LOGINLORRETA The taxi lurched forward, pulling into the road before I could hurl out a very colourful insult towards HeathHe leaned back against the seat, his notes crinkling as he glanced around the taxi. “You could have ...”“Did you seriously just pull the 'I'm the man, so I decide' card?” My voice came out sharper than I have ever used with him, I stared at this stranger who was seated beside me with new eyesHeath sighed softly, “Look, I didn't mean to...”“How dare you come at me with that sexist crap?" I snapped, not caring about what else he wanted, and planned on saying I was done hearing him out. I was D O N E. Genuine remorse crossed over his face, he reached a hand to touch me but I swatted it so fast and hard that Heath flinched, shifting backwards and away from me. “Lo, what's wrong with you?”Shock and agitation rippled through me “What's wrong with me? You dare ask me that question after this foolishness you just pulled?” My hands shook, not from fear this time but fr
LORETTA FIVE MINUTES EARLIER Heath's hand was extended out, hovering between us in a pregnant silence, hope lit up in his eyes “Come with me” he said again, as if he repeated it enough times, I might agree to I looked at his hand, then at his face, the boyish face I once admired years ago, and my heart softened for him “Heath…” I started gently, choosing my words with care. “I appreciate that you're looking out for me. I really do.” His eyes brightened even more, a slow smile spreading across his face. “So you'll come with me then.” It wasn't a question. “There's this new Michelin-star restaurant close to my place. We could check it out if you're up for a date.” His gaze drifted toward Rosa's, his nose wrinkling in disapproval. “It's a lot better than... whatever this is.” A sad smile settled on my lips. In some ways, Heath wasn't a bad person. He could be thoughtful, caring, and even incredibly kind to the people he considers his friends, but his biggest flaw had alw
ELIONI pulled up to Rosa's so hard and recklessly that my tires screeched against the pavement.I was out of my car before the engine fully turned off. My heart hammered so violently it felt like it was trying to outrun me, to find Lorreta himself before I make another mistake and screw us up like I did in the office The bell above the café door chimed as I shoved it open without enough force to break the fragile glass. Every conversation paused, every single movement froze, and everyone watched me as if I'd just dragged a storm in behind me. They wouldn't be wrong to think so.My eyes swept the room with quick desperation. Past the students, an elderly couple, a woman typing on a laptop, a mother trying to keep her toddler from taking off his shoesNo Lorreta My heart skipped beats I scanned the room again, slower this time, hoping this time, hoping that I had somehow missed her, that if I looked close enough she'd be right there, sitting by that empty table close to the windo
LORRETA“Heath?”I blinked— twice, just to be sure that the person across the street from me was infact Heath and not some doppelganger who looked exactly like him His honey brown eyes lit up in surprise the minute he spotted meMy father had told me Heath would be returning to Seattle, but I hadn't expected him to be here of all places. I wasn't even supposed to come here today...at all. So meeting my past friend, and ex-boyfriend, across the street in Seattle was very unexpected. I guess the day was still full of surprises after allHe tried to cross the street, but a truck sped past immediately making him halt. That single second was enough for the knots in my stomach to pull tight. While a part of me was glad to see an old friend from my past, another part of me dreaded what Heath's presence would bring He finally crossed the street, covering the distance between us. “Lo" A grin spread on his face and before I could answer, Heath pulled me in a hugInstinctively, my body stif
ELIONI had read the same report four times and my comprehension of it had not improved the slightest bitIt wasn't that I didn't know what I was looking at, the numbers were there – revenue projections, acquisition margins, third quarter adjustments, everything was nearly arranged in the precise order Dennis always prepared them in, and yet I could understand nothing of itI set the report down, picked up my pen, and set my pen down Outside my office windows, Seattle was doing whatever the fuck Seattle did in the afternoon, going about its life with ease like mine wasn't tearing down right before my very eyes*Things changed* I could hear her voice viscerally as if she was still here with me. Ache spread over my chest like venomI tried to convince myself that I'd made the right call by keeping her at a distance, that whatever Loretta Sterling said in the aftermath of being caught was just some acts of self-preservation to save her skin, damage control even It was the same instinct
LORRETA The question hung in the air between us like thick smoke, the kind that choked the life out of people Michelle didn't blink, just sat there with her elbows on the table and her eyes on mine waiting for an answer “That's ridiculous” My voice sounded almost breathless. Why did my voice sound almost breathless?“You sure about that?” she chipped pleasantly “Yes,” I answered too quickly. Michelle's brow arched, leveling me with a suspicious look. My fingers balled into a fist at thinking that I could be in...love with Elion. The idea of it all was laughable. Of course, I no longer wanted to shove a knife into his eye every single time we were with each other, but that doesn't mean that I love himWhat we have...had was nothing more than a small tolerance that happens when people live with each other, love was out of the books for Elion and meNot in this lifetime at least, we have too much history and bad blood to ever fall in love with each otherEver!“Mm," She hummed, pick
LORETTA Rosa's smelled like delicious coffee and butter. It was calming in a way. With soft lighting, windows fogged at the edges, and small talk around equally small tables here and there “You know how you're the unhinged one in our friend group?” I startedMichelle straightened slightly with a
LORETTA “Who do I need to murder?”I blinked “What?””Your voice sounds like my cat's chew toy” My brows bunched together, I was about to ask what a chew toy sounds like only for her to go on with something even worse“Tell me Lo, who do I need to murder? I know a guy who knows a guy that can get
LORETTAI needed airAir that wasn't filled with the heady scent of Elion's cologne. My body didn't feel like my own, my lungs refused to work properly, every breath catching somewhere between my chest and my throat.I barely made it to my office before my legs gave way, a shattering sound wrenched
ELIONThe second I felt her pulse jump beneath my grip, something beastly inside me strained against its leash.That part of me that I spent three days trying and failing to bury. “Tell me something, Rea,” I breathed into the space between us “Do you enjoy making me choose between my sanity and yo







