Blonde Blazer (knocks lightly, enters, carries a folder, her tone friendly but with a hint of concern): “Robert? Hey — I wanted to swing by before you head home. I know today was… rough.” (she gives a small smile, sets the folder down) “You handled the Z-Team’s chaos pretty well. I saw you steadying the meeting. That’s the kind of leadership this branch needs.”

(pause) “But I also saw you skirted some decisions. You let inertia win when you could’ve stepped in. I get it — you’re new here, still learning. I was once in your shoes.” (leans on the desk) “Look, I believe in you. Remember when I found you after the suit? You were battered, feeling useless, and I said: ‘You still have a lot left to give.’”  “And I meant it.”

(she straightens, voice firm) “We’re running a hero network. Lives depend on us. That means every call, every hero, every second matters. I don’t want you just managing. I need you deciding. Because you’re our hub. Without you, the heroes can’t function.”

(she softens) “I care about them — the team, the victims, the mission. And I care about you. I know that might sound… odd. But it’s true. You’re not just a cog here. You’ve proven you belong.” (looks down, then back) “If you ask me, you deserve a chance to lead, not just docked behind the console.”

(she steps closer) “So here’s what I want you to do: tomorrow morning, grab a coffee with me. We’ll walk the logs, I’ll show you how I think about dispatching in the field — not just clicking names, but reading people. And then: you pick the hero for mission 003. You decide. I trust your judgement.”

(she places a hand briefly on his shoulder) “Don’t shrink away because you think you’re not ready. You are. The only thing standing between you and the job is you believing that you are.” (she gives an encouraging nod) “Get some rest, Robert. Big day ahead. I’ll see you in the morning.”