Lunch continued in uneasy silence, punctuated by polite exchanges that did little to ease the crackling tension between them.
Nia took a bite of sashimi, the taste lost on her as she fought the urge to snap back at every seemingly harmless comment Zack made. The room felt hotter with each passing second, her irritation simmering beneath the surface like a slow-boiling cauldron.
"I'm going to the restroom, excuse me" she announced abruptly, pushing back her chair. She needed to get out—just for a moment. Some space. Some air. Something to clear the fog of confusion clouding her mind.
Jess shot her a worried look, but Nia ignored it, making her way out of the conference room and down the hall. She took her time in the bathroom, splashing cold water on her face and taking slow, deliberate breaths until the knot of frustration in her chest loosened just a fraction.
