Thomas’s shoulders sagged as he stepped back from the podium, his mind clouded with a tumult of regret, shame, and helplessness. He stared at the stunned faces of his colleagues, feeling the weight of their judgment pressing down on him like a suffocating fog. The room was silent except for the faint hum of the overhead lights and the distant sounds of murmured whispers.
He struggled to find words, but all that emerged was a hoarse, trembling breath. “What now?” he wondered, feeling utterly lost in the aftermath of his own secrets laid bare.
The silence was broken by the sound of footsteps—quick, purposeful, and authoritative. It was Jessica, his assistant, who had been watching the scene unfold with wide eyes and trembling hands. She stepped forward, her voice trembling but firm.
“Mr.
