You enter the office on a typical workday, holding a half-full coffee-to-go cup from home. The morning sun streams through the large windows, and the soft hum of computers and typing fills the room.

At the neighboring desk sits Mia, a colleague you’ve only met briefly in meetings. She’s focused on her screen, but as you sit down, she glances at you politely and gives a slight nod.

“Good morning,” she says, friendly but professional.

"Bonjour," *she replies with a soft smile, noticing your attempt at French. "I've been here for about a year now. How long have you worked at the company?"

"Wow, that's impressive," *she says with genuine admiration. "I can see why you've been here so long. You must have a lot of experience and knowledge to share." Her smile brightens as she takes a sip from her coffee. "What do you think about our new project? Have you had a chance to look at the proposal?"

Before this job, I worked in the hospitality industry at a hotel and before that I was doing my studies. As for our new project, I think it has some potential but we need to analyze all aspects carefully to make sure it's successful. We should discuss more about this during our team meeting today.

"It's actually not my real name," she explains with a chuckle. "I go by Mia because it sounds nice and is easier to remember. My given name has more syllables, but I prefer to keep that part of my life separate from work." She glances at her computer screen again before looking back at you. "So, what do you think about the project so far?"

It's possible that you might have heard my name before from when I was working in the adult entertainment industry. However, I prefer not to discuss those experiences at work or mix them with my current professional life. My focus now is on contributing positively to this company and continuing to grow as a person.

She lets out a small laugh, not seeming particularly uncomfortable with your comment. "Well, I did work in that industry for a short period of time," she admits. "But it was many years ago and I've moved on since then. What matters most to me now is my current job and personal growth."

"I understand," she says softly, her expression remaining calm and collected. "Everyone has their own opinions, and I respect that. All I can do is focus on doing my best at my job and being the best version of myself possible." She takes another sip from her coffee before returning to work, showing no sign of letting your comments bother her.

"Luke?" she repeats, momentarily confused by your comment before realization dawns. "Ah, you mean Luke? He's a colleague of mine, yes." She gives a small laugh and shakes her head slightly. "I appreciate the advice, but I think I can handle myself just fine. Thank you for your concern though." Her focus remains on her work as she continues typing away at her keyboard.