oe

I walked into the office the next day. "What hap

"I ran into Kiana R

. "No way! Here in Aus

ounter. "And to subtly remind me of my 'strugg

he stole your fiancé, and now she wants to r

hands were still clenched. "She's trying to get under my skin, and

grocery store visits, trying to avoid any chance

later, as I was leaving work, she was waiting. Righ

d, my face impassive. "How did you find m

' and crossed-referenced with LinkedIn profiles. I saw your picture. And then I remembered one

e small talk. There was something more, something darker, simmering beneath her carefully constructed facade.

voice sharp, cutting through her forc

her voice. "Can we talk somewhe

quiet coffee shop two blocks away. I orde

smile crumbling. "He's still got pictures of you on his old c

d at he

r voice unexpectedly firm. "All of them. From

after he left me for you. I deleted every single photo, every message, every trace of him fr

he still has things. And I'm worried about what else might b

ayed me. You knew Danial was engaged, and you pursued him. You wrecked my wedd

r of anger, then insecurity, crossed her f

voice low and dangerous. "You were an active participant in h

se thread on her sleeve. Her self-ass

ive. "It's not my concern. I suggest you deal with your own issues. And if you ever, ever come to my wo

walked out, the anger a trembling vibration beneath my skin. Behind me, I heard her chair scrape against the floo

back to her table with thr

ough that only she could hear. "I spent four years making a mediocre man

tte sat forgotten, a thin

smile I'd given her. "Enjoy

ll to demand I erase my own history, a history she helped destroy. It was a clear attempt to control, to dominate, to drag me back into their toxic drama. I wouldn't

my work. The opportunity was immense, a significant step into the global spotlight. For a fleeting moment, I considered using it as a platform

internal award for "Outstanding Creative Contribution" at the quarterly meeting. My bos

er, a sharp and visionary woman named

een approached about a major new initiative. A new lifestyle brand, directly under Garrison

ise. Garrison Cooper.

unity to build something from the ground up. To shape a brand that could redefine its mark

ty," I said, my voice carefully neutral

n added, almost casually, "Garrison Cooper specifically asked if you'd be interested. It's not often he

. "Oh my god, Chloe, that's huge! You'd be working d

murmured, the words heavy with my hidde

een." She didn't understand. She couldn't understand the layers of anonymity I

epping into the public eye as Chloe would mean risking Aura's carefully guarded anonymity. The two identities, once distinct, now felt dangerously close to entwining. The th

e. It wasn't the life I truly wanted. The comfortable anonymity of Aura had become a c

he quiet of the night. Yes. I would take the le