na's

on't

tonio's last words still hang in the air, sharp and unfinished, li

st about t

ne says

a, are y

t inside Antonio's office floor, right where my bag hit the ground. The glass walls stretch around me

w people pretend to be busy, eyes glued to tablets or phones that aren

humb hovering uselessly where I kept redialing his number earlier

rough the space. Sof

e meets

I wasn't looking. My dress suddenly feels too simple, my shoes too worn. My t

ause I feel movement

is walking

hing, Not

s late for. There's a smile on his face, but it's not meant for me. It

tomach

s a few f

er his voice nor even say my name,

htly and gestures behind

la steps

now she belongs here. Cream dress, perfect hair, calm smile.

and settles o

ssive a

clearly, his voice carrying throug

me harder than

ife

are at his mouth, waiting for him to correct himself

hing

y clothes, my tears, and something like satisfac

s alre

, like he's sharing a bonus de

room

keep myself upright. My fingers slid

tly. My voice barely carries, but the

o's smil

ns sharp

he one I bought him years ago when we couldn't afford it.

h reality, Serena," he says. "

tightens.

ting facts from a report. "You were convenient. Obe

ands heavy an

elite circles, you stood out and no

faster now. "That's not true. We

you had nothing else," he cu

n us. "Isabella is my equal. She understand

l lightly around his sle

dn't finally take me seriously because of hard work alone.

sinks in slo

y job, my savings,My prid

ble, humiliating. I swipe at them,

doesn't st

sing, projecting. "Serena Romano is no l

es shift in hands. Someone actually li

inancial burden. I can't reach the t

ns on his arm, her nails

of trash . I become painfully aware of how I'm standin

folder he's holding and p

s them int

fingers are shaking so

need to

umps out immediately,

eath st

ned. "My mother," I whis

d, something flicke

it ha

longer my pro

ity guards

s rise

. I can't hear it, but he nods once, already stepping

smaller. The glas

out," Antonio

narrows to that one command, and I realize, with sick