Returning to work after nearly a week of battling illness, Aria stepped into the office of Paramount Finally Group of Companies with slow, careful steps. The sun glared harshly on the glass building, and her heart beat faster than usual—not from exhaustion, but from the anxiety of what awaited her. The sterile walls and familiar aroma of coffee and paper did little to calm her nerves.
“Hey, you’re back,” Jenna greeted her, a warm smile lighting up her face as she approached. “How are you feeling?”
“A little better,” Aria replied with a tired smile. “Just trying to catch up on myself.”
Jenna’s eyes scanned her friend, noting the paleness still present on her cheeks. “You should still be resting. Don’t push yourself too hard, okay?”
“I’ll be fine.”
But the warmth of that moment was shor
