Chapter 69

Andrew

The room had fallen into an oddly heavy silence. The only sound breaking through was the soft rustle of papers beneath my fingers. They piled up on one side of the desk, page after page blurring into each other. Another endless routine. Another day buried in work.

I had been sitting here for hours, unmoving, the tension in my jaw and brow refusing to ease. This had become the only thing I seemed capable of. Work had become more than a habit. It was a way to drown out everything else.

Then the silence cracked. The door opened.

Jessica walked in, beaming with those same irritatingly bright eyes. Excitement spilled from her expression as if she had just stepped into some great surprise.

My body reacted before my mind could catch up. I let out a long tired sigh. Lately, just being in the same room with her drained me faster than the longest workday ever could.

She entered like she always did…like the room belonged to her and she was the boss.

And I hated it.

“Andrew!” she called