It was a quiet afternoon when I heard a soft knock on my office door. "Come in," I called out, my voice steady. The door creaked open, and in walked Phyllis. I barely recognized her—her usual confidence had dissolved into visible anxiety. She stood in front of my desk, fidgeting with her hands.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Armand," she greeted me, her voice trembling slightly as she introduced herself, though we both knew it was unnecessary.
I could feel the tension radiating from her, the kind that comes from fear and uncertainty. I rose from my chair, walking around my desk toward her. Her eyes widened as I approached, but I did not give her time to react. I pulled her into an embrace, feeling her stiffen for just a moment before her body relaxed. Her arms hesitated, then finally wrapped around me, and I heard a quiet sniffle.
