e day passed i

eing in. I moved slower than usual, but I was efficient. The pain in my hand pulsed like a reminde

a bottle of water and returned to his office, closing the door

ping materials and confirming arrivals. They were a high-profile client, known for being sharp and impos

I wo

ree, when Sebastian e

or before landing on me. "Isla," he said, calm but

nked.

e not c

istant. Of cou

t. You're exhausted. You're hurt. You're go

lready forming my pro

ad slightly, not

sn't a su

ine, Se

ird time today you've said that,

ot to listen, but I could feel the attention shift towar

e down in your office

ou're g

ting straight through my defenses like

id again, mo

's an

aught up. But I didn't fight it. Not really. Because maybe I did want to lie down. M

. Private. I stepped inside slowly, feeling like an imposter trespa

ouch by the far window looked far too luxurious to be used fo

e glass. New York stretched endlessly outside, glittering

mean to

sit. Just

les loosened. Shoulders sagged. My bandaged hand rested on my

ure when I

t I

**

he soft clic

me was too soft. The room was too quiet. Then I smelled the

oriented. The skyline

said from behind me. Not

ding just inside the r

" I rubbed my eyes with my g

x-th

upposed to return a

k." He handed me one of

rmth, muttering a quick thanks before I c

have to do

he said. "Bu

ows, jacket off, tie loosened. He looked tired too, though in a different wa

d the me

me. "They want us to pitch a full rebr

ntly. "You'll

but it faded quickly. "T

ghtened. "What

He sipped his tea, eyes watching me over the ri

lence stretch

lk about it?" he as

Too quickly. "There's

st nodded once. "The

t to me. That he didn't pus

mug down and standing. My legs sti

noti

not yet,

aw something flicker behind his eyes. A que

d, my voice quieter now. "

e," he sa

ad. "This isn'

re my p

ooked at him fully now

've crumbled by now. And you walk in here every day like you're not bleeding out of p

My throat fe

ings like that

Wh

n't afford to

lose enough that I had to tilt my

e said. "Just... let yourself rest

dn't

n't pull a

. maybe that

r n