[Norma's Office]
"Good. You are quite diligent when it comes to work. Impressive."
Kathrine frowned slightly at the unexpected praise, though she kept her thoughts to herself. Compliments from Norma were rare, and when they came, they never felt simple.
Norma closed the file in front of her and placed it neatly aside. "But your job is not done yet," she continued in a calm tone. "I want you to stay fully invested in this project and make sure nothing is overlooked. Remember, you cannot afford to upset Marcus in any way."
Kathrine maintained her composure. She simply nodded. "Understood."
Without saying anything more, she turned and walked out of the room.
The moment the door closed behind her, her expression changed. She glanced back at the shut door, her frown deepening.
Something felt off.
Norma had always taken subtle pleasure in making things difficult for her. Every minor error had been magnified. Every delay had been questioned. Yet today, she was calm. Too calm.
