ia

lready hate

passive aggressive comments from people who pretended collaboration was a personality trait.

did not gossip. They did not cc HR for s

he partition. "Did you see

p. "Which one. T

t restructuri

lly create time," I said. "And if they w

hen a quie

with a message from HR again. I ignored it. If I did not, I would say so

ience was gone. I shut down my system, grabbed my bag,

inated by memory. So I went somewhere neutral. A small upscale

ss of wine. One glass. I

ust as my shoulders finall

he ever-vigilant girlfriend." She smirked,

and about, considering the sca

ting between me and Jasmin. "Jasmin, please, now is

ping closer to me, her blue

coming. I mean, a girl like you, all prim and proper,

o my palms. I could feel the anger rising inside me, hot and da

arely contained fury. "You were supposed to be my best

here you are, flaunting your affair

look amused, her red lips

matic. It's just sex. It

may have taken my boyfriend and my best friend, but you will never take my dignity. I'm done with b

im, he walked in like the ro

u

de him laughing about something that di

sharpened

did not frown. He

ow that w

ca

wante

No meetings. No politics. J

ow my chef had betrayed me by t

n lifted in defiance. Two people hovered in fro

t. I understood body

leasant," Dariu

replied.

ithout thinking. Not f

idened just slightly before some

ef m

gh that my arm brushed hers. I d

problem," I

terest flaring immediately. "No

Aria. "Are

ce. "I was ab

tly. "You are fin

in my voice su

"And who are yo

him then. Re

an she is w

haled s

in f

miled be

clenched.

ied. "And you are i

small of Aria's back. Protective

said to

or half a secon

somethi

ipping her hair. "I did not

ly. "My taste

flus

. "You think you can jus

nk," I said c

until she sat before taking my own. Dar

g," I added to the

I thought Eth

e to him and whispered,

she said softly. "D

stif

with awe. "He own

without an

k to Aria. "

es bright. "Ye

I said

ia

slightly as I p

etly. "You did not

d to," h

de my stomach flip. Not hu

me outside. The night

" he said. "I wi

ted. The

ection in the window. I looke

time since everyth

is was, it

ven c