Chapter 2: A Spark of Tension

As Alice walked back to her desk, she couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. She had a feeling that Gwen was going to be a challenge, but she was more than up for it. She had always thrived on pushing people's buttons and seeing how far she could get under their skin. And Gwen, with her frosty demeanor and crisp business attire, seemed like the perfect target. The rest of the day flew by in a blur of paperwork and reports, with Alice making a conscious effort to keep her jokes and teasing to a minimum. But she couldn't resist catching Gwen's eye every now and then, just to see if she could get a rise out of her. Gwen, for her part, seemed to be trying to ignore her, but Alice could sense a growing tension between them. As the day drew to a close, Alice packed up her things and headed out the door, Gwen's parting words of "Ms. Dyer, I'll be keeping an eye on you" still echoing in her mind. She grinned to herself as she walked out of the office, feeling like she had just won a small victory. The walk home was a pleasant one, the cool evening air a welcome respite from the stifling atmosphere of the office. Alice lived in a small apartment in the city, and she spent the evening curled up on her couch, scrolling through her phone and watching the news. As she drifted off to sleep, she couldn't shake the feeling that Gwen was watching her, even from afar. She smiled to herself, feeling a flutter in her chest. She had a feeling that this was going to be a very interesting few weeks. The next morning, Alice woke up feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day. She got dressed and headed to the kitchen to make some breakfast, her phone buzzing with a text from an unknown number. She smiled as she saw the message - it was from Gwen. "Ms. Dyer, I'd like to see you in my office at 9am sharp. We have a case to discuss." Alice's eyes widened as she read the message, a spark of excitement igniting within her. She had a feeling that this was going to be the start of something big. At 9am sharp, Alice walked into Gwen's office, a bright smile on her face. Gwen looked up from the papers on her desk, her expression as stern as ever. "Ms. Dyer, thank you for coming," she said, her voice crisp. "We have a case that requires your... unique skills." Alice raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? What kind of case?" Gwen hesitated for a moment before speaking. "There's been a report of a possible anomaly in the city. A woman claims to have seen a creature that defies explanation. I want you to investigate and see if you can find any evidence." Alice's eyes lit up with excitement. "A mystery to solve? Count me in." Gwen's expression didn't change, but Alice detected a flicker of something in her eyes. Something that looked almost like... anticipation. "Very well, Ms. Dyer," Gwen said, handing Alice a folder full of papers. "You have 24 hours to investigate and report back to me. I expect thoroughness and professionalism." Alice grinned, taking the folder. "Don't worry, boss lady. I'll be on it."