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T he tension in the office is palpable, like a thick fog settling over the cubicles and conference rooms. Everyone’s on edge, their eyes darting between emails and whispered conversations, as if any minute now, the ground beneath us will shift.

I sit at my desk, staring blankly at the blinking cursor on my screen. The memo that arrived earlier is still open in front of me, the words “acquisition” and “new management” practically jumping off the page. Our marketing firm, our little corner of stability, is being bought out by a larger firm. Soon—in one month, soon—everything we know will change.

I glance around the office. My coworkers are trying to keep up appearances, but the nervous energy is impossible to ignore. Some people pace, others type frantically, and a few huddle together, whispering in hushed tones. No one knows what this means for us—who will be kept, who will be let go, what the new boss will be like. The uncertainty is eating away at everyone.

“Zara, did you see the memo?” a voice says behind me, startling me out of my thoughts .

I turn to see Nick, one of my colleagues, standing by my desk, his expression a mix of anxiety and curiosity. He’s always been friendly, with a boyish charm that makes him popular in the office. But today, even he looks rattled.

“Yeah, I saw it,” I reply, trying to keep my voice steady. “Everyone’s talking about it.”

Nick nods, running a hand through his blond hair. “This could be huge. I mean, a buyout? Who knows what that means for us?”

I shrug, though the unease in my stomach tells me I’m just as worried as he is. “I guess we’ll find out soon enough.”

He leans in slightly, lowering his voice. “You think they’ll bring in a whole new team? Maybe even cut some of us loose?”

I glance around, making sure no one else is listening. “I don’t know, Nick. But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous.”

Nick gives a tight smile, as if trying to convince himself more than me. “Yeah, same here. But, hey, whatever happens, we’ll get through it, right?”

I nod, though my mind is already spinning with what-ifs. What if the new management doesn’t like me? What if they decide to cut costs by letting go of some of the staff? What if — The sudden ding of an incoming email interrupts my thoughts. My heart skips a beat as I open it, expecting the worst. But it’s just a meeting notice—another generic “all-hands” meeting scheduled for later today. Probably to give us more details on the buyout. My chest tightens.

“Hey, don’t stress too much, Zara,” Nick says, offering a reassuring smile. “Whatever happens, you’ve got this. You’re one of the best graphic designers we’ve got.”

I force a smile, grateful for his support, but unable to shake the gnawing anxiety. “Thanks, Nick. I appreciate it.”

He hesitates for a moment, then clears his throat. “Listen, a bunch of us are going to grab drinks after work. You know, to blow off some steam. You should come.”

I consider it for a moment. It would be good to relax, to get out of my own head for a while. “Sure, sounds like a good idea.”

Nick’s smile widens, a hint of relief in his eyes. “Great. And maybe… afterward, you and I could grab a bite to eat? Just the two of us?”

His words catch me off guard. Nick’s always been friendly, but this feels different—more direct, more… interested. I hesitate, unsure of how to respond. On one hand, a date could be a nice distraction from the chaos at work. On the other hand, I’m not sure I’m in the right headspace for it.

But before I can overthink it, I hear myself saying, “Yeah, okay. That sounds nice.”

Nick’s smile broadens, and for the first time today, I feel a small flicker of something other than anxiety. Maybe this won’t be such a bad day after all.

As he walks away, I turn back to my screen, trying to focus on the work in front of me. But the weight of the looming buyout hangs over everything, a dark cloud that refuses to budge. And beneath it all, the tiny black card in my purse feels heavier than ever.