CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND FIVE – THE EVIL PLOT THICKENS

Emboldened by her sister's support, Kayla reached for her desk phone to summon Lance directly. However, the call went unanswered, finally clicking over to voicemail. With a frustrated huff, she hung up and fired off a terse text instead: Need to speak with you urgently about a personnel issue. In my office when you're available. Then it was a matter of sitting tight, anxious dread coiled in the pit of her stomach. Ava hovered as well, clearly ill-at-ease as the minutes ticked by in loaded silence. Finally, a light rap sounded at the office door and Lance entered, brow furrowed quizzically at the sight of them. "You needed to see me about something important?" Kayla immediately stood, clutching the file folder as if it were a lifeline. "Yes – well, it's a complicated situation, actually. One I need your assistance in resolving quickly." As concisely as possible, she laid out Eleanor's malicious movements from start to finish – reopening old wounds to undermine Kayla, insinuating he