MasukThe knock came without warning, followed immediately by Amy pushing the door open like she owned the place. Ralph trailed behind her, coffee in hand, already looking like he had something to say.“Tell me you’re not buried in spreadsheets again,” Amy said, walking in without waiting for an answer.“I’m not,” I replied, not looking up from my screen. “I’m buried in emails. It’s a step up.”Ralph snorted, closing the door behind him. “Same grave, different shovel.”I leaned back slightly, finally looking at them. “What do you want?”Amy dropped into the chair across from my desk like she was settling in for a long conversation. “We’re bored. You’re interesting. It felt like a good combination.”“I’m not interested,” I said flatly.“That’s exactly what someone interesting would say,” she shot back, grinning.Ralph took the other chair, stretching his legs out slightly. “Also, we haven’t seen you snap at anyone in at least twenty minutes. It’s unsettling.”“I’ve been busy,” I said.Amy ti
I leaned back against the mirrored wall, sunglasses still on even though I was indoors, my head faintly throbbing from last night. Elena and I had talked too much, laughed too much, and apparently poured more wine than either of us needed. I exhaled slowly, pressing my lips together as the doors slid open.“Okay,” I muttered under my breath as I stepped out. “Work. No distractions.”I walked through the office floor with purpose, heels clicking in a steady rhythm that usually grounded me. A few people greeted me, and I nodded in response, keeping everything efficient and contained. Amy glanced up from her desk as I passed.“You look…” she started, squinting slightly.“Don’t,” I cut in, not slowing down.She laughed under her breath. “I was going to say, human.”“Try harder next time,” I replied, pushing my office door open and stepping inside.I dropped my bag on the chair, inhaling deeply as I moved behind my desk. Papers were already neatly stacked, my space untouched, controlled. G
“So,” I said, narrowing my eyes slightly. “Marco.”Elena laughed softly. “You’re not wasting any time.”“I’m not here to waste time,” I replied. “Start talking.”She took a sip of her wine, clearly enjoying herself. “What do you want to know?”“Everything,” I said. “Where you met, how long you’ve known him, when he proposed, why you said yes. All of it.”She smiled into her glass. “You already know where we met.”“In Italy,” I said. “During your program. I want details.”Elena shook her head slightly, amused. “You haven’t changed.”“I have,” I said flatly. “Now talk.”She adjusted slightly on the couch, tucking her legs under her. “We met in one of my classes. He was late, walked in like he didn’t care, sat next to me, and asked if I had notes.”I raised a brow. “And you just gave them to him?”“I ignored him,” she said. “At first.”“Good,” I muttered.She laughed. “But he kept showing up. Not just to class—everywhere. Coffee shops, study groups, random events. It got… hard to ignore.
I didn’t knock.I pushed the door open and stepped into Liam’s office like I owned the space, even though every instinct in my body told me to hesitate. He was already there, standing behind his desk, sleeves rolled just enough to make it look intentional. His gaze lifted the second I walked in, like he’d been waiting.“There’s a visitor in your office,” he said before I could speak, his tone calm, measured. “I’m sorry I had to pull you away.”I shut the door behind me, letting it click softly into place. “You didn’t have to,” I replied, crossing the room without rushing. “You chose to.”His jaw shifted slightly, but he didn’t argue. “Take a seat.”“I’m fine standing.”“Nina.”The way he said my name wasn’t loud, but it carried weight. I held his gaze for a second longer, then pulled the chair out and sat, crossing one leg over the other, my posture straight and controlled.“What’s the problem?” I asked.He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he reached for something on his desk, a fi
I didn’t look at Elena immediately. I stayed where I was, near my desk, my fingers brushing lightly against the surface like I needed something solid to hold onto. Then I exhaled slowly and turned back to her.“So,” I said, my tone shifting, smoothing out, controlled. “How long are you staying?”Elena watched me for a moment before answering, like she could see the shift happen in real time. “A few weeks,” she said. “Marco booked me into a hotel nearby. The Grand Meridian.”I nodded once. “That’s… convenient.”“It’s close to here,” she added, like that mattered.“Clearly.”There was a small pause before I moved toward my chair and sat down, gesturing vaguely toward the one across from me. “Sit.”She did, folding her hands loosely in her lap, still watching me like she was trying to read something I wasn’t giving her.“When’s the wedding?” I asked, picking up a pen and tapping it lightly against the desk.“September,” she said. “In Italy. Near Florence.”“That’s soon.”“It is,” she agr
I saw her before she saw me.For a second, I almost turned around.The front desk area felt too open and exposed, with polished floors reflecting everything too clearly. She stood there like she belonged, like she hadn’t just walked back into a part of my life I had deliberately shut down.“Elena.”I didn’t say it out loud.Not yet.She turned.Like she felt it.Our eyes met, and there it was. Recognition. Immediate. Unavoidable.“Nina.”My name sounded different in her voice. Softer. Familiar in a way that felt wrong now.I stopped a few steps away from her, my posture straightening automatically, my expression locking into something controlled.“What are you doing here?” I asked, my tone even, but not warm.She smiled faintly, like she expected that. “It’s good to see you too.”I didn’t return it. “How did you find me?”“I tried calling,” she said. “You didn’t pick up.”“So you just showed up?” I replied, my brows pulling slightly.She hesitated, just for a second, and I knew someth







