Chapter 107

Elaine

I stood outside Mr. Smith’s office after he summoned me, my heart thumping in my chest. The door, usually a gateway to opportunities and praise, felt more like the entrance to a lion’s den today. Normally, I would have been excited to be called in, eager to share new ideas and celebrate wins. But not today—not since we lost that very important deal with Bride Essentials.

Fear clenched my heart as I contemplated whether I should knock or wait until my nerves settled down. Guilt gnawed at me, reminding me why I was in this position in the first place. Facing Mr. Smith had been so hard these last few days, yet I knew I couldn’t avoid it. It was my fault Roma was in this mess, and no amount of wishful thinking could change that.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves, and pushed the door open. Inside, Mr. Smith sat behind his desk, looking tired but composed. Nancy was there too, seated stiffly on one of the chairs. Our gazes met, but her expression was hard to read.

For