"Morning, Ma'am," Anna greeted, busy with numerous orders while the table across from her wasn't much different. Technically, it wasn't morning, but nearly noon. This was the first time I had actually been late to the office. I arrived in the room at quarter past ten.

Even though I had informed Joice and Anna, it still felt strange. Usually, if I was late to the office, it was purely due to work-related matters, not personal ones like today. Engaging in random conversations had made me ...