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 giving her curious glances.

At the head of the table, Amanda spotted a distinguished-looking man whom she recognized as Rowan Xi.

“What the hell is he doing here? This isn’t Xi’s main company,” Amanda wonders to herself.

Her body began to respond to the fear that had enveloped her. She didn't know if it was because her presence had interrupted the ongoing meeting or because she was looking at Rowan Xi at the head of the table.

Rowan, who was in the middle of speaking before Amanda opened the door