"I, I, I..."

"You, you, yourself," Elijah mocked her stutter mercilessly. "Just a moment ago you had so much to say about me, what happened, got your tongue?"

"Mr. Cohen, I apologize, I…" Ophelia sighed deeply and tried not to be overwhelmed by her nerves.

"It's clear you heard everything I had to say, why do you want me to repeat it?"

"I'm giving you the chance to vent right to your insufferable boss's face, and you’re not going to take it?" Elijah began to step towards her, enjoying seeing her cornered.

"What did you call me? Oh, yes, your majesty. So, I, the king, would like to hear the grievances of my loyal servant, Ms. Allen."

"I am not your servant! You are a…! Ahh!" In her outburst, Ophelia took a step back, not realizing how close she was to the edge of the staircase.

Her foot wobbled on the step, and she felt her body falling backward, into the void.

She wouldn’t stop rolling down the stairs to the lower landing, or at least, that's what she thought would happen.

But suddenl