Chapter 233

Christina's POV I dragged myself up the studio stairs around eleven, one hand massaging my lower back. My legs felt like lead, and certain parts of my body ached in ways I wouldn't specify publicly. Priya popped up from behind the counter, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Daniel came back early." I froze. "What?" Daniel? The guy I fired yesterday? "He got here before me," Priya explained, looking conflicted. "Said the website needed backend patches only he could do." She fidgeted nervously. "Then he pulled out his contract and told me termination without cause wasn't valid." My face fell. After everything, this guy had the audacity to show up and act like nothing happened? Rapid footsteps echoed up the stairwell, and Daniel appeared with an amnesia-level cheerful smile. "Morning!" he chirped. I didn't return the smile. "What exactly do you think you're doing?" He walked straight up to me. "I'm not resigning. You're short-staffed. Finding a replacement would take forever. Why not keep