Next Morning~Layla’s suite

Layla paced the room, her bare feet padding against the thick carpet as she listened to the voice on the other end of the phone. Her voice was low and harsh, her tone brooking no argument.

"Listen to me," she hissed, her nails digging into her palm. "I'm not paying you to hem and haw. I'm paying you to do a job. And if you can't handle that, I'll find someone who can."

She paused, letting her words sink in, her eyes fixed on the muted TV. "This isn't ...