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Chapter 38: A Delicate Dilemma

Author: Richard Frank
last update Last Updated: 2024-12-17 05:58:59

Barbara sat in her office, surrounded by towering piles of records detailing the latest shipment inventory. The tan leather chair she occupied squeaked softly as she shifted her position, carefully cataloging expenses and delivery dates on her computer. Each keystroke sounded like a distant echo in the spacious room, a sanctuary of productivity amid the bustling company outside her door. A faint hum filled the air, a reminder of deadlines looming closer, reinforcing her focus.

Suddenly, an intrusive sound broke through her concentration—an electronic chime that signaled the doorbell. Barbara’s gaze darted to the ceiling as she took a deep breath; interruptions were just another part of her tightly wound routine, but this one felt different.

"Come in," she called, steeling herself for the inevitable visitor.

Her secretary, Julian, opened the door cautiously, peeking around the frame with a familiar expression. "You have a visitor," she said, her voice low and tentative. "Who is it?" Ba
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