The insistent chime of the clock striking 6 PM echoed through Clara’s otherwise silent office, a welcome signal for the end of a long, emotionally taxing day. She closed her laptop, tidied her desk with an absentminded efficiency, and stretched, feeling the familiar tension in her shoulders. But tonight, it wasn't just fatigue. Beneath the weariness was a hum of anticipation, a thrilling thrum that had vibrated through her since she’d sent that bold text accepting the invitation.
Her phone felt warm in her hand as she unlocked it, navigating to the group chat. Her fingers, usually so precise in her professional life, hesitated for only a fraction of a second over the keyboard, then flew.
Clara: Done for the day. On my way.
She slipped the phone into her bag, a small smile playing on her
