Chapter 280:
Julie's POV
I was crouching under that massive wooden desk, curling into myself as if trying to vanish into the dust motes. My body was trembling with an uncontrollable violence, my hands pressing against my mouth with a painful force. I was terrified that the sound of my gasps or the chattering of my teeth would betray my location to that hag. In that moment, when I felt my soul was about to depart from sheer terror, Robert's firm, resonant voice cut through the haunting silence of the room, striking back at Olivia: "What are you doing in my office, Olivia? I didn't give you permission to enter."
A brief silence ensued before I heard her obvious confusion. Her tone shifted instantly from threat to cheap sycophancy as she replied: "Mr. Robert... my apologies. I only wanted to ask if you wanted me to prepare additional girls for tonight's party; the customers are increasing."
