#Chapter 45 Working Hard

The office door stays shut more often now. Not because I’m hiding, but because it’s easier to work without interruptions. Easier to think when I don’t have to wonder who might walk by and glance in. The workload hasn’t lightened since the promotion. If anything, it’s picked up, and I like that. I’d rather stay busy than give anyone more reason to talk. Still, they’re still talking. I hear it when I walk down the halls. I hear the way voices lower, and the looks passed between guards. It’s not open hostility, not like it used to be, but there’s something behind it.. Like they’re all waiting to see if I’ll slip. Some of them think I got here too fast. Some still think I shouldn’t be here at all. They never say it to my face. They nod when I give orders. Most follow through without question, but I see the way a few hesitate. I notice who avoids eye contact. I’ve started keeping track, not out of paranoia, but because it feels necessary now. Being prepared means knowing wher