ia

lready hate

passive aggressive comments from people who pretended collaboration was a personality trait.

did not gossip. They did not cc HR for s

he partition. "Did you see

p. "Which one. T

t restructuri

lly create time," I said. "And if they w

hen a quie

with a message from HR again. I ignored it. If I did not, I would say so

ience was gone. I shut down my system, grabbed my bag,

inated by memory. So I went somewhere neutral. A small upscale

ss of wine. One glass. I

ust as my shoulders finall

m before I

loud. Energy

oked

mething to prove. Tight dress. Perfect makeup.

st tig

cou

ut my food was almost finished and I refused to b

ted me a se

ips c

han and whispered somet

walke

asmin said sweetly. "I did

"Funny. I was just thinking

ying himself. "No need to be

their best friend's boyf

se. You were boring h

tching us like it was entertainment

n my chest. "And you a

g her voice. "At least I know

s when

tion. My heart pounded, but my voice stayed steady

ed. "Upgraded to

respond, the at

urant dipped slightly.

again. Tha

urn

the room had bee

u

de him laughing about something that di

sharpened

did not frown. He

ow that w

ca

wante

No meetings. No politics. J

ow my chef had betrayed me by t

n lifted in defiance. Two people hovered in fro

t. I understood body

leasant," Dariu

replied.

ithout thinking. Not f

idened just slightly before some

ef m

gh that my arm brushed hers. I d

problem," I

terest flaring immediately. "No

Aria. "Are

ce. "I was ab

tly. "You are fin

in my voice su

"And who are yo

him then. Re

an she is w

haled s

in f

miled be

clenched.

ied. "And you are i

small of Aria's back. Protective

said to

or half a secon

somethi

ipping her hair. "I did not

ly. "My taste

flus

. "You think you can jus

nk," I said c

until she sat before taking my own. Dar

g," I added to the

I thought Eth

e to him and whispered,

she said softly. "D

stif

with awe. "He own

without an

k to Aria. "

es bright. "Ye

I said

ia

slightly as I p

etly. "You did not

d to," h

de my stomach flip. Not hu

me outside. The night

" he said. "I wi

ted. The

ection in the window. I looke

time since everyth

is was, it

ven c