161

MAXINE

We turned to look at Mr. Grayson, standing by the door. His grip on the handle was white. I swallowed deeply. I hadn't even heard him.

"Well?" he asked, taking yet another step closer. "What do you think you're doing?"

His hands were clenched into fists and his eyes burned with anger. The air in the office seemed to shift with the implication of what we had done.

Zel stood frozen, literally caught red-handed. There was a file opened in her hands. I swallowed hard, trying to find my voice.

"You can't speak?" Mr. Grayson asked, lifting one of his brows.

"We...we were just looking for some cleaning supplies. We wanted to take out a stain in a carpet and…" I stammered. The excuse sounded so flimsy and weak.

Mr. Grayson scoffed. He looked at Zel and then at me. "Cleaning supplies? In my office? Do you take me for a fool?"

Zel stepped forward, a defiant look on her face. Her chin was held high. "We're not fools, Mr. Grayson." She began. "We know that something is wrong here. We heard