Chapter 7
Alarm rang 6:10. Apartment still dark. Pulled boundary paper from checkbook, read twice. Words looked too sharp on paper. Hands shook.
Drove to office 7:30. Lot empty. Wood floor cold through shoes. Russo parked already, black sedan in reserved spot. He stood at window, coffee in hand, same black shirt, sleeves rolled once.
He nodded. "Elena. Early. Good."
Placed intake summary on desk. He flipped pages, no comment. Silence stretched.
Planned to wait till lunch. Jen arriving noon. Russo's door open, Mrs. Chen typing in back, phone ringing. Public enough. But he spoke first.
"Come in, close door," he said. "Review before meeting."
Stomach dropped. Plan required open door, witness. Door closed felt wrong. Followed anyway.
He sat behind desk, gestured to chair opposite. Didn't kneel. Sat upright.
"Elena, last week felt tense," he said. Soft voice now, not stern. "Lesson not punishment. Care. Want you to grow."
Care word hit hard. Frowned.
"You talented, but scattered," he continued. "Kneeling teaches humility. Old method. My mentor used it. Builds respect. You understand that, right?"
Wanted to say no. Mouth dry. Boundary paper burned in pocket.
He leaned forward. "I saw you left early yesterday. I worry you pull away when corrected. That hurts team."
Reframed lesson as kindness. Made doubt spike. Maybe overreacted. Maybe culture gap. Jen's words power play echoed, then faded.
Swallowed. "I felt hurt that day," I said. One short sentence, quiet.
He nodded, eyes kind now. "Hurt means lesson working. Pain teaches. You thanked me later, remember? Your email said understood."
He remembered email at 9:15. Used it as proof.
Tried plea: "I want to do tasks standing."
He smiled, sad smile. "Of course you work standing. Kneeling only for reflection moments. Not all day. You confuse things."
Twisted words. Made request sound unreasonable.
"I thought..." Started then stopped. Breath shallow.
He stood, opened door again. "No need for sister meeting today, right? Keep this between us. Professional."
He knew about Jen. Mrs. Chen must have mentioned. Blood ran cold.
Nodded before thinking. "Right."
He patted shoulder as I passed. Hand warm, heavy. "Good girl. See you at meeting."
Walked to desk. Texted Jen: Can't do lunch today. He knew. Later.
Phone buzzed, Jen: You okay? Still have copy.
Typed: Yes. Outward compliance for now.
Meeting at 8:00 went normal. Russo praised summary in front of Mrs. Chen. Public image polished. No one guessed door conversation. Felt split: private lesson vs public praise. Doubt returned full force. Maybe lesson was care. Maybe I wrong.
May you like
Stayed at desk, re-filed folders, kept head down. Decided to watch, not fight. Compliance outward, questions inward.
That evening locked office as instructed, turned key twice, checked twice. Drove home. Pulled boundary paper out, didn't tear, folded back into checkbook. Not ready. Wait.
