Reverse Harem: Pampered by All

t preparing. Her blouse was a little wrinkled, her hair was tied back in a plain bun, and her cheap

he meeting," she said softly, walking up to

even

class and borrow her pens without remembering her name, sat at the head of t

Lily," he

me was

ore lipstick shades Lina never dared to touch and heels that echoed with confidence. "S

lau

ank into

e back, invisible. When it ended, the room cleared. Liam stood, loosening

ird quarter projections," he said

nked. "

ready wal

..

numbers. Printed the revisions. Befo

ropped her bag and turned on her phone.

her f

omeone to take the fall. Be grateful i

gister the words, and understand what t

er the bus to protect the

lips parted. But no sound

skin was pale, her lips thin. Unremarka

anym

ver a

. A quiet,

nt someone to take the fall? I

e mirror wit

'll all

idn't

ing beneath the fraying blanket she never had time to

l it's just

hat's what

ion. Not even the decen

for managers who got drunk on power, and buried her own brilliance under the role of "obedie

many times, and wasn't even of

ved at the office, only to

't even let her

a termination form at the lobby desk. Inside the box were the broken pieces of her th

e cared about her, and after spending twenty four y

louse like knives. She ducked beneath a café near the station. She'd never been inside. It was the type of place

't belon

ooked ins

s when sh

her best f

r in the corner

he ones she'd once said looked too pl

ushing Cleo's chee

stomach

they looked good. But because Cleo caught

cry. Not the

ment as she moved blindly through the streets. Past the shops. Th

en she reache

kles white. Beneath her, the city lights sh

n't wan

d to stop exis

Unseen

nce in. And then, slowly... she reached in

only knew how to need her h

answer. No

ed on their own

her contacts

Every forgotten friend,

o

ened the fr

ed back, soaked, trembling, eyes

a photo.

ost nor

the last night Li

hout hesi

he phone int

hed with

o did