Chapter 15

“Sorry!” she cried, barely pausing as she continued running.

Zen watched her retreating figure and decided to follow. He tracked her through the busy streets, her pace frantic, until she reached a narrow, dimly lit alley several blocks away.

Natasha collapsed against the wall, her sobs cutting through the silence of the alley. Zen approached, holding out her ID card. “You forgot this,” he said gently.

Startled, Natasha looked up, tears streaking her makeup. “Oh… thank you.” She took the card and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “You can go now.”

Zen sat beside her, his demeanor calm and authoritative. “You don’t seem fine. What happened back there?”

Natasha shook her head, struggling to maintain her composure. “It’s nothing. Just a rough day.”

Zen’s gaze remained steady. “I overheard part of that conversation. It sounded serious. You were being threatened.”

Her resolve cracked, and she sighed deeply. “It’s not just threats. The manager here is corrupt. He’s been pressuring