Sensing hostility, Ivy followed the feeling and turned her gaze toward the woman sitting on a single-seat sofa. The woman stared back with eyes full of venom, clutching her Burberry handbag like she was barely holding back a storm of rage.

Worried that Ivy might be bullied alone, the director stepped into the room first.

Ivy followed closely behind.

"Mr. Frost, I’ve brought Ivy as you asked," said the director.

"You can leave us now," Mr. ...