Author POV

The Next Day

Mia’s hands trembled as she clenched them together in front of Nathan’s desk. She had been pacing for almost five minutes now, her fear refusing to settle. Her eyes were swollen from lack of sleep, her lips dry from repeating the same prayer over and over again.

Nathan leaned back in his chair, watching her carefully.

“You need to calm down,” he said evenly. “Pacing like this won’t make the walls talk.”

Mia stopped abruptly and faced him.

“My best ...