“You can’t tell her the reason why I left?”
Marian’s voice was low at first—controlled, deliberate—but it carried like a blade cutting cleanly through the stale restroom air.
“I’ve been patient, Elise. Civil. I didn’t want office drama, especially when I’m only here for two weeks.” Her eyes never left Elise’s reflection in the mirror. “But you are the one creating this by not setting everything straight.”
Rebecca stood frozen beside the sink, eyes darting between the two women as if she had accidentally stepped into a room where the floor had just cracked open.
Marian turned to her slowly.
“And just so we’re clear,” Marian said evenly, “I didn’t plan on coming back.”
Rebecca swallowed.
“If you must know, I wasn’t even supposed to be the one sent here. I didn’t request this assignmen
