Chapter 3

SAFFRON

“What?”

“You heard me, Saffron. You’re fired.”

Mr. Rehnan’s tone was sharp, too sharp. “Dress up and get out. I want you off this premises immediately.”

I froze, my mind blank. “I… I don’t understand,” I stammered, my throat tightening. “Why would you—”

He turned, his dark eyes like cold steel. “Do I need a reason to fire an employee I don’t need anymore? It’s my company. My decision. Now don’t make me repeat myself, baby girl, dress up and get out.”

Baby girl. The same name he whispered to me a few minutes ago.

The tears threaten to fall, but I refuse to let them win. I should be furious. God, I should scream, curse, throw something. But instead, I just feel hollow.

I’m the fool. The fool who mistook desire for something deeper. The fool who thought the way he just fucked me meant something had changed.

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I gather myself and rearrange my skirt and hair in silence. His gaze burns into my back, but I don’t look up. If I do, I’ll break.

I dress quickly, every movement mechanical. The silence between us stretches like a blade. Finally, I rush out of his office. Out of the place where I’ve just lost everything.

Down the hallway, I slam my office door shut and collapse into my chair. The tears come hot and wild now.

I worked so hard for this. I clawed my way into SINS SOLUTIONS, the biggest and highest paying tech firm in New York and now all my hard work is gone.

All because I couldn’t resist him.

My trembling hands pack up my few things. The little plant, my coffee mug, the framed picture of my family. I clutch the box like it’s the last piece of me left intact.

Dejected, I walk out of the building into the chill November air. The city doesn’t stop for heartbreak. People rush past, phones in hand, lives moving on, while mine feels like it’s ending.

I stop at Nana Abuelita’s Coffee & Snacks, drawn by the warm smell of pastries and comfort.

“Mija,” Nana calls the moment she sees me, her eyes narrowing with concern. “Why do you look so downcast? Don’t tell me it’s boy trouble.”

At her words, my tears spill again, uninvited.

“Oh, princess,” she sighs, bustling around the counter. “Don’t let those fools break your spirit. He’s the fool for not seeing how precious you are.”

“Nana…” I sniff. “It’s not just about the man. It’s my job. I don’t even know what to do anymore. That job was everything. I doubt I’ll ever find something like it again.”

“Now don’t say that nonsense, mija,” she scolds, setting down a warm plate of croissants. “Eat. Breathe. And remember that when one door closes, another opens. You never know what good might come next.”

She pats my cheek with her flour-dusted hand and saunters away, her skirt swishing like she’s dancing through life.

Her warmth helps me a little. By the time I leave, belly full and heart slightly steadier, she refuses my money.

“On the house,” she says. “For my brokenhearted girl. Tomorrow will be brighter.”

If only she knew how impossible that sounded.

I get home, drop my things, and collapse on the bed and sleep takes me through tears.

Then suddenly BANG! BANG! BANG! goes my door.

I jolt awake. Someone’s pounding on my door like the world’s ending.

“Who is it?” I yell, voice raw.

The knocking doesn’t stop. Annoyed, I storm to the door and yank it open

and freeze.

Mr. Rehnan.

“Wh… what are you doing here?” I gasp. “How did you even…how do you know where I live?” My voice trembles with anger and humiliation. “If this is about your stupid company, I didn’t steal anything, so please leave.”

He smirks slightly, that infuriating smirk that used to melt me. “Is my feisty little demon angry with me?”

My chest tightens, traitorous. That voice.

“Don’t call me that,” I snap. “I don’t understand you, Mr. Rehnan, but please if you have no reason to be here, leave. I’m busy.”

For a second, shock flickers across his perfect face maybe because I’m not begging, not broken.

“I do have a reason,” he says, lowering his voice. “And we can only talk about it if you let me in. Don’t you want to know why you were fired?”

I hesitate. Curiosity claws at me. “Fine,” I mutter. “Come in.”

As I turn, I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror. *Oh, God.* Puffy eyes. Red nose. Mascara smudged into a raccoon mask. I look like heartbreak personified.

Still, I straighten my spine and sit on the couch, chin lifted. He’s seen me stripped bare already. What’s left to lose?

He takes a deep breath. “Saffron Jalil… I’m here because I’d like to employ you for other reasons. That’s why I had to fire you.”

“What?”. “Other reasons?”

He hands me a sleek folder. “Read it.”

I unfold the document. My eyes widen. “Wait… you want me to spend the holidays with you as an escort? Are you out of your mind?”

“You won’t be my escort, princess,” he says quickly, drawing closer. “We’d both just… enjoy ourselves for twenty one days. You’ll be paid a million dollars, plus a guaranteed job recommendation after.”

“Please get out,” I whisper, shaking. Then louder, “GET OUT! Do I look like a pimp to you? You think because you’re rich you can just buy me? You think throwing a million dollars at me would suddenly make me jump at your offer?

“Oh my God, princess,” he blurts, his voice cracking with desperation. “That’s not what I meant! I didn’t think it through. I was angry at myself for wanting you. I panicked.”

“So your solution was to fire me?” I yell, tears welling again. “Do you even hear yourself? You think I would choose this over my job?”

He runs a hand through his hair, eyes wild. “I know! I know I screwed up, Saffron. I wanted you, and it terrified me. I thought firing you would make it easier. It was selfish of me. I’m so damn sorry.”

I stare at him, disbelief flooding me. “You’re unbelievable. That job was everything I had, and you played with it like it was nothing, you played with my life!.”

His shoulders slump. “You’re right. And I’ll fix it. You’ll get a call about your new job tomorrow. I’ll make sure you’re taken care of, whether you ever forgive me or not.”

He turns to leave. For a moment, I almost call out. I almost tell him to stay. But I bite my lip until I taste blood.

The door closes softly behind him.

And I crumble all over again.

I’ve lost my job.

I’ve lost my boss.