The soft scratching of pencil against paper filled the office quietly.
Silver lines curved across the page beneath my hand.
For the first time all day, my head had finally become quiet enough to think.
A knock sounded softly against the office door before it opened.
Mia stepped inside carefully. “It’s almost seven, ma’am.”
I looked up slowly.
The sky outside the glass windows had already turned dark blue, London glowing beneath scattered city lights.
My eyes shifted toward the clock hanging against the wall.
6:52 PM.
I blinked once.
I genuinely hadn’t realized that much time had passed.
The sketchbook closed softly beneath my hand.
I picked up my phone from the desk, slipped it into my bag, then stood up slowly. My shoulders ached immediately from sitting too long.
Mia watche
