DUMPED BY MY EX, CHOSEN BY THE BILLIONAIRE SOCCER STAR

ela'

xcept for Raphael's slow breaths beside me. Lately, he's been shrinking, since missing the contract for the football player, and that warning fro

it always harder to breathe when things go wrong for him? As I dressed for my morning run, I wondered if mov

d, mingling with the morning chill. Elena, Raphael's mother,

ly?" Her eyes paused for a second too long on my shoes. Her fingers clenched rhythmically around her mug. "You hav

tened under her judgment; every word held a threat she wouldn't voice aloud. Is

resounded: " Be polite to elders. Why is that so impossible with Elena? What does she see in

s as I ran outside. When I returned and entered the apartment again, Raphael was already in the shower, water flowing

d so easily still sting so deeply? I suppressed the urge to cry. He acts indifferent,

ever I step onto the twelfth floor, I feel it as a static charge: ambition, hunger, fear. Am I the only one who sees how this constant chase w

t the end of a conversation. They wanted a famous football player to sign, but no one could reach him. He likes going

nference room, to take notes. He valued my opinion;

he said, opening the first file. The

stupid and badly made. Everyone turned to me. Mr. Moreno slapp

s temporary; I was in my third year of school, studying physical therapy. I planned to take three more years for a doctorate. To cover bills, I'd also picked up a w

t you would fire me," I told Mr. Mo

n; that's how much I trust you with all this. Now,

, I don't see my path going there, and I'm gra

la, okay, now tell me wha

he meeting, I walked back to my desk. I made myself a coffee,

do you want?"

some information. Let's have lunch toge

Now go," he dismissed me. I understood

ara right before one

for a favor," I said

buy me lunch first,

sten, Manuel Karro, I nee

with being ambushed. I will try to get you inside

ect. Thank you, La

tie, and I will do anything for

was talking to a woman, laughing. She saw me, her smile vanished, and she

asked Lara to call us when he comes to the

an? Of course,"

im. Start today, everything, what

is voice angry as he grabbed my wrist. Then, seeming to re

Did I really go too far, or am I just exhausted from holding us both together? I searched for a reply that would snap him awake or show him how hurt I

m, then washed my face