I froze, staring at the hallway as Victor's mother's voice cut through the office.
"And who is this lady?" she demanded, sharp and storming toward me like a hurricane.
Panic surged through me as my hair fell forward instinctively, hiding my face.
Maybe if I disappeared under this curtain of strands, they wouldn't notice me. I stood slowly, knees stiff, avoiding eye contact. My throat felt tight. I swallowed, cleared it softly. I wanted to apologize—or maybe just run.
Before I could speak, Victor stepped in, his presence slicing through the tension like a calm blade.
"Yes, Miss," he said, steady and firm, yet gentle enough to ease my chest. "About the file… I've sent it to your office. You can go now."
Relief washed over me, uneven, like a tide brushing my skin and retreating too soon. He spoke quickly to his parents, explaining that I had tripped while fetching a file.
His mother hissed sharply under her breath. "Such incompetent staff you have here."
Then silence.
