Lydia's Point Of View
"You had better be worth it."
The words still lingered in my mouth as I stepped out of my office.
The hallway felt longer than usual, brighter too, like the lights had been turned up just to expose me. Nora walked half a step behind me, tablet clutched to her chest, her heels tapping carefully against the polished floor. I could feel the shift in the air as we passed desks. Conversations softened. Heads lifted.
"Good afternoon, Ms. Lydia."
"Ma'am."
"Ms. Lydia."
I nodded at each greeting with the same composed smile I had perfected years ago. Controlled. Effortless. Unbothered. Even without the Director title, I was still senior management. Still influential. Still someone they straightened their backs for.
But inside?
Inside, my stomach was tight.
Every step toward that boardroom felt like walking toward a verdict.
