46 - Stains

 "I, um, think repeating what she said would only frustrate you, sir."

Oh, no. That was a bad answer. Why had she thought that saying it would soothe his anger in any way? As soon as the words left her mouth, Jia realized with the utmost horror that it might seem as if she were patronizing Atlas.

"I expect you to be honest with me, Jia. We've had this discussion before."

When had he begun calling her Jia instead of Ms. Moon? 

But she supposed now wasn't the time to think idle thoughts. She wracked her mind to figure out what it was that the man was talking about. What discussion?

Oh, right - yesterday in the hallway when he had asked a very similar question then, too. Jia stared up at the man, still shocked that he had appeared out of absolutely nowhere to stand right in front of her like this. But more than that, he didn't sound like himself: his voice was angry, but strangely not so much intimidating as it was frustrated and...worried?<