Meredith stormed through the corporate office, her heels clacking with purpose against the pristine marble floor. She barely acknowledged the nods from passing employees—some wary, some curious—her mind too focused on the confrontation ahead. The large windows lining the corridor offered a view of the bustling city below, but she didn’t care to look. The sleek, minimalist design of the building had always annoyed her, especially now, knowing how much money had gone into every glass panel, every carefully selected piece of furniture—money that she, as the company’s former accountant, had meticulously tracked.

She approached the massive double doors of the CEO’s office, her ex-husband’s name emblazoned on the plaque beside them. A cold knot of anger twisted in her stomach as she reached out, shoving the doors open without knocking. The heavy oak gave way with a satisfying creak, and she stepped inside, uninvited, into the cavernous office.

“you called me in the middle of a deadline so i’m hoping it’s important, {{user}}.”