ation seemed to unsettle Sophia more

xpected tears,

ot si

ment was secured, a chic mi

ar Canary Wharf wa

he London branch, immersing myself in Br

a fading p

last of my personal belongings in my

ha

on his arm was still healing

. Can w

I said, not openi

st for a fe

o get it over with than any ling

the nearly empty apartment. B

ng?" He soun

expanding to London. I'm h

frowned. "Tha

rks for a while," I

"Look, about the other night..

s. You complied. It'

strange expression on hi

convenience, remember?" I co

ed. "Noah

ls me eve

ow I messed up.

ere," I agr

t more. An argumen

wasn't the Olivia he thought he

out you," he sai

ou, Ethan? Or do you ju

s phone buzzed. He glanced

tened. He ign

ng," he admitted,

gath

ation in his eyes. "Can't we... can't

than. There never re

sistently. He finally answ

w? ... No, I'm busy...

e listened, his eyes

pionship? Sophia, that's insane

ain, his shoul

... but... if I do

his eyes darting to me, f

w the final match, she'll tell the pres

hurned. Blac

a choice.

e dropping even lower as

'll do it. Just... jus

looking utte

n't meet

umbled, and practica

of pity washing over me, quickly

ame, and there was nothing I,

ennis National Championship final on TV in m

he favorite. He wa

iding match. Ethan vers

Ethan played well, but hi

econd set, som

ed errors. Easy shots saile

Vance looks off his game today..

fused, then angry. His c

hen hostile. Boos started

glancing towards the stands, presumably w

the se

He barely moved for some shots

atant, unde

with it, the national c

k his hand mechanically, and then walked off the court to

were in the audience. The

utation – all torched on t

hed off

nothing le

choice. He had d

uiet hum of the air conditioner

dn't come s