shing cold water on my face. The image of Glenda's smirk, the way her eyes had lingered, burned in my mind. It was a subtle invasion, but potent. I told myself it wa

his leg propped up on a cushion. Glenda sat directly opposite him, at the foot of the table, engaged in a low, intimate conversation

sat with us, let alone started eating before I ar

o the storm brewing inside me. "Glenda made mushro

nda. "Glenda," I said, my voice calm, almost dangero

eld a flicker of surprise. "Oh, I apologize, Ms. Hardy. I assumed you would sit

d certainly not at the main table." I gestured vaguely to the small, discreet breakfast nook off the kitchen, where Maria wou

oney, Glenda's been so kind, helping me with everything. I told her sh

own her fork, her face a mask of slight indignation. "But professional boundaries are anoth

and, Ms. Hardy. I was just follo

firm. "Please, move to the breakfast nook. And next t

, come on. It's just dinner

lenda. "I'm not making a fuss, Br

on tile echoed in the suddenly silent room. She picked up her plate. "Very well, Ms. Hardy

had just dawned on me, a cold wave washing over the previous

ack still to me, a hint o

reatening. Almonds, walnuts, pecans – a single trace could send me into anaphylactic shock. Maria knew. Ever

careful frown. "Oh. Mr. Parker said you're a big fan of pin

on my forbidden list. My stomach churned. "He said tha

cific nuts, honey. I just said you loved nuts in general, the healt

looked like a potential assassin. I saw the tiny, golden pine nuts sprinkled generously over

ed a small portion of the risotto onto a side plate, and walked to

"Alex! What

ked back to the table, picked up the entire serving bowl of risotto, and calmly dumped its

his jaw slack. Glenda looked like a deer caught in headlights, her carefully

inally managed, his voice tight with a

ce setting, pulled out the chair, and sat down. My

mmediately from the pain in his cast. "What is

-threatening allergy. What's wrong is that your temporary caregiver, after being told my 'preferences,' managed to include two of my deadli

Glenda, meanwhile, had sub

earing through the tense silence. "I've lost m

e to the small apartment I kept near the firm's main office – a practical investment, a quiet retreat for late nights.

t immediately. A flurry of

at was t

e come home.

anding, I swear. Gl

eels empty

charmed his way in, worn me down with his earnest apologies and puppy-dog ey

rk. The Chicago project was still demanding, even from afar. The distance, the

rett appeared on my screen. This one was different. It

ergy list memorized. I even bought new pots and pans, just to be safe. I miss our life. I know you're busy, but can we talk about our future? The wedding plans, the nex

Pictures of our wedding brochures, open on the coffee tabl

empire we were building together... it pulled at something inside me. Maybe, just maybe, he understood. Maybe

e reply: I'll