I thought the episode was over.I was wrong.‘Mirabelle, there’s… a big client down here!’ Priya called up to me from the first floor.I made my way down quickly, but when I saw Harper, the smile I’d been trying to keep on my face disappeared in an instant.I slowed my steps, forced myself to look at her without rolling my eyes. ‘What do you want?’‘Mirabelle, listen…’ Harper gave me this ridiculously familiar smile and stood up, as though we were best friends. ‘There’s been a misunderstanding. I came to explain everything to you.’‘Don’t try to be friendly with me. We’re not on first-name basis.’Harper’s eyes welled up a little, and her voice softened. ‘I didn’t know Cassian had a girlfriend when we were together. If I had known…’I wasn’t buying it for a second.‘If you’d known, you still would have been with him. You’re not in love with him. You’re in love with the resources he gave you. You don’t care about his relationship status or whether you were the other woman.’‘That’s not
Ashton glanced at Mirabelle, sensing the weight of her mood.He didn’t dare push her further.Instead, his thoughts swirled with curses aimed at Cassian Langford.Since Mirabelle’s birthday a few days ago, Ashton had been able to feel the shift in her behaviour.She’d been warmer, more open.He could almost swear there was a flicker of something deeper in her eyes when she looked at him.Not love, but definitely more than mere friendliness.But Cassian had ruined it all.The progress he’d made in drawing her closer had been demolished in one move by that idiot.Ashton knew, if it came down to a choice between him and Yvaine Carlisle, Mirabelle wouldn’t even hesitate.She’d choose Yvaine in a heartbeat.When he’d chased her out of the club earlier, his chest had tightened with panic.He’d been terrified that Mirabelle would start blaming him for Cassian’s behaviour.Thankfully, it hadn’t gone that far, but it didn’t feel great either.As he seethed silently, his phone buzzed.Mirabelle
Harper’s face immediately flushed red.‘Did I do something wrong? I don’t think we’ve met before, but if I’ve upset you in any way, I’m happy to apologise.’Cassian touched her shoulder.‘Don’t cry, let me figure out what’s going on,’ he said, then turned to me. ‘I’m honestly trying to introduce you to a client. What’s going on? Why are we getting into this before we even eat?’I’d aimed my snark at Harper to stand up for Yvaine, but Cassian? He was the one who really made me sick.I stared him down. ‘Drop the act. You think I don’t know what you two are up to?’Cassian, being an old friend of Ashton’s and a few years older than me, had always gotten my respect in the past.But not today.‘I’ve known Yvaine forever, you know we’re close. Yet here you are, bringing this woman here. What’s your play, Cassian? You trying to rub it in Yvaine’s face? Or maybe you want me to sit here with Harper and stir up some drama between me and Yvaine?’The room went deathly quiet.The look on Cassian’
‘I’m not lying.’ She shook her head so hard her earrings slapped her neck. ‘We dated for, what, three months? If I act like he was the love of my life, that’s just pathetic. I’m not that girl.’She sprang to her feet and scanned the room like she was ready to flip a table.‘I’m gonna build my brand and make a bloody fortune. Men are distractions. I’m over it. That breakdown was temporary, Mira, I swear, I’m fine now.’I exhaled through my nose. ‘He never deserved you.’My palms itched. ‘You shouldn’t’ve let him walk away like that. You should’ve called me. I would've made sure he couldn’t sit for a week. He doesn’t get to treat you like that.’Yvaine waved me off. ‘It’s done. I’m not wasting another second on him. If I throw a fit, it just proves I gave a damn. And I didn’t. Not really. Guys like him
‘Happy birthday,’ he said again.He placed it on the worktable.The cake inside was tiny.Four inches, maybe.Enough for two.The icing was smooth and white, with a single purple flower piped dead centre.No glitter, no sprinkles.Just that flower, neat, precise, a shade darker than amethyst.Primrose, my birth flower.I stared at it for a few seconds.‘Thanks,’ I said quietly, before my voice could crack.He lit a candle on top, just one, and grinned at me.‘Make a wish.’The flame flickered.I closed my eyes.Nothing came to mind straight away.My brain spun in ten directions before settling.I opened my eyes and blew out the candle.The smoke curled upward, sharp and faint.‘Happy birthday,’ Ashton said.I repeated it. ‘Happy birthday to me.’The heat in the room had settled into my chest.It wasn’t from the heater.‘Cake?’ he asked.Then he swiped a finger through the frosting and smeared it across my cheek.‘Birthday girl.’I blinked. Then grabbed a chunk off the side and smeared
‘No and no, though I wouldn’t mind giving my firstborn and last and my soul and all my tomorrows for a glimpse of the Pink Star.’I drooled at the thought of touching the 59.60-carat, vivid pink, flawless diamond.‘Any plans tonight? Why do I even ask?’ Yvaine waved off her own question. ‘Let me guess. Candlelit dinner by the bay, live string quartet in the background. I know, I know. I won’t be the third wheel.’I said nothing.Actually, no, I didn’t have any plans tonight.Ashton hadn’t said anything when I left the house this morning.And so far, half the day had passed without a message from him.Maybe he thought the share transfer agreement had said ‘happy birthday’ loud and clear.By evening, Priya and Daniel packed up and left.Yvaine got a call and dashed off in her ridiculous boots, leaving the studio dead quiet.I shut my laptop, stacked the loose sketch sheets, reached for the light switch—And stopped.Through the glass, someone appeared on the pavement outside.Alone. Ste