The office floor had settled back into its usual rhythm.
Or at least—it looked like it had.
But inside one of the private offices, the atmosphere was different.
Controlled.
Still.
Heavy.
The supervisor sat across from two men.
One of them she recognized.
The other
She did not dare to look at for too long.
"…we've taken initial steps," she said carefully, her fingers lightly gripping the edge of the file. "The staff involved has been questioned."
Silence.
The man beside him spoke first. "And the documents?"
"Still missing," she replied.
A pause.
"She reacted," the calm voice said.
The supervisor stiffened slightly.
He was not asking.
He was stating.
"…Yes," she admitted. "She did."
Another silence.
"She approached you directly," the second man added, his tone carrying a hint of disapproval.
"Yes."
"And you're telling me," he continued, "that someone under investigation, someone already being questioned, had the confidence to walk up to you and speak like that?"
The supervisor hesitated.
"I believe she didn't know who she was speaking to," she said.
The room went quiet again.
A soft, almost amused exhale.
"Of course she didn't," the calm voice said.
The supervisor's eyes lowered slightly.
There was something unsettling about how relaxed he sounded.
"Lucy," he said, like he was testing the name again.
No one responded.
"She said she didn't take anything," the supervisor added quickly. "And there's no direct evidence yet."
"No direct evidence?" the second man repeated.
"We're still reviewing access logs, movements—"
"That's not what I asked," he cut in.
The supervisor swallowed.
"No," she said quietly. "There's no direct evidence."
Another pause.
"Who suggested her name?" the calm voice asked.
The question hung in the air.
The supervisor blinked. "It came from internal reporting."
"That's vague," the second man said.
"We received information that she was one of the last to be in the office that evening," she explained. "And… her name came up during review."
"How?" he asked.
She hesitated again.
"I… don't have that detail yet."
Silence.
Longer this time.
Uncomfortable.
Then the calm voice spoke again.
"Look into it properly."
The tone hadn't changed.
Still quiet.
Still controlled.
But this time—
It carried weight.
"Yes," the supervisor said immediately.
"And the girl," he added.
She looked up slightly.
"What about her?" she asked.
A brief pause.
"Leave her for now."
The supervisor blinked. "Sir?"
"I said leave her."
No explanation.
No clarification.
Just that.
The second man glanced at him. "And if she's involved?"
Another small pause.
"Then we'll know."
The meeting ended shortly after.
The supervisor stood as they did.
"Thank you," she said.
They didn't respond.
They just walked out.
Back in the hallway, staff straightened as they passed.
No one spoke.
No one asked questions.
They just watched.
As they reached the exit, the second man spoke quietly, "You're letting this go too easily."
He didn't stop walking.
"I didn't say that," he replied.
"Then what are you doing?"
A small pause.
"Watching."
Outside, the car door was opened for them.
Before stepping in, he paused briefly.
His gaze shifted.
Not at anything specific.
Just… thoughtful.
"Lucy," he said again, almost under his breath.
Then he got in.
Across the city—
Lucy sat on her bed.
Still in her work clothes.
Her bag on the floor.
Her mind full.
She stared at nothing.
Thinking.
Trying to understand.
But somewhere she couldn't see—
Her name had already reached places she didn't know existed.