la

ng was fi

ad down, hoping that Mr. Vale had already m

ppeared behind me, startling me so m

raised brow that seemed to hold a trace o

reath as I followed

was the first time I had ever been

city roads, pedestrians, and buildings. Shelves of different books and small statue

at my sides. He opened my file and read through

and met mine, cold and cal

aid shyly. The words came

" His voice was flat and fina

d it because six years of making myself s

tapping his finger on the de

ely," he said. "I expect no excuses about

sk toward me, and I reached for it

e cut in gently, h

my eyes m

expression. The one that had been sitting on his

But your timidness-" he paused, choosing the word deliberately, "-needs addressing.

ocked, my hand stil

work history. He had read it carefull

never once in three years said anything to me that wasn't a criticism, h

e flash of the hotel room came-the blood on my hand, Vivien

to watch

Sir,"

say anything else that I

-

p.m., and I was

taken a lunch break. There was no one to take it with. Vivienne had disappeared hours ago wit

across t

mething, completely at ease. A small group of people gathered around he

her for

school, and now at work. Every room she entered, she owned within minu

n there

s. Just my desk and my work and a quiet I had

isolated that I only rely on her? The thou

nd caught my reflection in t

and felt something loosen quietly in

ed. Ronan had made me cut it. But

ld never let anyone ma

k of papers dropped onto my des

a cold scowl on his face. Gerald Ma

e office belonged to him-grey-haired, heavy-shouldered, with the specific

. Extra work dumped on my desk without explanation, credit taken without a

le hated me, especially this old man who I h

their desks went very still, listening. "You think you can embar

tighten

ward. "And you made me a laughingstock. What exactly is the poin

vened. They just stared, watching, entert

isible? Or were they

ck of papers. "This needs to be do

pile, face tight

ignments above my grade for years, taking the credit at galas and present

aken it every single time

ned me a full rewrite of my report within the week. I don

eyes widened in fascination at my retort.

ed the realization move across his face, a

speak, but he was cut

ral

bright, cutting across th

led him by his first name. Looking back at it, it wasn't profess

en the pile of work and me. For just a fraction of a seco

brightly, gesturing toward me with a little laugh, her short dar

t," I sa

ed, anger flashing before his eyes, but Vivienne g

oice stayed light, almost amused. "Just sorting

aid, turning back to my

rd tense silence, and I w

. I didn't catch the words, but I caught the ton

vienne that m

d into something soft and wounded, her voice dropping into

ard on you today. You don't have to take it out on everyone else,

her attention. Eyes turned to

ing while I sat with my jaw tight, my spine straight

ture," someo

t believe she's t

here I couldn't pinpoint: "Is

t word, averting

ftly and gestured for Gerald to follow her. He went, smoothed an

s over. But before I could enter my workflow, she came back a

id softly. "I know

flicker of something crossed her face at my silence,

help-getting out, a nice dinner, the three of us. He's meetin

made plans for my evening. And she was sitti

aid calmly

shoulder, and left, giggling. I f

gic death. And take back every sing