#Chapter 25: Her Best Effort

EVIE POV The evening had settled into a soothing rhythm, the city's distant hum fading as I prepared for bed, hoping to steal a few precious hours of rest before another demanding day at the firm. Just as I was about to switch off my laptop, an email notification blinked on my screen. It was from Linda, and I couldn't help but feel a sinking sensation in the pit of my stomach. The subject line was concise and to the point: "Urgent Research Required." I opened the email and my heart sank as I read the contents. Linda was requesting a substantial amount of research to be done before our next meeting, which seemed almost impossible given the limited time. I couldn't bring myself to say no, however, as I sensed she would use that against me. As I delved into the research, the hours passed like a whirlwind. The minutes ticked away relentlessly, and before I knew it, the clock read 4:00 a.m. I hadn't even touched the surface of the work Linda had requested. My eyes ached, my vision