design, overlooking the city. The proposal packet Leona had sent lay open on the glass table before him, but Jason's eyes weren't on the text. They were narrowed in suspicion. "This isn't her,"

s of her eyes. Lily stood in stunned silence before quietly placing the flash on the desk and slipping out. The room emptied, leaving Leona alone. She slumped into her chair, hands trembling as she picked up the flash. Her eyes filled as she stared at it like it was a piece of her she had long buried. Her voice. Her past. Minutes passed before she gathered herself. She wiped her face, pulled herself together, and headed toward Bryan's office to apologize. But just as she rounded the hallway, she saw Ava coming out of the room. Leona froze. Ava was smiling. More than smiling, glowing. Her makeup looked fresh, her lipstick redone, her hair newly brushed. And her blouse... it looked slightly rumpled, like it had just been readjusted. A cold wave of dread crawled down Leona's spine. Ava paused when she noticed Leona, startled for a moment. "Oh Leona. I was just... I came to clarify a few things with Bryan." "Right," Leona muttered, stepping aside. As Ava walked past her, Leona stood motionless, her breath shallow. Her mind screamed at her, warning her, showing her what she didn't want to see. But she wasn't ready to believe it. Not yet. Not without proof. She turned and walked slowly back to her office, heart thudding. She needed to talk to someone. Someone who wasn't blinded by Bryan's smile. Someone honest. She called Sasha. The voicemail picked up. "Hey Sasha. I... I need you. I think something's going on. I don't know what it is, but I saw something and I, I just don't know what to think. I need you to come, please." She hung up and sank into her seat, twisting the flash drive in her fingers. ****** Two hours later, Sasha Duvall stormed into the studio like a hurricane in heels. "Leona!" she called, her voice frantic. Leona shot up, rushing to her. Sasha wrapped her arms around her best friend tightly. "I got your message. Wha