A dirty secret? Anna's curiosity spiked, but before she could dwell on it, Susanne was already storming out of the lounge, stomping her heels against the polished floor like a furious giant.
Now, she might never find out what that secret was.
As the door slammed shut behind Susanne with a resounding thud, the atmosphere in the room shifted. The heavy tension lifted, replaced by the quiet hum of casual conversations picking up again around her. Bits and pieces of chatter floated back into Anna's awareness.
It would probably look a little suspicious to leave now—too abrupt—but staying any longer felt pointless. So she reached for her purse, preparing to make a quiet exit.
But just as she turned, two arms suddenly caged her in from either side. A stifling stench of tobacco clung to her skin, dense and suffocating like a wet cobweb wrapping around her body.
