was quieter

ly the faint hum of the air conditioners and th

e, gathering files, whe

to look up to

designer perfume gave her a

rking lat

closing the file in

ss poise. Her red heels gleamed beneath the warm light, her s

You actually take this job seriously. I would'v

?" I repeat

ser, her tone

you don't belong here - not in this company, not in

hards of glass, but I did

tending not to notice her circli

"you can save your breath. You've alread

't gloating. That was just a little re

gn draft I'd spent hours perfecting. Her eyes scanned it

design proposals. I might make a

ou're not part of th

id sweetly. "Something you've failed to

eins. I wanted to scream, to throw something, t

t her gaze, c

ld. But what you'll never have is peace. Because no matter how many

first time, her confidenc

a small laugh escaping he

I just stood up,

exist," I whispered. "Without me,

ed, her voice lowering i

our finger? Please. That ring was a transaction. You were the chari

ords

ze - my hand tighte

. You had your quiet, pitiful life.

perfume suffocating,

ust playing his role. And when he's done

reathe, to hold her

said softly, "why are you

le line s

ough for me to see the flas

en hated one thing more t

mly and reached for the

the handle, her voice

ijah eve

fr

t?" I ask

ling like a predator who

ou're p

eath

ed. I have friends at the clinic. It wasn't

embled on the

e low and mocking. "To trap a man who doesn't

my eyes, but I refus

ut love," I said hoarsely. "

pen and walked out befor

-

sed my back against the

so hard I nearl

kn

nd if she knew, it was only a mat

id it... the delig

ldn't keep it

rotectively, whispering

ou. Not her, not hi

d I stepped inside, wiping my

ion stared back at me - pale, h

rst time,

e that kept m

as a

as done