Anne stepped into the conference hall. The room fell quiet for a moment as all eyes turned to her. Around the long oval table sat the team leaders of various departments, each with their notepads open and eyes alert. At the head of the table sat Megan Granet, her posture commanding and eyes coldly assessing Anne.
Feeling a flicker of discomfort under the weight of their gazes, Anne swallowed. She offered a faint, apologetic smile and quietly slipped into the nearest empty chair.
"I don't like being late." Megan's sharp tone sliced through the room a second later, her gaze locked directly on Anne. "This is our first meeting, so I'll let it slide—just this once. But I expect punctuality moving forward. I don't believe in second chances when it comes to discipline."
Anne regretted wasting her time on Lorie. Her spine stiffened. "Understood. I'll be on time from now on," she replied respectfully.
