I barely slept. Margaret’s stare haunted me, her “first thing tomorrow” echoing in my head.
I walked into the office, my stomach in knots. Margaret’s office door stared at me. I knocked, heart pounding.
“Come in,” she called sharply.
I stepped inside, forcing a smile. “Morning, Margaret.”
“Sit, Sierra.” She didn’t look up from her laptop. “Close the door.”
I did, sitting stiffly.
“About yesterday, the elevator.” Her eyes flicked to me, cold. “You and Cole looked… disheveled.”
“It was hot in there,” I said, too fast. “Stuffy. No air.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Stuffy.”
“Yeah. Thirty minutes stuck. It was rough.”
She leaned back, arms crossed. “You’re new here, Sierra. I expect professionalism. No gossip, no distractions.”
“I understand.”
“Do you?” Her gaze pinned me. “I saw your
