I stood there, the juice running down my back, but my focus was on Lola. Her wide, startled eyes darted from the HR manager to me, confused and shaken.
The manager's face twisted in frustration. "Kiara, what are you doing? That was meant for her."
I turned slowly, meeting the manager's gaze with a calmness I didn't quite feel. "If you're trying to humiliate someone, you can come at me. But I won't stand by and watch you treat her like this."
There was a tense silence. The cafeteria had gone quiet again, everyone staring. Jessica and Gabriel were watching too, their expressions unreadable, but I could feel their unease.
The manager sneered. "You think you're some kind of hero now?"
I didn't answer. Instead, I looked back at Lola, who seemed frozen in her seat, her mouth slightly open in shock. I gave her a small nod before walking past the manager.
