Chapter 3

Michael cornered me in the breakroom.

He held the spa voucher in his hand, its edges creased from being gripped too tightly.

"What do you mean, 'updating your resume'?"

I filled my cup with water. "Exactly what it sounds like."

He tossed the voucher onto the counter.

"You’re quitting? Just because of what happened last night and today?"

"It’s not just because of today."

"Then what is it?"

I looked at him. "It’s a thousand little things."

Michael went quiet for a few seconds, his tone softening.

"Sharon, I know you’ve been under a lot of pressure lately. You’ll still be leading the follow-ups for Riverview.

“Earlier, I was just trying to spare Gina’s feelings."

I looked him in the eyes.

"And what about mine? You're worried about hurting her. What about me?"

Michael’s brow furrowed. "You’ve always been the strong one."

Strong.

Sensible.

Easygoing.

Fearless.

These labels were like a heavy coat of old armor that he had forced onto me.

I had worn it for so long that I almost forgot I could still bleed underneath.

---

Gina walked in holding her mug. "What are you guys talking about?"

Michael reflexively slid the spa voucher back into his pocket.

Gina saw the movement and her smile faltered.

"Is this because of me? Sharon, really, I don't have to go to the spa."

I said nothing.

Michael replied, "No one said you couldn't go."

Gina immediately cast her eyes downward. "But Sharon will be upset."

Michael pinched the bridge of his nose. "She isn't a child."

I let out a cold laugh.

"Right. So children get protected while adults just have to be 'understanding'?"

Gina’s eyes welled with tears again. "Sharon, you didn't use to be like this."

I stared at her. "Like what?"

She bit her lower lip. "You never used to keep score with me over things like this."

Just then, Michael’s phone rang. It was a call from the bridal boutique.

He answered, his tone perfectly natural, "Right. Dress fitting this Saturday."

I froze. "Saturday?"

Michael hung up.

"My mom booked it. She said we should go and take a look."

"You didn't tell me."

"I just found out myself."

Gina chimed in softly, "Your mom invited me too, Sharon. She wanted me to give you a second opinion.

“Don't overthink it. I'm quick at trying things on, so I can test out the silhouettes for you first."

My grip tightened on my paper cup.

The scalding water burned right through to my fingertips.

Seeing me flinching, Michael quickly said, "Gina does have great style."

"My wedding dress," I said, my voice dangerously quiet. "She has to try that first, too?"

Gina waved her hands in a panic. "Of course not! I'm just trying to help."

Michael’s voice turned icy. "Sharon, watch your attitude."

I tossed the paper cup into the sink. "Then I'm not going."

Michael’s face darkened.

"You won't even try on your wedding dress? Are we having this wedding or not?"

I stared at him for a long, quiet moment.

"Do you actually care?"

He looked as if he’d been slapped.

"If I didn't care, would I have spent seven years with you?

“Would I have bought an apartment? Planned a wedding?"

Gina quickly stepped in to play peacemaker.

"Okay, okay, let’s not fight. You know Michael is just bad with words, Sharon."

She reached out to grab my arm.

I took a step back, avoiding her touch.

Her hand froze in mid-air, and a tear immediately slipped down her cheek.

"Sharon... do you really detest me so much that you won't even let me touch you now?"

Michael instantly stepped between us, shielding her. "That’s enough, Sharon."

I watched him protect Gina.

The movement was so fluid, so instinctive.

He must have rehearsed it a thousand times in his head.

---

In the afternoon, HR announced a mandatory company photo shoot for the new project.

The location was the skybridge on the top floor.

Gina ran over to Michael’s desk, bubbling with excitement.

"I heard you can see the entire riverfront from up there. The photos are going to look amazing!"

Michael nodded. "You should stand in the center."

I looked up. "I'm not going."

The HR coordinator looked caught in the middle.

"Sharon, you're the lead creator on this project. The client specifically asked for you to be in the shot."

Michael looked at me. "It's just a photo. Stop trying to be difficult."

"I am terrified of heights," I said quietly.

He scoffed. "You've worked on the twenty-seventh floor for years. What is there left to be afraid of?"

Suddenly, I couldn't even force a polite smile.

The skybridge was made of entirely transparent glass.

The moment my feet touched the glass walkway, my knees buckled.

Gina looked back from a few paces ahead.

"Sharon, you look so pale. Do you want me to hold your hand?"

She took a step toward me but her foot "slipped" on the glass.

Michael dashed forward, catching her in his arms.

The photographer called out, "Sharon, don't move. Take half a step forward."

I looked down.

Through the glass beneath my feet, the traffic below looked like tiny, crawling ants.

My palms were slick with cold sweat.

Michael, still holding Gina, looked back at me with irritation. "Sharon, stop wasting everyone's time."

Standing there, frozen, my mind flashed back to that college hiking trip.

When he carried me down that mountain, his back must have ached but he didn't make any attempt to stop.

He had promised me that whenever we were somewhere high up, he would always be there to hold me.

Now, the heights were still here.

But the man who promised to hold me had already turned around to catch someone else.

The camera flash went off.

At that exact second, my balance gave out, and my knees slammed hard onto the glass floor.

Gina gasped. "Sharon! You're not doing this on purpose to scare me, are you?"

Michael’s face was grim. "Just get down from there."

I pushed myself up against the railing, steadying my trembling legs. "I'm fine."

When he reached out to help me, I didn't take it. His hand hung suspended in the air.