Chapter 2

As I stared at the familiar face in those two photos, a chill ran straight down my spine.

I zoomed in on the pictures and re-examined them ten times over, my heart pounding against my ribs like a sledgehammer.

"Is Mikael and Anna really dating? What about my offer then? God help me! Is the spot I've slaved over for six months really about to be hijacked by someone with connections?"

While my mind raced in frantic circles, a notification popped up in the company Slack channel.

[Attention all interns: Please complete the return offer evaluation form. Available online or in hard copy.]

I stared at the alert, a sudden idea taking shape in my head.

...

On Monday morning, I arrived at the office right on time.

The cubicle area was quiet. Mikael's desk was empty. His computer was off, and his favorite coffee mug wasn't in its usual spot.

I leaned over to a coworker in the adjacent cubicle and whispered, "Is Mikael out today?"

The coworker leaned in, lowering her voice to a hush. "Bizarre, right? The ultimate workaholic called in sick. He hasn't even replied to any messages."

My heart sank. "Called in sick? Is he alright?"

"No idea. Karen from HR mentioned he had some personal stuff to deal with over the next couple of days." My coworker flashed a mischievous, knowing wink. "Think he's secretly off on a romantic getaway with a new girlfriend?"

I didn't reply, my palms slick with cold sweat.

After I completed the evaluation form and handed it over to HR, Karen Wilson flipped through my file to check my address.

"Oh, Megan, you're living on the Westwood Campus?" she asked. "Mikael's place is nearby at Oakwood Apartments."

I blinked. "Really? That close?"

She pulled a document out of a folder and handed it to me. "Perfect timing. I need his signature on this contract anyway. Mind dropping it off on your way home? Building #3, Apartment #601. Saves me a trip across town."

I took the document, my heart beating fast for some unexplainable reason. "Sure thing."

...

Back at the dorm, I placed the document on my desk and went to the bathroom to splash some cold water on my face.

When I stepped out, Anna was leaning against her bed frame, scrolling on her phone. She cast a casual, sideways glance at me. "Went to the office to fill out your forms?"

I nodded silently, unwilling to engage in any conversation with her.

She stood up and sauntered over, a sneer plastered on her face. "You really won't give up until you hit a wall, will you? I tried giving you sweet advice, but you just wouldn't listen."

Ignoring her, I slipped the document into my bag and lay down on my bed.

The next morning, however, the document was gone.

I was the only one left in the room; Anna had vanished early in the morning. I tore through my backpack and desk in a panic, cold sweat breaking out on my forehead.

Right then, my phone buzzed with a text message from Anna: [Stop searching. I already took the company document over to his place.]

Attached was a photo of a coffee table in the living room, with the contract spread out on top.

Anna: [Mikael agreed to spend my birthday with me today, so I just brought it along for him. I already hard-launched our relationship on Instagram. Why are you still clinging to false hope? Do I have to embarrass you in public before you wake up?]

As I stared at the photo and the texts, my brain short-circuited. "Are she and Mikael really dating? Or is this all a staged performance to trick me?"

I rushed straight to Mikael's apartment complex and knocked on the door with trembling hands. The door swung open to reveal Anna, a sweet, triumphant smile beaming on her face.

"Well, look who tracked us down," she taunted. "Can I help you with something?"

I bit my lip and looked over her shoulder, catching sight of the hem of Mikael's trousers resting on the living room sofa.

Anna's sweet expression instantly flipped into a scowl. "If you don't have any business here, stop standing around like a ghost. You're interrupting our quality time together."

With a loud slam, she shut the door right in my face. Dazed and dejected, I stumbled back to the dorm, only to be greeted by two text messages from Mikael.

[Megan, I'm in a relationship now. I hope you can respect my boundaries.]

[Also, stop coveting things that don't belong to you.]

I stared at the chat screen, frozen in place. After a long silence, I typed out a message, trying to ask him if any of this was real.

I wanted to ask him why, while I had worked so hard, he was giving my job away through the back door. With trembling fingers, I hit send.

Then I found he had blocked me.

That evening, Anna returned to the dorm room. Waving her phone at me, she smirked like a cat that had caught a canary. "Ready to give up yet?"