Carrie returned to the office that afternoon with something she hadn't carried in weeks: victory. The glass doors of Echelon slid open, and even the fluorescent lights seemed less harsh. She clutched her bag tighter, eager to deliver the news.
Her heels clicked against the polished floor, clean, rhythmic, purposeful. The office buzzed with activity: keyboards clacking, phones ringing, interns sprinting like scared hamsters. For the first time in days, she wasn’t weighed down by anxiety or doubt. Her shoulders were lighter, her steps firmer, her pulse steady instead of frantic. The world felt like it was finally cooperating.
Sofia was the first to notice. She popped up from her desk, eyes wide. "Ma'am...? Did it go well?"
Carrie allowed herself a rare smile. "She'll do it."
Sofia gasped
