e alarm tore through t

bling across the nightstand. When she finally slammed her hand on the sno

4 a

"Oh no," she gasped,

. Her body ached, and the faint taste of last night's drinks still lingered on her ton

jerking her fully awake. She scrubbed herself fast,

ing else. She threw on a white button-down blouse tucked into a high-waisted navy pencil skirt that hugged her curves professionally. A

r phone, bag,

she shouted, her voice

the bedroom, but Evenly was already o

ng loomed above her like a monument to power and perfection. S

nervously, adjusting ties, flipping through notes. Evenly found a

alling names

n't hers, the knot in h

"Evenly

hing her skirt and walkin

oor o

, and her breath c

i

was the same man who'd humiliated her the night before. His expression was unreadable. C

ispered, unable

't react. Acted like h

m-executives, clearly, dressed in corporate sh

a seat," one

spinning. Her palms were

est tightened. I spi

glasses. "Tell us-why do you want to work here? And in this

to respond, forcing he

wer, Liam's voice cut ac

a glass of wine properly. I fail t

ll into awk

flushed hot. H

t Liam a sharp glan

lowly, and turned back to the m

fine capability. They test it. I'm determined, focused, and driven to learn. I may h

't say an

in the background. She answered every one the best she could, keeping her

ding, the sun was beginning t

the bus stop, her mind a whi

he in her chest. The humiliation from last night, the tension of the

me from getting this job jus

ightened. Di

eet dragged her to the bed, and she collaps

ed open a few

tepping in and dropping her

n't move.

e room quickly.

whisper. "The guy from last night-the one I s

dropped. "Yo

ng-his cold stare, the insult during t

was still staring at he

hat? You showed up. You stood your ground. I don't

y breath. "But what i

id with a soft smile. "But somet

n leaking through the curtains. Evenly lay motionless on the bed, eyes f

nds folded in her lap, s

again," she said gent

didn't

isten, I picked up some food on my way back fr

from the cupboard. The aroma of warm jollof rice and fried plantai

icken," Diana called out with a

Her body felt heavy, like it had

he bed. She gave Evenly a stern look. "Girl, you're going to eat. You need

, her voice barely above a whispe

eyes. "Nope. That

he arm and gently dragged her into a sitting

d fall forward into her hands.

sed, placing a fork in her hand. "E

e food was too tempting. She took a bite. Then another. S

d with a proud grin. "Loo

huckle, shaking her hea

slower now but less tense. She stepped into the bathroom and let the shower run, the w

el, her eyelids were already heavy. The emot

d shorts, pulled her blanket over

orway, smiling faintly. "Sl

nodded

rld faded to black as she