The Cafeteria.

The sound coming from the company cafeteria was loud. The clinking sound of cutleries, low chatter floating, trays sliding across metal rails…but none of it masked the tension brewing in the far corner.

Gracelyn noticed it the moment she stepped in.

It was as though she had come to the cafeteria specifically for that reason.

Her eyes landed on them the moment she entered.

Anna stood there again, her shoulders slightly hunched, and fingers clenching tightly around the edge of her tray as three women surrounded her like predators circling prey.

Their laughter was loud, and mocking. One of them nudged Anna’s tray, causing a bit of stew to spill over the edge.

“Oh no,” the tallest one cooed with fake sympathy. “Look what you’ve done. Clumsy as always.”

Anna quickly began apologizing, her voice barely audible. “I—I’m sorry… I’ll clean it—”

“Of course you will,” another cut in, rolling her eyes. “And after that, you’ll go pick up my dry cleaning. Don’t forget this time.”

Gracelyn paused mid-step as she approached them.

Her gaze hardened.

Again.

A flicker of irritation crossed her face, deep and unhidden. She exhaled slowly, setting her bag down on a nearby table before walking toward them with calm, calculated steps.

Each click of her heels seemed like deliberate steps fo ruin their plans.

The bullies didn’t notice her immediately.

But, Anna did.

Her eyes widened slightly, a silent plea mixed with fear, but Gracelyn gave her nothing.

No reassurance. No softness. Just that steady, unreadable look.

Anna was confused. She couldn’t tell why Gracelyn was here, as she had never come to the cafeteria since she resumed.

She could not tell if she was here to save her, but considering last time, she had a little hope.

When she finally reached them, she didn’t raise her voice.

She didn’t need to.

“Anna,” she said simply, her tone cool and firm, “come with me.”

The women turned, clearly annoyed at the interruption. One of them scoffed, folding her arms.

“And who exactly are you to—”

She didn’t even finish.

Gracelyn’s gaze snapped to her, sharp as a blade.

“You should be very careful,” she said quietly, her voice dropping just enough to instill fear in her, “about who you decide to speak over.”

A small silence fell.

The confidence on the woman’s face wavered.

Gracelyn tilted her head slightly, her eyes narrowing with a faint, cold smile.

“Because if I decide to remember your face… your voice… and your attitude,” she continued, each word were delivered with a tone of danger, “I won’t forget it when it matters.”

That did it.

The subtle threat, wrapped in certainty, made them flinch physically.

One of them shifted uncomfortably, another cleared her throat, suddenly very interested in her phone.

Gracelyn turned back to Anna as if they no longer existed.

“Let’s go.”

Anna hesitated for half a second, glancing nervously at the girls, but then she nodded and followed.

Not a single one of them stopped her.

They moved down the line in silence, picking their food.

Gracelyn didn’t rush her. She simply waited until Anna had chosen something, then grabbed a bottle of juice and a simple meal for herself.

They found a quiet table near the window.

Everyone had noticed what had happened, but after a minute, they returned to their business.

No one had dared to stop these bullies. They all acted like nothing ever happened.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Anna kept her head down, nervously pushing her food around her plate.

Gracelyn watched her.

Not with pity.

Finally, she broke the silence.

“Why?”

Anna froze slightly.

Gracelyn leaned back in her chair, crossing one leg over the other, her gaze steadily fixed on her.

“Why do you always let them treat you like that?” she asked, her tone not harsh, but not gentle either. “You’re not incapable. You’re not weak. So why?”

Anna swallowed.

Her fingers tightened around her fork.

At first, it seemed like she wouldn’t answer.

But then, her voice came out, low and strained.

“My mother is sick.”

Gracelyn’s expression didn’t change, but her eyes sharpened just a bit.

“She’s been in a clinic for months now,” Anna continued, her voice trembling slightly. “It’s expensive… I can barely afford it. And the clinic…”

She hesitated.

Gracelyn didn’t interrupt.

“…belongs to one of their families.”

There it was.

The truth sat heavy between them.

“If I don’t do what they say…” Anna whispered, her head dropping lower, “they threaten to stop her treatment. They’ve said it before. They’re serious. I don’t want my mom to die.”

Silence.

The noise of the cafeteria faded into the background again.

Gracelyn stared at her for a long moment.

And then, slowly, she leaned back, exhaling quietly.

Now it made sense.

Every bowed head. Every swallowed insult. Every silent tear.

It wasn’t weakness.

It was survival.

She had to do it. She had to sacrifice her respect.

Anna sniffed, quickly wiping at her eyes. “I know it’s humiliating,” she added quickly, almost defensively. “But I don’t have a choice. I have a younger sister too… she depends on me. If anything happens to my mom—”

“Eat.”

Anna blinked.

Gracelyn picked up her juice, taking a slow sip.

“I didn’t ask for a speech,” she said calmly. “Your food is getting cold.”

Anna stared at her, confused by the sudden change in expression.

But something about Gracelyn’s tone made her obey.

They ate in silence.

Not an uncomfortable silence, but one filled with unspoken thoughts.

Gracelyn didn’t offer sympathy or give empty reassurance.

She simply sat there, composed and quiet, her mind clearly working through something.

After a few minutes, she set her fork down.

Took another long sip of her juice.

Then she stood.

Anna looked up immediately.

