The office was quiet in the late afternoon. The kind of stillness that only came after a long day of appointments. Dr. Cairn sat behind his desk, reviewing a file he’d already read twice.

Across the room, his new secretary stood beside the filing cabinet, carefully sliding folders into alphabetical order. Her hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail, a few strands falling free around her face.

She was only a few weeks into the job. Too young to have learned how to hide nerves yet.

He stood slowly, tall frame rising from behind the desk. He walked around the desk, stopping a respectful distance away.

“You’ve been very professional,” he continued. “But I worry that you don’t give yourself much of a break.”

She wasn’t sure what to say.

“I was thinking,” He said softly, “Perhaps I could take you to dinner this evening. Nothing formal. Just a chance to relax after a long day.”