... Mis

ice, low but clear. It wasn't loud,

oat we

ming out softer than I expected. It

nly aware of everything my steps, my hand

even more imposing

sat perfectly on him, paired with a clean white shirt and a navy tie. Everything

d, catching the light

met h

a way that made it hard to breathe prope

as really

self-conscious

tarted bea

pped c

loser

lking toward me like he al

to focus on something

e background. The phones, the typing, the q

d that well

d to realize he wa

mpli

m h

ter. My fingers felt cold, even though my chest was

n't lo

n for a

ng at me like he was tryin

el it. His

breathe normally, har

th

vy

tly as Mr. Odum'

me, Tania right behind him, fl

to send an

he saw who I w

in him wa

ightened, and hi

t realize..." he sa

en waved his

. carry on. Whatever

sir," I

last look bef

ced back at me once, her eye

hey we

ly came back, but it

ention lingering just a little too long before they looked away.

d back

ill looki

go,"

followed him without

My heels clicked softly against the floor, each

ts wouldn

are we

somethi

d he c

done that morning, searching for any mista

feeling wou

nd the silence between us

way. Each one greeted him respectf

fternoo

m with a small nod,

spoke

even

ed the e

here. I caught a glimpse of myself-my slightly tense

pped i

oll

with a soft sound that felt

suddenly f

qu

cl

e between us. Not far, but no

en you,"

ed up

The way you carry yourself.

eath

t expec

ven know w

used slightly. ".

allo

oblem

es

d it made it s

ri

you to s

asked, c

s.

. My fingers pressed into the e

y

ne in the off

ke without

ght doesn't change your perspective of me,"

eft my mouth, I wished

was t

there be

at me fo

with business," he said. "So y

tension in m

t all

was still l

I could eas

he

ou to be

g inside

orry?" I

added, like it was

art s

rr

ix mo

h

n't make sens

derstand," I sai

tand everything right now

ded s

re shaking

"Six months. No complications. No interference w

ensa

tled heavily

't someth

n't a su

s an

riou

dded. "I don't make jokes

d at hi

s tie to the way his sleeves sat neatly at his wrists. There

of how close

qu

f what he ha

e?" I

answer i

s studying my face, like he was

h

're exactly

ds were

stayed

evator

efore it ca

still beati

oors

from the hal

didn't

oul

still trying

ria

mo

i

bout this

it was

he folder, grounding mys

deep dow

tepped out of

alking into another

g into something I

t would chang

even with the fear

me knew I wasn't