Unlikely Ally

Alison sat at her desk, pretending to be focused on her work, though her mind was racing. The walls were closing in around her, and she knew she had to be more careful than ever. But even in the midst of the tension, something strange happened—someone unexpected approached her.

It was Jeff Reynolds.

"Hey, Emma," he said casually, leaning against the edge of her desk. Alison tried not to flinch at the sound of her fake name. "I've noticed you've been putting in a lot of extra hours."

Alison forced a smile, trying to hide her nervousness. "Just trying to get up to speed," she replied. "There's a lot to learn."

Jeff nodded slowly, his gaze not leaving hers. "Yeah, I can see that. Henry doesn't usually take notice of new employees so quickly, but you've made quite the impression."