ROMAN'S POV

It didn’t take long before I heard a small, deliberate knock on the door. I didn’t even need to look, I already knew who it was. “Come in,” I said immediately, my tone sharp yet composed.

The heavy wooden doors swung open, and in walked the manager. She was dressed as neatly as ever — a fitted skirt, her hair pinned tight at the back, and a hint of perfume that carried professionalism more than charm. She approached my desk with measured steps, then gave a small bow ...