Out Of The Blue.

a Monr

ce echoed through the vast space, his words flowing smoothly as he dissected the intricacies of political ethics. Normally,

er at 7. Don't be late. The unspoken weight behind her words pressed down on me. Late meant irresponsible. Late meant ungrat

aw and refocuse

"The truth, no matter how inconvenient, always comes at a cost. Sometimes, the price is power. Other

he way he said it. Or maybe it was the flicker of something unrea

scraped against the floor as students gathered their things. I tucked my notebook

tened. He never

sking my surprise

a polished smil

been one of my most perceptive students," he said, his voice dipping just enough to make me u

d in a quiet rush. "That's... an in

d. I'll have the offici

oway was known for his integrity, yet an instinct deep in my gut w

r Kan

igarette between my fingers, barely paying attention to the people drifting in and out of

t dead in a place like this. Which made it

in her hand, eyes locked on the glow of the coffee shop's window. A

, debating whether

n't even acknowledge I existed. Perfect little overachiever, untouchable in her world

osit

the pavement. She didn't notice me until I was clo

, Mon

defensive walls snap

anding outside a coffee shop like it h

Then, in a voice barely above a whisper, she

uard. Valeria Monroe

und, crushing it under my boot.

ng around her phone. "I think m

retched across my lips. "N

ria'

hen he wasn't trying. Dark, unreadable eyes. A lazy confidence that

t, he felt like the on

shifting my weight from foot to foo

hing me with an intensity that made it imp

I hadn't said anything. But the weight of wha

rything, but the parts I did hear..." My pulse quickened. "He mentioned

words, my fear. Then, with a casual shrug, he said, "And yo

ared in my chest. "I don

I could feel the warmth of his presence. "People like Calloway don't get caught unless

settled deep

"And what if I can

d his gaze. "Then you'd better be ready for the consequences, Monro