"Dr. Carter, I noticed you stayed in our new chief's office for quite a while the other week," Mary said, her voice light but laced with unmistakable malice. She raised a perfectly shaped brow, her fork hovering over her salad as though she had just dropped a bombshell. “I hope there’s nothing... inappropriate going on.”
The words sliced through the air like a scalpel. Vivian’s throat tightened, and she choked on the water she’d just swallowed.
She sputtered, and a small stream of water sprayed onto the table in front of her. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment and anger, but she quickly composed herself, dabbing at her mouth with a napkin.
"Excuse me?" Vivian's voice was sharp, her gaze narrowing as she fixed Mary with a glare. "What an odd thing to say, don’t you think?"
Mary simpl
