. The encounter with Charlotte left her nerves frayed, her stomach twisted, her pulse refusing to settle.
What am I supposed to do now? Why am I stuck in the middle of this mess again?
She barely managed to sit when Damien’s secretary rushed toward her, clutching her tablet like a life raft.
“Miss Smith? Mr. Rodriguez has asked for you.”
Emma exhaled sharply. Not again. Not right now.
“I really don’t have the patience to deal with him,” she snapped, voice louder than she intended. “So please—just leave me alone.”
The secretary flinched but edged closer. “But Miss Smith… he said it’s urgent.”
Emma’s jaw clenched. “I’m not going.” Her tone cut like glass. “Now go. I need space.”
The secretary looked torn, fiddling with her fin
