Alan's gaze bore into me as he casually mentioned, "You smell good. What fragrance do you use?" It was an unexpected question in the midst of a potentially career-altering conversation, which only added to my discomfort.

"I use a Prada fragrance," I responded, the lie slipping out before I had time to think. Truthfully, I couldn't remember what perfume I wore that day. The stress of the situation had rendered me practically numb, and such trivial details seemed to have slipped from my mind.

The room felt hotter than ever, and I could feel beads of sweat trickling down the back of my neck. I was anxious, uncertain about my future. The recently taken large loan for our new home flashed before my eyes, and the thought of possibly being unemployed sent chills down my spine.

As I squirmed under the intensity of the situation, I noticed Alan examining me. His gaze, intense and scrutinizing, swept over me. It was different from the usual perfunctory glance one receives from a colleague or a superior. It was almost invasive, making me feel like I was under a microscope.

The silence in the room amplified the sound of my racing heartbeat. I felt trapped, frozen under the relentless stare of my boss, with the weight of the impending conversation pressing down on me.

With each passing moment, the tension escalated, each second ticking by as slowly as if time had decided to prolong my agony. The only respite was the unpredictable nature of the conversation. What was he going to say next? Would it be about my job, or another unexpected comment?

Only time would tell. But one thing was clear - this was not an ordinary office meeting, and the repercussions of this conversation would have profound effects on my life.

(TO BE CONTINUED...)