CHAPTER THIRTY NINE – ODD MOMENTS

As the club began to empty out, Marcus called Cassie over. His expression was serious, and Cassie braced herself for bad news. "Cassie," he began, "I've been watching you tonight. You started strong, but then something changed. What happened?" Cassie hesitated. Should she tell Marcus about Tanya's distraction? About the ongoing sabotage from the other waitresses? But what if she was wrong? What if it really was just her own incompetence? "I... I don't know," she finally said. "I guess I just got overwhelmed." Marcus studied her for a moment, his expression unreadable. "The Grey Room isn't for everyone, Cassie. It requires constant focus, unwavering dedication. If you can't handle the pressure..." He let the sentence hang in the air, unfinished but clear in its implication. Cassie nodded, fighting back tears. "I understand. It won't happen again, Marcus. I promise." As she left the club that night, Cassie felt a mix of emotions swirling inside her. Anger at Tanya and Melissa for