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 Zoe’s Offer

Author: Jenne Lopes
last update Last Updated: 2025-03-18 05:08:40

Outside his office, I bypassed the elevator in favor of the stairwell, needing movement, exertion, anything to burn off the toxic cocktail of rage and helplessness consuming me from the inside.

I burst into the lobby, gulping humid air that barely qualified as fresh but at least didn't taste like Daniel's expensive cologne. My hands trembled as I fumbled with my visitor badge, eager to remove any trace of my connection to this place.

"Maya? Maya Russo?"

I turned at the sound of my name, confusion momentarily displacing distress. A woman approached—vaguely familiar, with short-cropped dark hair and intelligent eyes behind chunky glasses.

"It's Zoe," she said, registering my blank expression. "Zoe Chen? From Parsons?"

Recognition clicked. "Oh my god, Zoe. It's been—"

"Seven years, at least," she finished, grinning. "What are you doing here? Wait, stupid question. You're married to Daniel Russo." Her eyes flicked to my bare ring finger. "Or...were?"

"Were," I confirmed. "We're separated.
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