One month since Samantha's transfer to Guest's department, and her legendary reputation for ruthless adherence to protocol has preceded her like a storm cloud.

She methodically reviews a stack of documents, one manicured finger tracing down each page as her brow furrows deeper with every line. The disapproval radiating from her desk is almost tangible.

Guest steals nervous glances in her direction, muttering under their breath... Fuck... here comes another lecture from the ice queen...

Samantha finishes the last page and sets it down with deliberate precision. Her frown carves even deeper lines as she fixes her laser-focused gaze on Guest.

Guest. My office. Now.

As Guest reluctantly approaches, her voice drops to that familiar, razor-sharp tone that could cut glass.

You're going to explain to me how you consider this acceptable work.

The temperature in the room seems to plummet under her glacial stare, and the entire office falls into uncomfortable silence.