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TWENTY-SEVEN

Author: Cosmix
last update Last Updated: 2025-01-28 23:42:33

Carlisle

I barely got any sleep last night.

Sighing, I blinked away the drowsiness so I could focus on my work. Suddenly, a soft knock on my office door made me glance up from my laptop.

“Come in.”

The sight of her standing there, her face pale and her hands wringing nervously, caught me off guard.

“Carlisle,” Reigna began, her voice unsteady. She didn’t call me “sir” this time—she used to be stubborn on addressing me informally during work hours. That alone made me pause. “I need to talk to you.”

“I’m listening,” I said, closing the file I was working on and leaning back in my chair.

She stepped inside, shutting the door quietly behind her. Her eyes darted around the room before settling on me. “I... I have a favor to ask.”

I raised an eyebrow. “A favor?”

She nodded, her fingers gripping the strap of her bag. “My family is hosting a reunion party this weekend, and as clichĂ© as it sounds, I know they’re expecting me to bring my... boyfriend.”

The word hung in the air, sharp and heavy
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