POV — Catriona
I wasn’t supposed to hear it.
The executive corridor outside Shawn’s office is usually silent at 7:15 a.m. Today, it isn’t.
“—you’re destabilizing the board.”
That voice is Charles. Calm. Measured. Not raised — which somehow makes it sharper.
I slow instinctively.
The door to Shawn’s office is partially open.
“I’m improving performance,” Shawn replies. Cool. Unbothered.
“You’re accelerating an intern into strategic exposure,” Charles counters. “Publicly.”
A pause.
“She earned it.”
“That isn’t the issue.”
I shouldn’t stay. But I do. Because they’re talking about me.
“She’s creating narrative,” Charles continues. “Favoritism. Fast-tracking. Emotional bias.”
Emotional. My stomach tightens.
“She’s creating results,” Shawn says evenly.
“And results justify optics?
