Vanessa’s Office

Vanessa sat at her sleek glass desk, her fingers tapping softly against the keyboard of her laptop. The hum of the air conditioning filled the room, blending with the faint rustle of papers on her desk. The muted city sounds filtered through the large floor-to-ceiling windows behind her, casting long shadows across her pristine office. Despite the calm around her, Vanessa’s mind was anything but at ease.

A sharp knock broke through the quiet. She paused, lifting her head as her dark eyes flickered toward the door.

“Come in,” she called, her voice steady.

The door creaked open, and Lily stepped inside, her beige blazer slightly wrinkled as...