et's

for a long time, lo

sso - Pri

d firm, like the person who wrote them never hesitated or doubted

finished,

el wrapped loosely around me, my hair still damp, my heart beating so loudly I could feel it in my throat. Outside, the

ean by we're

nd yet the words felt final, deliberate, like a d

feel harmless. It didn't. Under the soft yellow glow of the lamp,

sure, quiet control, forcing people into situations they never agreed to. My f

ook a deep breath, trying to calm the un

y body reacted

ould have been the sensible thing to do. Tear it up.

drawer beside my bed a

lf, though I wasn't sure

y stomach tight, as if I had just hidden s

mpatient car horn. Everything sounded normal, but I didn't feel normal at all.

phone

You a

billionaire eat

lly don't

t my lips. Mia had always been like this-l

lled

ppeared. I was starting to thi

" I w

till not

the edge of my bed.

"Okay... that's wor

his card,

nd

We're not

followed was he

lutely not. That family ruins people. D

mbered every detail, the anger, the drinking, the wa

ber," I

ct him. Burn the

I hadn't burned it. I hadn't

e," I sai

Tomorrow we go back to pretending

ded, the apartme

n't look steady or confident. My hair was messy, dark circles

t who I wa

y sketchpad lay open, the building plans faint unde

hand turne

king, I star

ings. Not

y

s eyes. The way he spoke like he was always in control of

zed what I was doing

" I muttered, snappi

choed in th

rd my father shift on the c

shed thr

ssos. And here I was, thinking abo

es. "Get yourself

fted back t

throw the

idn

o fall, tapping against the glass. Somewhere out there, Ryan LaRusso w

he knew exactly

last thought before sleep

nded when he said my name, s

came too

harsh and unforgiving, reminding

help me think. It didn't. The office buzzed wi

" Mia whispere

h tighten

a look. "R

espond, the elev

epped

m fell

he space simply by standing in it. My boss

itecture expansion," my boss announced.

found mine

calmly. "You made an

ed, keeping my

" he replied. "The only

s. "I want her on my tea

led throug

ontinued, his gaze steady on mine. "

this company procedure, Mr. LaRu

ips. "Does it matter if the

he said. "T

quiet, polished

the window w

he door,

di

making scenes," I s

ficiency,"

arefully. "You think this has an

everything to

something unreadab

control," he said calmly.

caught des

ng tonight," he continued.

ce with one cle

yan LaRusso was

s dan

was between us h