The door to the back office didn\u2019t just swing open; it surrendered.<\/p>\n
Daniel didn\u2019t barge in like a CEO; he walked in like the owner of the ground beneath the building. Bryce, the manager with the sweat-stained polo and a clipboard that acted as a makeshift shield, didn\u2019t even look up at first.<\/p>\n
\u201cDining room\u2019s that way, pal,\u201d Bryce muttered, his voice thick with the practiced arrogance of a small man in a small kingdom.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe dining room is a disaster, Bryce. And the kitchen smells like a freezer burn,\u201d Daniel said. His voice was quiet, the kind of quiet that makes a room feel like it\u2019s losing oxygen.<\/p>\n
Bryce froze. He recognized the tone before he recognized the face. He looked up, the color draining from his cheeks until he looked like unbaked dough. \u201cMr. Whitmore? I\u2026 we weren\u2019t expecting a site visit until next quarter. I have the spreadsheets ready, the labor costs are down\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t care about your spreadsheets if your staff is terrified of their own shadows,\u201d Daniel interrupted. He pulled the folded note from his pocket and laid it on the scarred wooden desk. \u201cJenna. Talk to me about her.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Breaking Point
\nBefore Bryce could stammer out a lie, the door creaked. Jenna stood there, her hands trembling but her chin held high. She had followed him. It was a career-ending move in any other world, but in this one, it was a rescue mission.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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