— I would like to know more about what happened.

The woman cast a glance toward the doorframe, where a curious face was barely visible. Her eyes immediately became sharp—cold and resolute. Without a word, with a single glance, she made it clear that now was not the time for curious onlookers. The one who had dared to eavesdrop vanished as if swept away by an invisible force. The atmosphere in the room instantly became tense, and Maria could feel her control over the situation being restored.

A heavy sigh escaped her chest, and her fingers momentarily froze, as if trying to slow the rush of thoughts that were still spinning in her mind. A fleeting sense of exhaustion and irritation flashed in her chest, but she held them back. She couldn’t allow herself to show weakness. For a moment, her eyes closed, as though searching for the strength to continue, exhaling all the thoughts that hindered her focus.

With a delicate motion, she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, feeling each movement echo in the stillness of the room. Her head tilted slightly, and Maria’s face became even more controlled, as though every step she took had been carefully planned and precise. When she spoke again, her voice was soft, but still carried a hint of insinuating authority:

— I apologize, not all staff understand the importance of a confidential conversation... — her words wrapped around the listener gently, but beneath them lay an icy chill. She felt a slight tremor in her fingers as she said this, as if not allowing herself any more emotions. In response, her gaze became firm and attentive. — Now... where did we leave off?