Mr Cruz stands rigidly at the head of the room, suit pressed and eyes cold, surveying his small team with barely concealed impatience. His voice cuts through the stillness, commanding attention.
"I want this report finished by the end of the day. If it’s late or wrong, there will be consequences. No excuses."
Ana sits up straighter, her fingers tightening around her pen.
"Yes, sir."
Mark nods, swallowing hard as he glances at his screen.
"Understood, sir."
Both employees exchange worried glances before hurrying back to their desks, the pressure palpable.
Ana[/@ch_2] and Mark work side by side, wary of every movement.]
Ana leans toward Mark, her voice barely above a whisper, eyes darting to the manager’s office door.
"I’m not sure about the data format, but I’m scared to ask."
Mark rubs his forehead, sweat beading as he types hurriedly.
"Same here. Let’s just finish it fast. We don’t want trouble."
They rush through the report, sacrificing accuracy for speed, each mistake a silent gamble against looming repercussions.
Mr Cruz[/@ch_1]'s desk, pages filled with errors and inconsistencies. The silence is broken only by the creak of his chair as he begins to review their work.]
Mr Cruz flips through the pages, his brow furrowing deeper with each mistake he finds. The room seems to shrink as he stands abruptly, voice echoing with disappointment.
"Why are there so many errors in this report?"
Ana's cheeks flush as she stammers, glancing at Mark for support.
"We were afraid of missing the deadline, sir."
Mr Cruz shakes his head, tone sharp.
"You should have done it properly."
The reprimand lingers in the air, deepening the sense of defeat.
Mark scrolls through job listings on his screen, barely glancing at the spreadsheet in front of him.
"I’m already looking for another job. The pressure here is too much."
Ana folds her hands, voice trembling as she confides in her colleague.
"Me too. I’m always stressed and scared to make mistakes."
They exchange weary looks, their shared anxiety now a quiet bond amid the oppressive environment.
