When Simone left work that evening, at almost 8 pm, she was positively exhausted. Not only did the meeting run late, but it was also packed with people, whom she felt were looking at her more than usual. And that only served to make her uncomfortable, even though she would rather drink acid than show it.
She remembered as someone from the marketing department looked at her, with eyes full of something akin to disdain, but also of questions, before he let out scornfully, “That’s quite the expensive shirt you’re wearing.”
Simone was rather startled, and had to think fast of a response.
“It was a gift,” she offered the older man a smile. “I wouldn’t know.”
The man didn’t dare comment further, especially as William, who had had to step out for an urgent phone call, returned. The meeting re
