Elzi decided to take a sip of water before getting up from her chair, hoping it would calm her emotions that might be stirred up again by Rachel.

Elzi knocked three times on Rachel's office door and entered. Without any pleasantries, she immediately handed over the meeting report in question.

“Here, Ma’am, the minutes of yesterday's meeting,” Elzi said. “If that's all, may I be excused?”

Elzi turned to leave, but Rachel spoke up and said a word that stopped the girl from leaving.

“Wait.”

Reluctantly, Elzi had to face Rachel again and took a deep breath. She silently prayed that no tragedy would befall them that day. Unfortunately, her...