CHAPTER FORTY ONE – LEARNING THE ROPES

The day after the confrontation between Mr. Holloway and Mr. Reeves, Cassie arrived at the Grey Room earlier than usual. Her mind was still racing with questions and uncertainties. As she pushed open the staff entrance door, she was surprised to see Marcus already there, poring over some paperwork at the bar. He looked up as she entered, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Ah, Cassie. Just the person I wanted to see. Come, sit with me for a moment." Cassie approached hesitantly, sliding onto a barstool next to Marcus. "Is everything okay? About last night..." Marcus held up a hand to stop her. "Last night was... challenging. But you handled it well. That's why I want to talk to you." He leaned back, studying her for a moment before continuing. "You've shown a lot of potential since you started here, Cassie. You're observant, quick on your feet, and you have a knack for reading people. These are valuable skills in our line of work." Cassie felt a warmth spread throu