Chapter One: The Boss Vanishes on the Spot

Lin Mo did not answer. His social anxiety was severe enough that he rehearsed ordinary sentences three times before speaking. With eight pairs of eyes on him, his brain promptly resigned. He lowered his gaze toward the right side of his cubicle. A glass office should have been there. Its blinds were always half shut, allowing Lu Chen to watch for anyone wasting time. Now there was a wall. A photograph from last year’s company retreat hung on it. An odd gap stood in the center of the front row, though the people on either side leaned toward the empty space as if surrounding someone invisible. Sweat formed in Lin Mo’s palms. He searched the internal directory for Lu Chen. No results.