Fear gripped Amanda as she approached the conference room. She didn't know how the manager would react to her being late on her first day of work. She couldn't use her children as an excuse. It was too risky to play that card.

It would have been easier if it had only been the manager, but everyone, including the boss, was there in the room.

Amanda stood in the doorway for a moment before finally opening it. As she stepped inside, a few heads turned in her direction, and they wasted no time in g