By the time Willow arrived at the office, the composure she had assembled in her apartment was seamless.
She moved through the lobby with steady steps, the sound of her heels sharp against the polished floor. Her reflection flickered briefly in the glass panels near the elevator doors, and this time she did not look away. The woman staring back looked efficient, cool, almost severe. That was acceptable.
She did not belong to the open plan rows of desks or the casual hum of employees settling in. She was not there as staff. She was there as an external consultant hired to dismantle inefficiency and rebuild it properly.
