Chapter 3

Sloane,s pov

The private office assignment landed without warning the following afternoon. Maintenance had sealed the main room for electrical work that ran longer than scheduled. The only remaining space was the narrow back office usually reserved for confidential student meetings. One desk. Two chairs. Barely enough room to stand without turning sideways.

Rina arrived and took in the new arrangement with a slow look that made my shoulders tighten.

“Cozy,” she said.

“Temporary.”

“How temporary?”

“Three late shifts. Maybe four if the work runs over.”

She set her bag down and claimed the chair closest to the single window. The room immediately felt smaller. Every sound carried....