in and

ilding, her pulse still racing from the unexpected message. The evening air was warm, but her

ling leaves, or the chatter of people around her. Everything faded into a muted b

omorrow. You walk like the

e: Unknown. But it wa

was

n Cr

tripped her soul bare with a glance. The same man whose p

ated, even. But instead, a dee

t, Emma. You ha

waited for her every night with dinner

tonight? Thought we could eat in

But because Ryan was perfect, and somehow, she was

the phone in her bag, hailed a bus, and sa

-

the Ap

empty tea mug dangling from his hand. The coffee machine was

er hair was messy. Her white blouse sl

ke the same Emma B

her eyes. A spark s

into a hoodie, and crawled in

well, Ms. Blake. Tomorr

eath h

did you get

ute p

n t

n: "I ha

idn't

at the ceiling wondering why her heart was racing ov

-

ext M

wore

se of the

t's what she

vy-blue pencil skirt and a soft pink blouse. L

't tell me how

"I didn't even know it

u? Like, in t

tripped. H

wattpad dream! I swear, if you

f. "He's way out of my leag

e faded. "R

s that

. These men? They play hard.

dded. "

-

Ste

led the air. Whispers chased her down the hallway. Peop

sistant, ran u

u've been

inked.

0th floor

EO's o

calls people up there unless it's

stoma

hley added quickly. "Maybe

found out sh

use, fixed her collar, an

-

30th

as s

si

the halls. A single white orchid sat on a silver

on the 30th floor

s. Blake. He's

lammed agai

open the

here

n Cr

that revealed the Seoul skyline. He wore a navy-blue suit today

said without l

ob

y raised

that haunted her dreams. "

"You messag

y. "True. But I expec

ked, trying t

people are a

ed. "Maybe

ed, as if he li

ingers steepled. "Why did

oney. My father is sick. We're behind on rent. I

was si

tly: "Hon

blin

d around the de

cl

me of someon

ho

he reached into his pocke

ng. You'll report directly

ropped. "

s, Ms. Blake. No

I d

ed someone with a clear conscience. This compa

ou offering me a job or dragg

. Like smoke. Da

l find

f this is som

's

eyes l

. More intense. The way he looked

pped back.

-

at He

y scr

u W

"I'm working under the

know how many girls wou

't ask

r eyebrows. "But

gro

day in meetings, typing re

led duri

t if we went out this weekend? Jus

she replied, guilt

ped, Aiden's voice

-

Eve

bread and lavender spray. Her father was in b

," he said, kis

ng

pping in silence. Ryan wr

u o

out Aiden. About the new p

e word

," sh

led her closer. "

ve yo

hest, someth

-

dn

hone

wn: "Yo

in bed, he

t are you ta

u were okay. You're not

t the screen

re you wat

rep

sil

h

p. You have a lo

t sleep t

re

-

Next

den's office. It had a touchscreen monitor,

ed confused. "You

ly," Emma

lowly, giving her detailed tasks-

thing wa

would stop mid-sentence

s memorizi

r a file. "Take this

no

ed to leave

la

tu

ld somethin

hair down

ked. "Ex

to his comput

-

That E

held her hand. They talked about photography,

yan leaned in, E

led, she remember

as fa

in l

hing more

dn't know

-

Phon

d her face and prepared

te nu

pick

mm

fr

was olde

sn't

.Mo

ears. No

ang up.

ve way. She sli

. "I was sick. I was scared. But

uldn't

t. You l

for four years. I live in B

amed down

now," she

st... needed to

ne wen

in the dark, with he

-

whil

iden Cross stood in front of a large m

ng on her f

ched hi

n in a grey suit

g exactly as p

didn't

ut predictions. J

s,

father's medical c

s,

t the screen a

spered t

ll, Blake

-

d of Cha