Gracelyn glanced down at her, her expression unreadable, but her voice was firm.

“The next time they send you on errands that do not align with your job description,” she said, “you refuse.”

Anna’s eyes widened.

“But—”

“You refuse,” Gracelyn repeated, cutting her off without raising her voice. “You stand your ground. You look them in the eye and you say no.”

Anna shook her head quickly, panic flashing across her face. “I can’t—”

“You can, and you will,” Gracelyn said sharply.

There was no room for argument in her tone.

“No one,” she continued, her gaze locking onto Anna’s, “has the right to walk over you. Not for any reason.”

Anna opened her mouth to protest again, but stopped.

Something about the way Gracelyn said it… the certainty, the quiet authority…

It silenced her, and just told her to obey.

Slowly, hesitantly, she nodded.

Gracelyn held her gaze for a moment longer, then gave a small, almost imperceptible nod of her own.

Her eyes flicked briefly toward the corner where the bullies sat.

They were watching. Seemingly uneasy, and probably plotting what next to do.

Yet, the fear in their eyes could not go unnoticed.

Good.

Without another word, Gracelyn turned and walked away.

As she made her way back to her office, her expression remained composed, but inside, something stirred.

Anna’s story lingered for long.

A young girl… struggling to survive. Taking care of a sick mother and a younger sister. Enduring humiliation just to keep them alive.

It hit too close.

It felt too familiar.

Gracelyn’s jaw tightened slightly.

She remembered what it felt like…working endlessly, pushing through exhaustion, clawing her way forward without anyone to rely on.

No help.

Nobody to run to.

Just sheer determination.

Her steps slowed for a brief moment.

Then resumed faster.

She wasn’t that girl anymore.

But she recognized one when she saw one.

And she didn’t ignore things like that.

Not anymore.

She could not stand to see the young version of her in someone else. She would make sure to defend her until she was able to defend herself, and stand against the people trying to walk over her.

She was human. A human, who didn’t deserve such a life.

When she entered her office, she immediately spotted the stack of documents sitting neatly on her desk.

She paused.

Then scoffed softly, shaking her head.

“Unbelievable.”

Of course they’d been dropped off without notice.

She set her bag down, took her seat, and flipped open the first file.

Work mode. Instantly.

Her expression turned cold, and focused.

If there was one thing Gracelyn excelled at, it was control.

Meanwhile, Rex leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping lightly against the armrest as the door opened.

Maverick stepped in.

“You’re back,” Rex said, his tone neutral, but his eyes were sharp with expectation. “Well?”

Maverick didn’t sit immediately.

Instead, he walked forward, his expression slightly thoughtful.

“I checked,” he said.

Rex straightened slightly.

“And? Does the house, perhaps, belong to Gracelyn?”

Maverick exhaled.

“The house… doesn’t belong to her.”

Rex’s brows pulled together.

“What?”

“It’s registered under the name Brian Jr.”

Silence.

Rex stared at him for a moment, processing.

Then leaned back slowly.

A sigh escaped his lips.

“I see.”

Disappointment flickered across his face. Just subtle.

He had been certain it was Gracelyn.

The silhouette that night…

The presence.

The familiarity.

It had to be her, right?

But now…

Maybe he had imagined it.

Maybe he had let his curiosity get the best of him.

His jaw tightened slightly.

“Alright,” he muttered. “You can go.”

Maverick turned to leave… but paused at the door.

“Oh, and one more thing.”

Rex glanced up.

“We have a conference tomorrow. 10 AM. Veritas Hall.”

Rex frowned.

“We?”

Maverick nodded casually. “You and Gracelyn. You’re both registered guests.”

Rex’s frown deepened.

“Does she know?”

“I’ll remind her again,” Maverick said with a small shrug.

Rex gave a short nod.

“Fine.”

Maverick left.

And once the door closed, silence settled over the office again.

Rex leaned back, staring at the ceiling.

Gracelyn.

Everything about her was… puzzling.

Her attitude. Her confidence. The way she spoke to him like she wasn’t intimidated in the slightest.

In fact, she was intimidation herself. Queen of cold aura.

And now this.

He exhaled sharply, rubbing his jaw.

What exactly was she hiding? Why does she seem like a puzzle that’s hard to solve?

Five minutes later, curiosity got the better of him.

He stood, straightened his suit, and stepped out of his office.

If nothing else, he wanted clarity about what she had mentioned earlier…something about supplies and materials.

But as soon as he stepped into the corridor, he stopped.

Gracelyn was walking quickly toward the exit.

Phone pressed to her ear.

Her expression was different.

“…I don’t care how long it takes,” she was saying, her voice low but firm. “Just get it done.”

Rex’s eyes narrowed slightly.

She didn’t notice him.

“…No,” she continued, her tone colder now. “I’m not waiting till tomorrow. Handle it today.”

She reached the elevator.

Pressed the button.

“…Good,” she said after a pause.

The elevator doors opened.

She stepped in, and just before they closed, her final words echoed clearly…more like he read her lips.

“Send me the address.”

The doors slid shut.

Rex stood there, unmoving.

Confusion flickered across his face.

Address?

For what?

Handle what?

Who was she talking to?

His gaze lingered on the closed elevator doors, his mind already racing.

Gracelyn wasn’t just mysterious.

She was unpredictable.

And for some reason…

That only made him more determined to find out exactly what she was involved in.