Maya tried to act like nothing had happened, but she could not ignore it completely. The woman from the previous day stayed in her mind longer than she expected. It was not just what she said, but the way she said it. Calm, quiet, but not kind. It made Maya uncomfortable in a way she could not explain.
When she arrived at work the next morning, she told herself she would forget about it and focus on what mattered. She had done it before, and she believed she could do it again. Work had always been her way of pushing everything else away.
So she went to her desk, sat down, and started immediately.
For a while, it worked. She moved through the files one after another, checking each detail carefully. Her focus returned slowly, and her breathing became steady again. It almost felt normal.
But not for long.
That same feeling came back, the one she had tried to ignore. It felt like someone was watching her. Maya kept her eyes on the file in front of her at first, trying not to react, but the feeling did not go away. It stayed, quiet but strong enough to pull her attention.
After a few seconds, she raised her head.
The woman was there again.
Not close this time, but not far either. She was speaking to someone else, but her eyes were on Maya.
Maya's fingers paused for a moment before she looked away. She did not want to get involved. She did not want to be noticed. She just wanted to work, but it already felt like that was no longer enough.
A few minutes later, one of the staff walked up to her desk and placed a file in front of her. The person told her it needed correction, and Maya nodded before opening it.
The moment she looked at it, she understood.
The design was not simple.
It would take time.
More time than she usually had.
She hesitated for a moment, then started working. If she had been given the task, then she would do it.
Time passed, and the work did not get easier. Maya had to go over the same part more than once to make sure it was right. Her focus was strong, but the pressure behind it was stronger.
She did not notice when someone stopped beside her desk.
A voice spoke, saying she was slow.
Maya looked up.
It was the same woman, standing closer this time. Her voice was calm, but there was something sharp in it. Maya straightened slightly and said she was working on it.
The woman's eyes moved over the file, then back to her. She said it should not take that long. Maya did not respond immediately. She lowered her eyes again and continued working.
The woman did not leave.
She stayed there.
Watching.
Then she spoke again, quietly, saying maybe the work was too much for her.
Maya's hand tightened slightly on the pen. She did not like the way that sounded, but she did not argue.
She said she would finish it.
The woman gave a small smile and told her to make sure she did. After that, she turned and walked away.
Maya sat still for a moment, her chest feeling tight. It was not because of the work, but because of that conversation. She did not understand why the woman was speaking to her like that. She had done nothing. She kept to herself. She worked. That was all.
Still, it did not seem to matter.
Maya let out a quiet breath and returned to the file. This time, her movements were more careful and more controlled. Not because she wanted to prove anything, but because she did not want another reason for someone to speak to her like that again.
Across the room, Kai had been watching. He stepped closer to Caspian and spoke quietly, saying the woman was pushing her. Caspian's eyes were already on Maya, and he said he could see that. Kai asked if he wanted to stop it, but Caspian did not answer immediately. His gaze remained steady before he said she had not crossed the line yet.
Kai understood what that meant.
For now, it would continue.
Back at her desk, Maya kept working. The file in front of her was not easy, but she did not stop. She went through each detail again and again until everything felt right. Her head started to ache, but she ignored it. She would finish it no matter what.
By the time she was done, her hands felt tired. She placed the file aside and sat back for a brief moment before picking up the next one. She did not allow herself to rest.
The rest of the day passed slowly. No one else spoke to her directly, but the feeling remained. The woman did not come back, but Maya could still feel her presence somewhere in the background.
When the day finally ended, Maya packed her things quickly. She did not want to stay any longer than she had to. She stood up and walked out without looking around.
Outside, she did not stop.
She kept walking.
Her thoughts moved faster than her steps.
She did not like this.
She did not like where this was going.
She had come there for work and nothing else, but now it was becoming something she could not control.
And that was what scared her the most.