เข้าสู่ระบบQueen woke up because her phone slipped out of her hand and hit her in the face.She groaned. “Seriously? She fumbled around for it, still half asleep, then remembered she had fallen asleep with it beside her.The screen lit up. One message.George: Hey you!!! You awake?Queen stared at it. She checked the time. 7:17 a.m. She hadn't even brushed her teeth. And somehow, that was the first thing she was thinking about. Man? like Adam? Not work. Not James. Not the Mercer account. George??. Nah. She dropped the phone on the bed and covered her face with both hands. “No.”She was not doing this. Not this early. She reached for the phone again anyway.Queen: Unfortunately.She almost deleted it. Too late. He had seen it. The reply came.George: Unfortunately?Queen smiled.Queen: I was sleeping. George: I gathered that.Queen: Then why did you ask if I was awake?There was a short pause.George: I wanted to know if I could bother you.She laughed under her breath.Queen: You already are.
Queen closed her bedroom door behind her and leaned against it. For a few seconds, she just stood there.The apartment had gone quiet. Ava was finally in her room, which meant Queen could breathe without another ridiculous question coming her way.She walked over to her bed and sat down. Her mind immediately went back to the car. That moment. The way George had looked at her.The way she had suddenly remembered that she had work in the morning and practically escaped.She groaned and fell backward onto the mattress. “Why did I do that?” She knew why. At least, she thought she did.She wasn't ready. Not yet. Her phone was lying beside her. Queen picked it up, unlocked it, and opened her messages.George's name was right there. She stared at it. Her thumb hovered over the screen.She could leave it alone. She should leave it alone. Instead, she typed. Are you home yet?She read it twice before sending it. The second it went through, regret hit. “Oh, God. Hope I am not forcing things. S
Queen had barely stepped through the apartment door when Ava came flying out of the living room.GIRLLLLL……..WHAT WAS THAT?”Queen stopped. “What?” Ava pointed dramatically toward the window. “Don't ‘what’ me!”Queen slowly looked at her. Ava stood there barefoot in an oversized T-shirt, her hair in a messy bun, like she'd been waiting for this exact moment.“I saw everything.” Queen sighed. “Oh, God.” “Yes! Oh, God!” “Ava—”“No. Ava held up one hand. “You're not escaping this.” Queen dropped her handbag onto the couch.“There is nothing to escape.” “Nothing?” “Nothing.” Ava stared at her. Then at the window.Then back at Queen. “That man is charming, OH MY PRECIOUS LORDDDDD.”Queen tried not to smile. “He's annoying.” “Cute. “Annoying.” “Cute and annoying.”“Ava. “Rich. Queen closed her eyes. “Please.” “Very rich.” “He's my client.”Ava gasped. “Don't insult me, client who took you to dinner”Queen turned toward the kitchen. “I need water.” Better drink enough because you need to ans
By the time they stepped outside, the restaurant had become noticeably quieter. The valet brought George's car around.Queen stood beside him, slipping her coat over her shoulders. “I can't believe it's this late.”George glanced at his watch. “Neither can I.” “You know what that means?” “That we talked too much?”She smiled. “Exactly.” “I don't think that's possible.” Queen looked at him. “You say that now.”“I mean it.” He opened the passenger door for her. She paused before getting in. “You really don't get tired, do you?”“Of you?” Queen's eyes widened slightly. George's mouth curved. “I meant talking.” “You knew exactly what you were doing.”“Yes. She shook her head and climbed into the car. George got in beside her rather than taking the front.The door closed. The car pulled away from the curb. For a few minutes, neither of them spoke.The city moved past the windows in streaks of light. Queen rested her head against the seat.“I had a good time.” George glanced at her. “So did
George raised an eyebrow. “What?”“My Mom? “Yes. Queen stared at him as though he'd just suggested something completely unreasonable.“Why?” “Because you just spent the last hour telling me about her. That doesn't mean you have to meet her.”“Why not?” “Because… She paused. Then lowered her voice. George, you're my client.”He smiled. “Am I? Yes. Is that what I am? For now. For now? Queen immediately realized what she'd said.She looked down at her plate. “That came out wrong.” “I don't think it did.” She gave him a warning look.“Don't make this difficult. “I haven't done anything. “You're smiling again. Because you're cute when you're trying to argue with me.” Queen shook her head. This is exactly why. “Why what?”“Why I can't take you to meet my mother. George looked genuinely curious.“Why? “Because she will ask questions. Questions? Too many. He laughed softly. Such as?Queen started counting on her fingers. Who are you? How do you know me? How long have you known me? What exactl
George waited. He didn't push. That was what made her eventually continue.“I've worked at T&B for years.” “I started at the bottom. I wasn't given much.”She gave a small laugh. “I didn't complain. I figured everyone had to start somewhere. George nodded.“But after a while, I started noticing something. What? When I did good work, someone else presented it.”His expression changed. “Someone else?” Queen nodded.“I'd spend days working on a campaign, preparing the strategy, fixing everything that wasn't working. Then someone else would walk into the meeting and present it.” “And receive the credit. According to my boss, my body does not represent the office. It will scare our clients away.I was body-shamed and left behind the desk to do the heavy work while Melissa or any other slimmer person presented my hard work.”George's jaw tightened. Queen noticed. “Don't.” “Don't what? Make that face. What face? The one you're making right now.”George looked genuinely confused. What face a







