YVONNE —

"Yvonne, are you not yet ready?" Amanda's voice sounded from the sitting room.

"A few minutes, please. I'm almost done," I responded, hurrying to apply body cream to my body.

Today was finally the long-awaited day on which I had agreed to meet with Mr. Thomas and give him feedback on what I had concluded. However, Amanda had requested to escort me just in case it got to a point where I could not defend my opinion and freely say what I had concluded, then agree to what would not sit well with me out of pressure.

A few minutes later, I was finally done dressing. I stared...