eli

ttled into one of her apa

ed under the duvet and felt my phone buzzed.

al med

t, I opened it-only to reg

smiling brightly and beside them w

of a store, Zora clutching a large Labubu doll, al

ingered o

, I had bought Zo

before frowning and dropping it on

had said back then, leaving the b

uldn't help but wonder-was it really the color

and stopped myself fro

ly and I blocked any future

ned off my phone

☆

ing, I woke up and

ok a little under thirty minutes. By the time I

ent she saw me. "Good morn

mall smile. "Good

s i reached the presidential elevator, i pulled out

pen, I noticed the way several

ew Vice Presi

ngton's most trusted person? And h

at their rel

king snicke

That last comment wa

urge to turn around. Instead, I stepped

workplac

as one of the people

chedule, Til

hers in a few minutes," she replied. "It's regarding the developme

minutes later, the doors opened, and I step

n, I bent the han

urned toward me and a tra

tood in a room like this, u

ife and a devoted mother had shaped m

as no longer

further into the room, ignoring the

Vice President?"

president have some k

she slept her

ce and figure, it wouldn

he words as I took

," he said col

diately and he glanced at me and

one before shifting my attenti

eir latest research-Project C-25, a cancer-focused st

s of effort, they had

e to perfect th

ocused gaze and gently nudged

every head tur

g matters himself-had just aske

lieved had slept

es slightly as I

precise, calculated down to the small

closer in

n't enti

on this?" I asked, my gaz

p. His name t

the tag to his

e calculatio

who was overly confide

low," I said calmly. "That results

iefly befor

levels are too high. Excess amoun

d at the

atio. Run the

ifted between discom

ng and it ruins our entire results? We won't just be looking for a breakthroug

ered. "He has years of experience.

com

With my eyes closed, I could outperform e

, my tone professional, a slight smile still on

pression

ve him time

test," I

ted, glancing at Tho

waiting for?"

ried out. Dane dropped back into hi

d a half passed

d the presenter rushed in, h

ed. "The new formula worked perfec

tantly fill

? Rea

ne was

as if even he hadn't

gain-but this time, their gazes were

, Vice President

ce President,"

e joined in, though his expression made i

as announced. "Refine and further anal

ryone stood. With lingering glances in

mas reached over and r

t, just as expected

of satisfaction settling

ght," he said. "We shou

odded in

e on, let's get

g the new formula, while the entire company buz

nd after a thirty-minute drive, we arr

r two," Thomas tol

r table. "A waiter will be with you

were alone,

ng back into work?

handle," I replie

e waiter arrived, beginning

asked. "What do you p

aused my mood

hout hesitation. "I'm

ps as if to respond,

la

pilled ont

went pale. "I-I'm so

grabbing a napkin and tr

didn't come o

estroom real quick. Gi

nod

'am," the waiter

smile before heading

't stain easily,' I thought, dabbing at

e corner, I nearly walk

lision, then looked up, ready to apologi

t of me, a frown etc

e he scoffed. "I let the first time go because Elizabeth a

ned. "

lowing me,

y frown deepen, and a scoff esc

round you, Adrian," I said,

his hand shot out and grab

ft home all day without calling or checking in. Don't y

sb

mind, and a quiet ch

seen the divor

tolerated your attitude for far too long. Come ho

e and lifted my chi

y, stepping closer and m

vil Affairs Bureau first thing tomorrow morning and pu