Judgement

Rose POV

The soft hum of fluorescent lights above did little to distract me from the chaos brewing in my chest.

I tapped away at my keyboard in a half-hearted rhythm, pretending to be engaged in the spreadsheet on my screen. But my mind? My mind was miles away—stuck in the depths of hazel eyes, calloused fingers, and the way my name had rolled off Luther’s lips like a low curse and a silent prayer.

“Miss Daniels,” my manager, Victor, called out, standing by my cubicle with a stack of files. “Could you review these contracts before the end of the day?”

I blinked out of my daze, forcing a polite smile. “Sure, of course. Leave them here.”

He nodded and walked away, but I could feel his eyes linger a second too long.

I hated that being watched, analyzed. Ever since that incident with Vicenzo became semi-public, people had stopped looking at me as just a normal marketing strategist and more like the girl caught between two devils.

If only they knew how much worse it really was.

I sighed and stretched, the stiff office chair doing nothing to ease the ache in my back—or in my heart.

It had been a week. Seven damn days since I last saw Luther Lombardi. Since that night he stared at me like I was his and left without saying goodbye.

God, I missed him.

I wasn’t supposed to. Hell, I shouldn’t. He was dangerous. Cold. Unforgiving. The kind of man who made decisions that turned blood cold and cities burn. But beneath that brutal exterior… he had looked at me like I was his redemption.

And I? I had been willing to drown in him.

“Earth to Rose,” Diana’s voice broke through the haze, as she dropped into the seat beside my desk, sipping her iced coffee like it wasn’t the fifth one of the day.

“You’ve been zoning out like a lovesick idiot.”

I narrowed my eyes at her. “Because I am a lovesick idiot.”

“Well, at least you know,” she said dryly, tapping at her phone.

I rolled my eyes. “I just… I don’t get it. He showed up, ruined everything with Vicenzo, looked at me like he wanted to devour me—and then poof.

Gone. Like I was a phase.”

“Maybe that’s all you were to him,” Diana replied casually, not even glancing up.

My stomach dropped.

“Excuse me?”

“I’m just saying, babe. Mafia men don’t do love. They do power. Control. Lust, maybe. But not love.” She shrugged, typing away on her phone like her words hadn’t just ripped me open.

I swallowed, trying to mask the sting. “That’s rich, coming from someone who encouraged me to go for him.”

“Yeah, because it was hot. But you were the one who caught feelings. And now look at you,” she said, raising an eyebrow. “Pouting at Excel sheets like they’re your diary.”

I pushed my chair back slightly. “You know what? I didn’t come to work today to get judged.”

“I’m not judging. I’m being realistic,” she said, finally looking up. “And if we’re being really honest… maybe it’s time you start thinking about Vicenzo again.” My hands froze on my keyboard.

“What?” I asked in disbelief.

Diana blinked. “I mean, he did love you. And he was trying to make it work before all this…”

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I cut in, voice rising. “He was screwing someone else in our home, Diana. Our home. And now you want me to what? Crawl back to him?”

“I’m just saying maybe Luther’s not the savior you think he is—”

“I never said he was!” I snapped, louder than I meant to. A few heads turned from nearby desks, but I didn’t care.

Diana sat back in her chair, eyebrows raised. “Wow. Touchy.”

“Yeah, I am,” I shot back, standing up. “Because I came to you needing a friend, and instead I get told to go back to the guy who broke me.”

She stood too, folding her arms. “I’m just trying to help you see reality. Not this fantasy you’ve built around a mafia boss who, let’s face it ghosted you.”

Tears stung the back of my eyes. But I wouldn’t cry. Not here. Not in front of her.

“You think I don’t know it’s messed up? That I fell for someone who’s probably more danger than man?” I shook my head. “But at least he didn’t lie to me. He didn’t pretend to be someone else.”

“You barely know him, Rose.”

“Maybe. But I know what it feels like to be seen. And Luther—he saw me.”

For a moment, Diana’s expression faltered. Maybe even softened. But it didn’t last.

“Look, I just don’t want you spiraling. That’s all.”

I took a breath, grounding myself. “Then stop telling me to go back to the person who broke me.”

She nodded, tight-lipped, and picked up her coffee. “Whatever you say.”

The silence between us felt colder than the air conditioner humming above. I sat back down, trying to ignore the knot forming in my throat.

Maybe Diana didn’t understand. Maybe she never would.

But Luther… he wasn’t just some fling I couldn’t shake. He was something different. Something that burned beneath my skin and branded me all at once.

And no matter how much I tried to bury it beneath work and sarcasm, the truth always bubbled up.

I missed him.

You know what?” I said, standing up, my chair screeching behind me. “If you think so little of me and the choices I make, then maybe you shouldn't pretend to be my friend at all.”

She looked stunned for a moment. “Rose—”

“I mean it.” I grabbed my bag. “I need to breathe.”

I stepped out of the office and took a long walk around the block. The cold air slapped against my cheeks, but it was a welcome sting. Better than the burn in my chest.

By the time I returned, she was standing by my desk, arms folded, looking contrite.

“I’m sorry,” she said, her voice soft. “I was harsh. You didn’t deserve that.”

I paused, lips tight.

“I’m just… worried about you,” she added.

“You could have said that without being cruel,” I muttered.

“I know. You’re right.” She exhaled. “Let me make it up to you. Let’s go see your mom together, yeah? You said she’s been feeling unwell. We could get her meds, groceries, whatever.”

I hesitated. Then nodded slowly.

“Okay.”

We stopped by the pharmacy first. Diana was quiet the entire time, helping me choose prescriptions, asking the pharmacist questions I didn’t even think to ask.

Then we headed to a nearby store, grabbed soup cans, fruits, and some flowers, Mom always liked fresh lilies.

At the register, I pulled out my card.

“I’ve got it,” Diana said quickly, tapping hers before I could argue.

“You don’t have to—”

“I want to,” she said firmly, not looking at me.

My irritation began to melt away.

Mom was lying on the couch when we got in, a blanket pulled up to her chin.

“Mama,” I said softly as I knelt by her side. “How’re you feeling?”

She gave me a weak smile. “Better, now that my baby’s here.”

Diana set the bags on the counter and started putting things away without a word.

That’s when Martha walked in.

“Rose,” she said, pulling me aside. “Got a minute?”

“Sure,” I followed her into the hallway.

She folded her arms. “I don’t trust her.”

I blinked. “Who? Diana?”

Martha nodded.

“What? Why?”

“I just… I don’t know, okay? Gut feeling.”

I frowned. “Martha, that’s unfair. She apologized. She brought groceries. She’s trying.”

“I’m not judging her by what she’s doing now. I’m judging by what I feel. And trust me, my gut has never lied.”

I sighed. “Come on, you can’t expect me to write off my best friend because of a ‘gut feeling’.”

“Do you remember Jared?”

My brows furrowed. “What does he have to do with this?”

“You said he was sweet. That he loved you. I told you I didn’t feel right about him. You brushed it off. And then he cheated on you with your lab partner and drained your bank account.”

My shoulders dropped. She wasn’t wrong.

“But this is different,” I said, weaker now.

“Maybe. Maybe not,” she said, squeezing my arm. “Just be careful, Rosie. That’s all I’m saying.”

I nodded, but my chest was tight.

Back in the living room, Diana was laughing with my mom. She looked… genuine. Maybe too genuine.

My eyes flicked to her and I couldn’t help but wonder… could Martha be right?