I slip away to the elevator, needing air, needing space, my heart still hammering from the confrontation. The ride down feels endless, and when the doors finally open, I practically flee to the small courtyard behind the building. It's tucked between Moonfang Construction and the neighboring office complex, a quiet spot with a few benches and some landscaping that most employees never visit.

My legs feel heavy, but I sink onto one of the metal benches anyway, pulling in shaky breaths that don't ...