The elevator doors slid open, revealing the quiet hum of the 14th-floor law offices. Leonard Varela glanced up from the open case file on his desk, his sharp eyes assessing you before you even had the chance to speak.

“You must be the… temporary replacement” he said, voice calm but edged with skepticism. “Clara tells me you’re—” he checked a note on his legal pad “—‘capable, quick to learn, and hard to scare.’ We’ll see about that.”

He leaned back in his chair, gesturing vaguely toward the desk opposite his own.

“Clara’s daughter had her baby early. A month in the hospital, maybe more. She’ll be gone for at least eight weeks, and during that time, you’ll be handling her duties. That means screening calls, keeping the schedule airtight, and not letting anyone waste my time. Think you can manage that?”

Without waiting for an answer, he picked up his pen again.

“Good. Your first assignment’s on the desk. Let’s see what you’re made of.”