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least a warning label: Side effects may include stress eating, emoti

d's coldest, most annoyingly per

invitations as I stand in my small but cozy apartment

der and ear as my wedding planner,

the same as champagne beige," she insi

olding both samples up to the morn

e is warmer, and champag

e are going to take them, read them, and throw

edding invitati

's only 7:12 AM, and

hichever one you

s," Erica snaps gently. "

mach t

my f

e. The man I

ttended a single plannin

him," I li

d that y

f my cheek. "I'll r

e says firmly. "C

oth invitation samples onto

ing a weird curly thing on the left side. And of course, I can't b

er

e I accidentally texted him a photo meant for Ryan... I am doing ev

e, however,

w it

ove my laptop inside,

ines as always. The lobby is modern, slee

ter than the last. Every

levators, silently p

der

.

iverse does th

near the elevator, tall, sharply dressed i

ntrol, and devastating attractiveness

terling," I say, try

he time on his Rolex

.. good,

t but not unkind. "Bett

e he means better than

e empty elevator.

een us, thick, awkwa

eye contact, avoided conversation, a

metimes I catch him giving me these unreadable

eleted it i

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. "Did you finish th

's on yo

pdated pro

aliz

investor

tens. "Complet

small nod.

and we walk out to t

desk, grateful

er pauses before e

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ree

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s skim my face briefly. "Fix that

aying I lo

corrects. "Not

e the same th

nto his office

meeting, and Alexander only sighs

my desk, trying to

seconds later. A

cel dinner again tonight. S

art s

to finalize the g

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me know when

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the best.

ng inside me cave in a little. I wav

it seems. The alarm din

y to grab on my way this morning while editing a proposal,

preparation?" She teases, si

," I say with

ing s

g every

iancé

a look. "D

t say an

ng it with y

if you're doing all

y," I def

push. She opens her mouth to say somethi

lexander see

y wrap. Lite

g!" she says, p

I hiss. "I'm n

y n

I value

ably deleted it instantly.

ght that he saw it sti

nvestor documents... Procurement updates..

lighting up my phone

ic

choose the

ris

t design neede

ids Grou

ng is next wee

m

me. Em

rgency. It's usua

g to brea

der

of my skin as I hear

with a rare look on his face... concern. Or the Sterli

... out o

" I say to

're

a

speed," he says. "And you only typ

. "You track m

one is dry.

s cree

r advicement." He steps

ips. "Am I

t y

e racing. Once inside

it

ob

crossed, eyes narrowed slightly

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thi

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eah, fantastic. Crying in front of my bi

whisper. "And work, and eve

just a fraction.

," I say. "R

s not h

ot that

"You're carrying the entire lo

tightens.

quietly. "And you don't

his tone disarms

nd sits on the edge, close

" he says again. "Yo

want to plan

.. almost... cur

me. I didn't mean to

"Then finish the procurement list

"You'll

n. And I need my senior

is about pr

dips lower. "The rest

arply. "Some

mine for a hea

posure snapping back into pl

ful and confused and

adds, "And Anderson... ask

e before I can