Gwh stood up without hesitation, though a hint of confusion flickered across her face. "What does she want with me?"


    It was only her second day at The Everhart Group. At her level, why would the deputy director be interested in her?


    "You''ll find out when you get there. I''m just the messenger-how would I know?"


    Vera didn''t bother hiding her impatience. The others in the office shot them a brief nce, then quickly buried themselves in their work, pretending nothing was happening.


    Gwh tidied her desk with a practiced sweep, then followed Vera down the hall.


    Inside the office, Yvette was immersed in a stack of paperwork, flipping through pages, asionally jotting down notes or stamping her signature. She lookedpletely absorbed, as if she had no time for small talk.


    Vera nudged Gwh forward. "Go on in."


    Peeking through the half-open door, Gwh took in the scene. Yvette wasser- focused on her documents, not at all like someone who wanted a conversation.


    "Miss Yvette looks really busy-maybe I shoulde backter?" Gwh ventured. She still had work piling up; if she fell behind on the concept art, the whole team''s progress would stall.


    Vera snorted. "And what, you think this is a grocery store where you cane and go as you please? If she''s busy, you wait. God, you really are new-ever worked a day in your life? No sense of workce etiquette at all."


    She rolled her eyes and stalked off, leaving Gwh standing awkwardly at the door.


    Left with no choice, Gwh took a breath, knocked, and stepped inside. Yvette didn''t even bother to look up, let alone acknowledge her.


    Seeing just how swamped Yvette was, Gwh inched closer, her voice gentle. "Miss Yvette, you wanted to see me?"


    Yvette nced up, almost absently-but the moment their eyes met, she paused.


    There was something striking about Gwh: a natural beauty, almost ethereal, nothing like the fresh-out-of-college rookie Yvette had pictured.


    Yvette''s casual expression hardened, her tone turning frostier. "Go wait by the side. Can''t you see I''m busy?"


    Gwh stifled a sigh. If Yvette was this busy, why summon her in the first ce?


    Her eyes drifted to the desk. With


    her sharp vision, she couldn''t help but notice a small error—a misced decimal point on a financial report that Yvette was


    about to stamp.


    Gwh hesitated, then decided to speak up. "Miss Yvette, there''s a mistake here."


    She pointed lightly at the spot; it would only take a second nce to see it.


    Yvette didn''t appreciate the gesture.


    Her face darkened with anger. "Gwh, you''ve been here less than two days and already you don''t know how to show basic respect to your superiors? ording to your resume, you''re no stranger to the workce. Are you trying to make me treat you like some clueless intern?"


    She mmed the report down in front of Gwh. "What did you study, anyway? You think you can read financial statements, just point out errors as you please? Or did you think, just because Mr. Everhart brought you in, you could show off in front of me?"


    Her eyes narrowed, full of disdain. "A concept artist lecturing me about finance— what a joke."


    Gwh met her re, calm and unflinching.


    She wasn''t the type to belittle others, but she made an exception for pointless provocations.


    "I studied actuarial science. Got my FSA-Fellow of the Society of Actuaries— three years ago."


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!