en's

hing my arm. We were alone in the conference room, celebrat

d. I loosened my tie, feeling the alcohol buzz warming me up, and for the first t

g up at me with those green eyes. "Thi

and Important. Not like when I was home

am," Victoria said

ive, the need to prove yourself. She didn't ask stupid questions like "d

nother message fro

nore

again?" Victoria asked

erstand that I hav

y glass. "You know, sometimes I wonder why

stared into the golden swirl in my glass. I've asked my

ow? Now she was just there, always waiting, always wanting someth

fferent bef

ested. "Now that you have real success, real opportunities.

bubbles rise in my glass. "She just

ad, amused. "She doesn

till thinks life should slow dow

ria said lightly. "Some people

made it sound so simple, like I wasn't

. Making connections and building something rea

e home, pretending she wasn't disappointed when I didn't. Always smiling

she's a gold dig

n you were being promoted. And she has no money of h

Elena trapped me? We'd dated fast, marrie

deserve someone who matches your ambitions. Som

I asked, even though I

ws when to pour you the next drink i

ething about the way she sai

you, her to

re she'd moved away for work. The one who got away. And now she was back, and we were

y and a second, I

ome," I said, b

ay. Have another drink and forget

mpting. S

ure perfume. Very sweet and addictive. It reminded m

's nearly midnight. Even I

ed. "We'll celebrate

"Don't let her guilt-trip yo

for one light in the living room. Elena was probably waiting up, r

ouse was silent. No Elena w

smell something that had been cooked. Something good.

ed but untouched. For a secon

That needy, desperate look she always had. That expectat

It was a partnership and Ele

sed. Elena was probably already asleep, p

the hall. I paused outside the door, just for a moment, my han

instead. Like I had been

t she needed to stop being so demanding. That if she wanted to stay

Elena always und

owhere el