Annie arrived at the office, but something was off. Her desk, usually decorated with a pile of papers and files, was nowhere to be found. Panic surged through her. Had someone moved her desk? A quick scan of the office revealed nothing. Her desk was gone, vanished without a trace. A surge of anger and confusion washed over her. This was Joseph, but she hadn't given him an answer yet.
With a deep breath, she turned to leave the office. She needed to find out what was going on. She made a beeline for the restroom. The day was already taking a turn for the worse, and she needed a moment to collect herself. As she entered a toilet stall, she overheard snippets of a conversation from the next stall.
"I heard she slept her way to the top. Can you imagine?"
Annie's blood boiled. These women were talking about her. Her jaw clenched as she imagined confronting them, but she knew it would be a waste of energy. Instead, she took a deep breath and focused on calming herself.
Annie exited the stall, her face a mask of icy calm. She could feel the two women's eyes on her as she washed her hands. Turning to face them, she met their gaze with a cold, hard stare. Their whispers died down as their eyes widened in surprise.
Ignoring their discomfort, Annie exited the restroom, her mind racing. She needed to confront Joseph, to understand what was happening. With a renewed sense of determination, she headed for the elevator. The ride to the 25th floor felt like an eternity. As the elevator doors slid open, she stepped out, her body tense. Her phone buzzed, and a text from an unknown number read, "Don't forget what we discussed. Report by the end of the week." Her heart pounded. It was Andrew. She quickly wiped her sweaty palms on her skirt.
Ghost was standing at the entrance as if waiting for her, he informed her that Joseph was waiting. She carefully arranged her new workspace, directly across from Joseph's office, oblivious to his keen eyes studying her. Finally settling, she stood up to meet him.
Joseph watched her walk towards him, trying to calm his emotions. She looked stunning, but he knew better than to be fooled. This was a dangerous game, and she could be a threat. Yet, he couldn't deny the pull he felt towards her. Maybe she was just caught up in something bigger than herself.
Joseph's voice cut through her thoughts, "We'll be going for a series of meetings today and you are to follow me and take notes." His tone was clipped, his eyes holding a certain intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. She nodded, trying to mask the churning in her stomach.
The day was a blur of boardrooms, meetings, and endless cups of coffee. Annie was exhausted. Her feet ached, and her mind felt hazy. But through the haze, she couldn't help but notice the way Joseph moved. There was an effortless grace to his steps, a command in his posture that drew her attention. Yet, amidst all the discussions and presentations, there was no mention of Project Phoenix. A sense of frustration gnawed at her.
The weight of the day pressed down on Annie as she finally entered her small apartment. She needed answers, something concrete to hold onto. She pulled out the worn file from thirteen years ago, maybe, just maybe, there was a clue, a piece of the puzzle she'd been missing. She flicked through the yellowing pages, her eyes scanning the faded pages. She needed to find something, anything to break through the fog that enveloped her.