"Did you just call me a thief?"
Her voice cut through the hallway, sharp and incredulous, as she leaned out from behind Adrian's shoulder. Her eyes locked onto Kaelo's face, unblinking, daring her to repeat it.
"No.. no, I didn't," Kaelo said immediately, too fast, the denial spilling out before Adrian could even react. Her gaze flicked to him, panic flashing beneath the surface. "Boss, I wasn't calling her a thief. I didn't mean it like that."
Adrian said nothing.
He simply looked at Kaelo.
His expression was blank... cold, unreadable, the kind of stillness that pressed down harder than anger ever could.
"Boss," Kaelo continued hurriedly, desperation creeping into her tone, "she called me shameless. And she called you audacious."
That finally earned a reaction.
"Enough," Adrian said calmly.
The word landed heavy.
He turned his gaze fully on Kaelo.
"Apologize to her."
The hallway seemed to freeze.
