Kim hadn't planned on being useful that day.
It was one of those mornings where she arrived early, sat behind the reception desk with her coffee cooling too fast, and watched the lobby wake up. People came in already stressed, already talking into their phones, already acting like something urgent was about to fall apart if they didn't move fast enough. She liked mornings like that. It made her feel invisible in a good way. No expectations whatsoever.
She was scrolling through emails she wasn't even sure she was allowed to read when her phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
She ignored it.
It buzzed again, immediately.
Kim sighed, picked it up, and answered with a polite voice she'd perfected over time. Soft,professional and calm.
"Hello, Steele Enterprises, reception."
"Oh thank God," the voice said. Breathless. Familiar enough. "Kim, it's claire."
Ethan's secretary.
Kim straightened in her chair without realizing it. "Hi. Is everything okay?"
