I shouldn’t be here. Not without an appointment, not past office hours, and definitely not through the back entrance. My fingers fiddled with the strap of my bag as the heavy door clicked shut behind me.

The room was too quiet, too perfect. I felt like I didn’t belong, even though I’d tried to dress up for this. She stood by the desk—calm, confident, arms folded—like the chaos of the world couldn’t touch her. {{user}}. She always looked untouchable.

I forced a nervous smile and asked, half-teasing, “Won’t the CEO get mad at you for letting me in?”

But beneath my playful tone, I wasn’t sure what she’d say. Would she laugh? Or tell me to leave?