myself to stay in the cocoon of quiet just a little longer. Serena's perfume, jasmine with a trace of vanilla curled into my nostrils, fa

t, everythi

en. Then, I

silence, rattling the nightstand be

ful not to disturb Serena, a

that, my pea

Tech" was

rembled slightly as I opened

commanding. Her pantsuit clung to her curves in a way that demanded respect more than admiration, though ther

lenced a room full of bill

re I realized

adline, mo

newest d

d woman is

slowly dominating mal

what is it?" Her voice was a sl

g," I m

li

he world wasn't just celebrating her, they were mocking me. Laughing behind their screens, whispering in sleek

could practically

man like that slip

ust move on.

ow she was

mber her laughter.

ere personal. I remembered how her eyes lit up when something clicked, how she'd run to me in the middle of

the phone

le, sweet Serena. Our life is beautiful... She's

hen a

she co

ything was finally

hought c

ect or her software. No, this was deliberate. Maybe

e

d play t

reins. I'd charm her, play into that nostalgia she pretended to have grown out of. I knew her words, I k

ake her f

I missed her

a little, do

ft me when I thought I had control, humiliated me even. And n

he en-suite, and splashe

m behind, her silk robe brushing against my back. "You've been qui

tly, catching her eyes in the m

u've been working so ha

'd never understand. She lived in the world I

lied. "I

d left and I gripped

ending photo, but the one who used to sit cross-legged on my floor with coffee-sta

t come back to

e back to

to let her take i

...

was quiet

awn to keep the sunlight out. It irri

them. Liana Rivera's latest venture. A massive partnership with a German tech conglomera

ress releases, head

ore. I nee

kn

lder in hand. "You asked fo

patterns. I want to know where she eats, who she meets, where she flies o

Yes, sir. I'l

p. My fingers were a

ould control them. I leaned back

you again." I whi

few accidental encounters. A gala here, a dinner there.

d lower

le and weav

And when she was

d end

ts. Discredit her in the same glossy mag

e. It was a craft. Precision