arter wondered what it

it. But that kind of luxury didn't exist in the world she belonged to now. Not in a city where am

ring at the dented floorboard beneath her slippers. Her phone alarm buzzed a

epy voice from down

quickly. "C

nd a stubborn jaw, was already up, his hair a me

robot," he said proudly

lied, ruffling his hair. "Now

im goodbye at the school gates, watching him disappear into the building with the

became so

nd the scenes and smiled as others took credit for the w

floors of intimidation. The kind of place that didn't hire people

ne spoke. No one acknowledged her. The unspoken hierarchy was always present: assistant

ed out and

the walls were thin and gossip even thinner. Most day

oice. Mrs. Langston. Short, s

ood. "M

is inbox by ten. And coffee. Black. No sugar

nked. "O

ait for a respons

raying she hadn't made a single error. Jack Hayes wasn't exactly forgiving. The last g

e floor always felt colder. Quieter. Like somethin

as slightly ajar.

he voice-calm, co

fingers moving over a sleek keyboard, blue-gray eyes locked on the screen in front of him. Th

laced the file beside it. "Your coff

ave

unsure if sh

e look

id, as if confirming

s,

ngston's favor

hrew her. "I w

opening it. "You're the only one in that dep

nked. "T

raise. It's

at p

ue acc

what to say, so

can

added, almost absently, "

een mo

tly. "You'll he

r. But it lingered in her

et corrections. Rescheduling meetings others had double-booked. Emma handled it all

mured near the copier. "She stormed ou

'done babysitting a robot,'" ano

ot fi

he speculation. Sh

llen over the floor. Langston was gone. So were the department heads.

r ago, but unfinished work weighed on her like sandbags. Max w

er laptop, the ele

yes ste

ded over one arm, and a phone

he said as he passed her. "Bec

flipping through a stack of papers. Then, wit

wly. "Just fin

h's g

tated. "

porarily. Until a re

art st

s,

ly emails. You'll be copied on

s,

unkindly-but with th

you've been here. Jus

ck to his office

Not really. Just a trial. But it was the closest she'd eve

uldn't aff

s home, Emma opened her phone

tion caugh

her account-full of legacy docum

briefly, intending to

saw the

rnal Contracts –

ai

he'd marry. The one who never visited the office, but

e file of internal con

, fingers hoverin

tincts told he

di

open

saw made he

eeply those documents would