She’s already seated when I step inside, her expression unreadable as she gestures for me to close the door. I do, my pulse drumming in my ears.

Gabby folds her hands atop her desk. “Take a seat.”

I lower myself into the chair across from her, every muscle in my body coiled tight.

She exhales, a beat of hesitation before she slides her tablet across the desk. “I received an email this morning. A complaint.”

The words hit me like a slap. I blink, my mouth suddenly dry. “A complaint? Is someone unhappy with their suite? I can fix whatever it is.”

Gabby shakes her head. “It’s not about your work, Magnolia.”

Something in her tone makes my heart stop.

She straightens, and her expression sends an icy chill racing down my spine. “It’s about you. Someone reported you for fraternizing with a Soul Sync client.”

The world tilts under me. Blood drains from my face so fast I become lightheaded. My lips part, but nothing comes out.

Fraternizing. The word is a grenade, ready to blow my entire career to pieces. Because I did far more than fraternize.

I fell in love.

My mind spins, latching on to every worst-case scenario imaginable. What has Gabby been told?

I swallow hard, forcing my voice to stay steady. “What does the complaint say?”

Gabby taps the screen of her tablet, her eyes scanning the text before meeting mine. “It states that you engaged in an inappropriate personal relationship with a Soul Sync client while you were in Sydney.”

Shit.

The air leaves my lungs in a sharp exhale. My fingers tighten around the armrests of the chair, nails digging in.

“You’re quiet. Is there anything you want to say before I go any further?”

My stomach twists into knots, dread curling in my chest. “What am I being accused of?”

Gabby’s eyes search mine for a moment before she taps her tablet, pulling up the email. Her expression hardens as she reads.

“To Whom It May Concern. I am writing to report a serious violation of Soul Sync’s policies regarding client relations. Magnolia Steel, during her assignment in Sydney, engaged in an inappropriate romantic and sexual relationship with a client—Alex Sebring. This behavior compromised the integrity of Soul Sync’s services and created a severe conflict of interest, undermining the professionalism expected from your staff. It is in the best interest of Soul Sync that this breach of trust is addressed to protect the company’s reputation and uphold the standards you pride yourselves on. Respectfully. A Concerned Party.”

My entire body goes numb, the words slamming into me with a force that leaves me breathless.

She knows.

She knows everything.

My hands grip the armrests, the room tilting as I struggle to form a coherent thought.

Gabby lowers the tablet, her expression unreadable. “Magnolia?”

There’s no point in denying it. Lying would only make this worse.