The silence in Peter's office lingered long after his question, thick and suffocating, pressing against Caro's chest as she struggled to find her breath. She swallowed hard, forcing herself to meet his gaze despite the fear rising inside her. "That depends," she said quietly, her voice steadier than she felt, "on whether you are asking as my boss… or as someone who already thinks I am guilty." Her fingers tightened slightly at her sides. "Because those are not the same question."
Peter's eyes did not soften, but something shifted beneath the surface, something sharper, more personal. "Answer it as both," he said, his tone low, controlled, but carrying an edge that made her pulse quicken. "If I am your boss, then I deal with it as a breach." He took a slow step closer, his gaze locking onto hers. "If I am not… then I deal with it as betrayal." His voice dropped further. "And those two outcomes are not equal."
