Caro barely slept.
By the time she stepped into the office the next morning, her composure was already fragile, held together only by habit and desperation. She had barely placed her bag on the desk when Peter's voice came from behind her, calm and precise enough to make her heart stutter instantly. "You are early today," he said, watching her without moving closer. "That is not like you after a late night. Should I assume something is… different?"
Caro forced a small, controlled breath before turning to face him. "I had work to finish," she replied carefully, keeping her tone steady. "I thought it would be better to handle it before the day gets busy." Her fingers tightened slightly against the desk, but she did not let it show. "Is there something you need me to prioritize this morning?"
