CHAPTER FIVE

Once I was home, I just collapsed on the couch.

I tried not to think of Mr. Lincoln, and failed miserably.

He was going to be alright.

He had to be.

But his stepmother's face kept flashing in my mind.

The way her lips curled when she said the name, Sasha Moretto.

I rolled my eyes as the moment replayed.

It didn't stop there.

I Googled her.

She has a wealthy, influential background. Everything I would never be.

The kind of girl his family wanted. Of course, they wanted her.

I dropped my phone on the table and curled into myself just as Ariel walked in.

Her eyes softened the moment she saw me. “Are you alright?” She asked, settling beside me. “We got words. He was having an allergic reaction to something he ate.”

I sat up quickly. “Really?”

She nodded. “Yeah. He's going to be alright but I was so scared.”

I leaned my head against her shoulder and let out a quiet breath. “Yeah. Me too.”

“I swear.” She said, tugging lightly at my hair before giggling. “I told God if nothing happens to him, I would finally confess something that I have been hiding for a while now”

I squinted at her.

She laughed harder, and for a moment, I forgot everything else. I just stared at her.

She looked light. Effortlessly beautiful. Cheerful.

George Corporation drained every ounce of that out of me.

“I swear I didn't even know where we were going, so I kept quiet.” She added, giving me a pleading look.

I quickly caught up with where this was headed.

I pulled back so she could talk properly. “What's his name?”

She beamed. “Roman Kane. We met at a club. I’ve gone out with him a couple of times.”

I gasped dramatically, excitement bubbling up despite everything. She deserved this. Something good.

“He’s kind,” She added, practically glowing. “and really good looking.”

Her eyes sparkled like she had swallowed stardust.

“You have fallen for him,” I nudged her.

She scoffed lightly. “We'll see. It's still a journey, but maybe it leads somewhere good.”

“I'm happy for you, Ariel. You deserve the world.” I said honestly.

She nodded, though she didn’t quite believe me. So I pulled her into a hug.

She sniffled, then suddenly pushed me back, grabbing my hands.

“I know we don’t really talk about… deep stuff,” she said carefully. “And I’ve never had a problem with that. But today made me realize something.”

I tried to pull away, but she held on.

“You care about Mr. Lincoln. A lot.”

“He’s my boss,” I said quickly. “Without him, I don’t have a job. I’d get fired.”

“I know,” she said softly. “But what I saw today wasn’t just concern. It was more. Something deeper than employer and employee.”

I rolled my eyes. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I do.” She insisted. “I think you’ve been burying whatever you feel for him. And if you keep doing that, you’re going to hurt yourself.”

I shook my head, “I was just being human. I don't have feelings for him.”

Ariel scoffed.

“You’ve worked for three years. Paid off your family debt. Saved money to start something for yourself. And yet you’re still there.”

“I’m not stuck,” I snapped, pulling my hands away and placing them on my knees.

“He drains you,” she continued, unfazed. “You barely have time for yourself. It’s work, sleep, repeat. He’s turned down your leave twice.”

“Because he can't function without a personal assistant.”

“That wasn't stated in the contract, was it?”

I opened my mouth to say something, anything at all, but nothing came out.

“I’m not attacking your job,” she said more gently. “But you’re twenty-three. You’ve never had a boyfriend. Never gone to a club. Never taken a vacation.”

Her words landed heavier than anything else tonight.

“There’s more to life than just working.”

That lingered.

Because I had never really thought about it.

My life revolved around Mr. Lincoln. Everything I did was to make life easier for him.

Ariel squeezed my shoulder. “You’re losing your spark. And you don’t even see it.”

“I-”

“I might have done something,” she said quickly, her voice shrinking a little. “Something that might make you really upset.”

I gave her a warning look.

She pressed her lips together. “I may have set you up on a date tomorrow. With Roman’s friend.”

I froze.

“Not funny,” I said flatly.

“I’m serious.”

“I’m not interested.”

“I figured,” she shrugged. “So I gave him our address. He’s picking us up tomorrow. And if you refuse…” she smiled sweetly, “we’ll have the date right here in the living room.”

“With a stranger?” I stood up. “That's not happening.”

She shrugged. “I'm trying to help you get over your boss.”

“I’m trying to help you get over your boss.”

“I am not in love with my boss.”

“Then prove it. Go on the date. If you don’t like him, I’ll drop it.”

My thoughts drifted suddenly, to Mr. Mark.

I had stood him up earlier.

“It’s late,” I said, slipping into my slippers. “Let’s just go to bed.”

Ariel grabbed my hands again.

“I might have shown him your picture…”

I frowned.

“And he said he knows you.”

My chest tightened.

“And,” she added slowly, eyes watching mine carefully, “he claims he’s in love with you.”

~ ~ ~

Sunday morning came, and I stayed in bed until ten.

After that, I threw myself into cleaning the entire apartment. Anything to keep my mind from circling back to what Ariel said last night. Whether she was telling the truth or not.

She had left early for work, but she usually returned by noon.

By the time I had finished cleaning, my stomach was growling in protest.

I headed into the kitchen to make something for both of us.

Cooking always calms me. The smell, the rhythm, the way everything comes together piece by piece. It steadies me.

I took out the beef, sliced the vegetables, and let the oil heat until it sizzled.

For a while, it worked.

It pulled me away from everything.

By the time half an hour passed, the kitchen was filled with the rich, comforting aroma of food.

I almost kept going, almost made more.

But it was just Ariel and me.

And that depended on whether she’d even eat at home today.

I cleaned up, slipped off my apron, and went to my room to take a shower.

The warm water loosened something tight inside me.

For a few minutes, I could just exist.

No thoughts. No questions.

Just silence.

I stepped out, drying my hair as I walked back into my room.

“Hey.”

I jumped, startled, nearly dropping the towel as I blew damp strands out of my face.

It was just Ariel.

“You’re back,” I said, my voice still a little uneven.

She nodded, pushing herself off the bed.

“Just got in. And guess who dropped me off.”

I gave her a skeptical look as I turned into my closet. “Who?”

“Your crush.”

My hand froze mid-motion.

“He’s outside.”

Everything in me went still.

“You’re kidding.” I turned slowly, narrowing my eyes at her.

She laughed, bright and careless, like this was all a game. “I’m not.”

My heart started to pound.

“He’s here,” she added, grinning wider, “to convince you to go out with him.”