The door opened with a soft click, and Anthony stepped back into the room, his professional composure intact but his eyes bright with barely contained excitement. The moment he saw me sitting upright in the chair, a genuine smile broke across his face.
"Congratulations, Boss," he said, his voice carrying a warmth that went beyond mere professional courtesy. "Thirty-four votes. You did it!"
I managed a weak smile in return, though the effort felt more taxing than it should have. "We did it," I corrected, gesturing toward both him and Evelyn. "I couldn't have gotten here without either of you."
Anthony's expression shifted as he took in my condition more carefully. Even sitting down, it was probably obvious that something was seriously wrong. My posture was too careful, too measured. Similar to the way that someone moves when they're not entirely sure their body will cooperate.
