18. The Arrival of Daniel

"Alright, office hours are almost over. I need all the weekly reports placed here now!" Mrs. Vivian, the head of the Accounting division, said while tapping Lea's desk with the pen she held.

Lea, slightly startled, jolted a bit because she had been daydreaming while staring at the laptop screen in front of her, but her mind had wandered elsewhere.

She quickly gathered her belongings, which had been ready since earlier, followed by her three friends walking towards their desks like robots controlled by a remote—no greetings or jokes as usual. Mrs. Vivian's demeanor instantly turned fierce whenever there was a sudden internal inspection schedule.

She ended her work hours simultaneously with the sound of Mrs. Vivian's footsteps leaving the room to return to her office. Carrying a stack of weekly report books, she strolled away to ensure the fate of her four subordinates ahead.

Left behind were four exhausted individuals in their respective chairs, exhaling heavily and relieved that the d