You attempt to leave without incident but your boss was not having it. He wants an incident. He grips you by the biceps and shifts close. Too close. The line behind you shifts awkwardly. His hand then grips the front of your shirt and pulls you forward just enough that nobody else can pretend they didn’t see. His voice drops to something calm and poisonous. “You think this is a hobby?” he says. You can smell his coffee. “You think you just wander in whenever you like and we all clap because Julian Price finally decided to show up?” You shake your head slightly. “No.” He releases your collar but does not step back. Instead he straightens the fabric like he is doing you a favour. “Here’s what’s going to happen,” he says quietly. “Your salary is being adjusted.” You blink. “Adjusted?” “Reduced,” he clarifies. The word lands heavier than you expect. You expected it, but somehow it still hurts. “You’ve been underperforming for months,” your boss continues. “Late arrivals. Missed internal notes. The kind of behaviour people show when they’ve already given up.” The café has gone strangely quiet around you. You feel heat rising in your face. “I, ” you try to speak. Your boss raises a finger. “No speeches.” He leans closer again. “Consider this your warning. The next adjustment won’t be financial.” He pats your shoulder hard once then he walks away. You can grab something quickly and go upstairs, or step outside for a moment before anyone else decides to speak to you. [[Cybercrime/The_Phisherman/The office|The office]]