"Where do you think you're going?" Miller barked, his voice echoing off the high ceilings.
Evelyn stopped, keeping her composure intact, her expression calm yet razor-sharp. "I have an appointment with Judge Sterling," she replied evenly.
"Appointments are for people who belong here," Miller sneered, stepping closer until he was inches from her face. "You don't walk into the judge's chambers. Turn around and get back to the lobby before I make you."
Evelyn did not flinch. Decades of working under extreme pressure had forged an unbreakable resolve within her. She met Miller’s hostile glare with cool detachment. "Officer, I advise you to check the schedule or step aside. You are stepping way out of line."
Miller’s face flushed with anger. Unaccustomed to having his authority challenged, especially by someone he deemed beneath him, his temper flared uncontrollably. "I gave you an order!" he yelled, stepping forward to physically intimidate her.
Before Evelyn could take another step, Miller lunged forward, grabbing her roughly by the shoulders. The force of his grip was sudden and violent. With a harsh shove, he slammed her back against the hard wooden paneling adjacent to the judge’s doorway. The sudden impact rattled the heavy brass fixtures on the wall, the harsh sound echoing down the entire length of the hallway.
Staff members and visitors walking through the corridor froze in terror. Gasps echoed through the atrium as onlookers watched a uniformed officer physically assault a woman in broad daylight inside a hall of justice.
Despite the sharp pain radiating across her back, Evelyn remained entirely poised. She did not scream, panic, or physically retaliate. Instead, she stood her ground, her eyes locking onto Miller’s with cold, unyielding precision. Her voice was quiet, but it carried a razor-like intensity that made the surrounding air feel instantly colder.
"Take your hands off me," Evelyn said, enunciating every word clearly.