na

ough the quiet room, sharp and

nd slap the screen un

st lay there, star

Yo

Sant

ght or bl

soft grey sheets, and the fa

is re

reeze, that hotel room with him, it all

ss in my body

inder I ca

lowly, rubbing my f

li

to my mind like i

d and push awa

a fresh start, my first

I fought for after e

y of work and I already feel

d push myself to my feet and s

whisper to myself.

el and head t

shower

armth, the routi

el-drying my hair,

mo

o a low ponytail and s

a pan, my phone starts

o

cou

to answe

"Are you awake? Alive? Nervous

ile that tugs at my lips.

everything. How was the trip? Did Santorini fix

quietly, cutting her

"The normal kind or the Elena-ki

si

ie. I real

his i

eone," I s

silence.

Elena Grey, you slept wit

hoke on ai

u sound different. Happ

" I mutter. "And

texting you? Calling you?

nymore," I say. "It

asps like it's national ne

ora, I did

e insists. "And you need

an. "It doesn't matter.

s. "You have a new job. Stone Corporation. The CEO bette

e don't burn my

prom

uck, okay? And if y

l. Lov

too. Go be

and there for a moment,

st, finish it quickly,

w

st

ng about

n person tall glass windows, polished floors, and

I walk with

a folder full of instructions, I'm direc

doors open, I step into a quiet hallwa

ght outside the

EO's

boss's

sit down, placing

ame r

STONE

es a small,

li

e n

dence, it has

self and begin going through the papers H

reading when the pho

ree

p and sharp in t

my throat and answer. "Exec

voice comes through the line

g inside

bre

houg

hea

o

no

n't b

he

to

he vo

that

ing things, that I'm nervous, that

s tremble aro

I manage to whisper, t

he desk then stand up sl

wild, my r

g to look calm, even thou

to th

hand a

" the voi

there's no

n it's

me right in the c

e, inhale once,

see

li

rolled, his eyes the exact shade of g

omach

almost

oorframe to

rely, but enough for me

ecogn

unch

e room see

my name sounds too f

't br

n't

re I embarrass myself, I slip out of t

and sit. I press a hand to my ch

, trying not to s

n the phone on my

p with shak

with a controlled, coo

then I force myself to stand

is desk, his hands in his

to talk,"

ppened?" I asked,

firm and cold. "About w

lin

ooked away for a second, like he regrets the harshn

ni was a mistake. A one-time thing

thing insid

't," I

s job, and I assume you do then you'll fo

derstand?

th, but no so

whisper

ismissing me with

t, my chair scr

to th

p out and close i

the

he bat

ress both hands over my mouth

memory

ant

d Nora to pro

e man who c

old me to for

ho doesn'

ough I shou

mething insi

is no

ven c

didn't bring

ave me fo