Penny's POV
Monday morning crashed into me like a brick wall. The moment I walked through those office doors, I could feel it - the weight of countless stares burning into my back.
They weren't looking directly, of course. These were the sideways glances, the hurried whispers that stopped the second I got close enough to hear. My stomach churned as I realized my catastrophic evening had become office entertainment.
"Morning, Penny," Linda called out from the reception desk, but her usual warmth had been replaced by something that made my skin crawl. Pity mixed with barely concealed entertainment, like she was watching a train wreck in slow motion.
"Good morning," I managed, clutching whatever remained of my self-respect as I navigated the hallway maze toward my cubicle.
