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AYRA'S POV;

I’d been on my feet for hours, meticulously coordinating meetings, managing calls, and executing every single request from Mr. Hawthorne. A demanding presence in every sense, he commanded the room even in his absence. Despite how draining the work was, I had learned to adapt. Being efficient meant survival here; I didn’t need to step out of line to understand that.

The persistent ringing of my phone cut through my focus, startling me back to reality. I took a deep breath and picked up the call, forcing some cheer into my tone. "Hey," I greeted.

"Ayra, are you still chained to your desk?" Alan’s voice came through,...