August's POV

This time, I entered the company through the front doors. I could have waited longer, let the dust settle, and given time for the stares to fade. But my goal had always been to reclaim my position and my routine as quickly as possible. If I waited too long, everything would turn to dust, and I had no intention of watching it collapse from a distance.

I needed to reclaim my place one step at a time. I could feel the eyes fixed on me, some curious, others suspicious. Still, loweri