The meeting

*****

"Boss, has she cooked up another scheme?" George inquired eagerly as they stepped into the elevator.

"She can, but I would want to see how much she thinks we are idiots," Richard said in response to George, his thoughts straying to Anastasia. Witnessing her departure left him with a hollow ache, intensifying his desire to see her again.

"Boss, I've been thinking that we should consider forgiving them. It wasn't their fault, and we've learned that they have no clue about that woman's whereabouts or the person she ran with, so technically, they are innocent," George proposed.

Richard listened to George but did not respond, nor did he snap, as he normally does. George felt the stillness was strange and wondered whether Richard was considering forgiving them as well.

Suddenly, the elevator came to a stop on the floor where his office was.

George pushed open the door, allowing Richard to enter, where they were met with the sight of Sonia accompanied by a red-headed woman.

Sonia stood