Mirabe flicked her leg a bit, easily picking up on the disdain in Sophia''s


    message. Clearly, they weren''t exactly best buddies. Mirabe shrugged, realizing there was no need to be polite if they weren''t tight. She tucked her phone away, not bothering to respond.


    Meanwhile, Sophia was trying to figure out what the boss''s message was all about, feeling a bit uneasy. That idiot Conrad using the boss''s meds was bad enough, but if he had the nerve to im they were his, it would be a real mess if he ticked off her boss. With these thoughts swirling, Sophia quickly shed her whiteb coat, grabbed her purse, and told her colleague at the register, "Sorry, something urgent came up. Gotta dash."


    Not waiting for a reply, she hurried out of the pharmacy.


    ***


    Before long, James pulled up at the medical association. At the entrance, a security guard was on duty, barring anyone without proper credentials. Mirabe, having left the ID card David gave her at home, decided to give him a call.


    Just as she hung up, she looked up to see Grant and Pauling out. Her cheeks twitched, and she instinctively turned towards James. Talk about an unexpected run-in.


    James noticed the fleeting awkwardness in Mirabe''s expression and asked, "Everything okay?"


    "Oh, it''s nothing," Mirabe replied, shaking her head. She raised her hand to her right ear, trying to hide her face a bit, but quickly dropped it, standing tall and confident. No need to get flustered-Morgan wouldn''t recognize her now!


    By then, Grant and Paul had approached. Grant was chatting with the security guard but stole a nce at Mirabe and James, momentarily taken aback by their presence. After a quick assessment, he asked the guard, "Who are these two?"


    The guard, recalling Mirabe''s brief phone call, confidently replied, "They''re probably here to see the president." He wasn''t about to let them in without confirmation, though.


    Grant nodded, then checked the time and gave Mirabe another discreet look. Could she be the vice president? After a moment, he instructed the guard to open the gate, stepping out to greet her, "Are you Ms. Mirabe?"


    Paul, following Grant, was dressed in a suave grey-and-white outfit, his trademark pipe dangling from his waist. His gaze flickered over Mirabe and James, mildly surprised by theirmanding presence. He quickly averted his eyes and politely stepped aside for Grant.


    Mirabe, catching Morgan''s reaction out of the corner of her eye, turned to Grant and nodded, "Yes, that''s me."


    Recognizing her voice from their earlier call, Grant quickly introduced himself, "I''m the president''s assistant. We''ve spoken on the phone before..." He paused, adding, "I''ve got to step out for a bit, but the guard will show you in."


    With that, he gave the guard a few instructions and went on his way.