CHAPTER THIRTY NINE – A NEW WORKPLACE

As the sun rose on another day at the satellite office, Karina arrived early, a spring in her step despite the long hours she had been putting in. She unlocked the door, the familiar musty smell greeting her as she stepped inside. But today, something felt different. There was a sense of anticipation in the air, a quiet energy that hadn't been there before. She made her way to the small kitchenette, starting a pot of coffee. As she waited for it to brew, she reviewed her mental checklist for the day. They had a team meeting scheduled, and she was eager to share some new ideas she had been working on. The door opened, and Dave walked in, looking surprised to see her there already. "Morning, Karina. You're here early... again." Karina smiled, pouring two cups of coffee and handing one to Dave. "Early bird gets the worm, right? Besides, I wanted to go over some things before the team meeting." Dave took a sip of coffee, raising an eyebrow. "You know, when you first got here, I thought