LOGINA Bargain.TIARA arrived at exactly ten in the morning, and Elena couldn't help the easily smile that slid over over her face. Elena watched her through the glass door before buzzing her in. She looked worse than she had at the mall. Thinner and paler, in a way that even sleep could not fix."Hey..." She began softly, "Please, sit and make yourself comfortable."Tiara sat with her hands were folded in her lap. Her eyes kept moving around the office towards the window, the bookshelf, the photograph of Evan on the desk."I'm not going to hurt you," Elena noted her uneasiness."I know.""Do you?"Tiara looked at her. "You could have destroyed me months ago if you wanted to, but you didn't.""I was busy." Elena shrugged. "Divorce proceedings, custody cases, and work. I've had a lot on my plate.""And how about now when you're the CEO of this big company?" Tiara's voice was quiet. "I know you, Elena. I grew up with you. You don't do anything without a reason."Elena leaned back in her cha
EmptyTHE shop was empty again for the third time this week, and it was just Wednesday. All the hope she thought she had to pay the landlord by the end of the week were dashed. Women walked past the shop day by day... Young women with money, time, and hair that needed to be made, but none of them paused in front of her shop. Even her faithful customers turned up their nose before walking past her shop, as if she'd done.Three days now and not a single customer.She pressed her hand to her stomach. The bump was small still, easy to hide, but she felt it every morning. The nausea. The weight. The thing growing inside her that Marcus had called a problem."Get rid of it," he had said. "We can't afford a baby right now."But he could afford the car, the apartment, the nights out that she wasn't invited to anymore. Her phone sat on the counter. There were no messages, no calls, and even her mother had stopped answering two weeks ago."You slept with your cousin's husband," her mother had s
The OfficeELENA was in her office when they arrived without an appointment on a Thursday afternoon. Her eyebrows pulled together in a frown when she saw their names, and she felt an inexplicable anger filing her chest.Her assistant's message was still lighting up her screen:*There are two people in reception, they say they know you, I told them to wait but they're...*She didn't finish reading the message when the door opened.Clinton Brooks came in first, in the suit he reserved for occasions he wanted to communicate authority. Martha was a step behind him, wearing the expression Elena recognized from holiday dinners, like she had already made up her mind on how this conversation would go even if the other person didn't agree with her.Elena set her pen down and did not stand. She was not going to give them the benefit of making her look small and doubt herself. She had met these two people eleven times in eight years of marriage. She had watched them watch Marcus charm rooms. She
The filesELENA was cooped up in Eamon's house after she was discharged from the hospital because he wanted to monitor her health himself and make sure she wasn't stressing herself out. He even took out the liberty to have Karen visit her in the house just so he could explain why she couldn't start work immediately.Dr. Karen had understood and promised to get her a new assistant who would take care of things while Elena was away, and also give her updates on the current project they were working on."That's okay. You can ask Michelle in the meantime to fill in that position."Dr. Karen's expression changed slightly before she shook her head."Michelle resigned," Karen said tiredly.Elena leaned back into the sofa with a frown etched on her face. "When?""This morning. She walked into HR at eight and handed over her badge. She didn't give any concrete reason, but the letter said she was pursuing other opportunities." "Other opportunities meaning?""I investigated, and it turns out sh
The CollapseHER dream was different this time. It wasn't in the kitchen or the old apartment again. This time she was back in the parking garage where Marcus had his hands on her shoulders, but his face kept shifting... From Marcus, then a man she didn't recognize, then Marcus again. His voice seemed to be coming from everywhere all at once."They'll come for Evan. They'll come for everyone you love.""I will kill Evan. And that bastard boyfriend of yours."Each sentence was more sinister than the other, and even when she tried to run, her legs seemed stuck. She couldn't move even if she tried to."You think he can protect you?"Tears streamed down her eyes as Elena opened her mouth to scream, but nothing came out. She was just there, helpless, while the horror of everything kept repeating itself.*Elena woke up to Evan shaking her arm, trying to wake her up with tears in his eyes."Mom, wake up please." he was crying louder than she was screaming. "Stop screaming mommy, wake up."E
The Wrong NameAFTER speaking extensively to Karen about a certain person that she wanted from Lunaris Tech, Karen reluctantly agreed to let her join the team.Michelle arrived on a Wednesday, that was when she was supposed to resume work, but Elena had chosen that day simply because she had quieter mornings then and fewer eyes on the floor when someone new came through her door. She wanted to observe Michelle closely and ask the questions she was pressed with ever since her stay at Lunaris Tech.She watched the office door as Michelle came in with her laptop bag and her pressed blouse with her usual cold and composed professionalism, or she was probably pretending because she didn't want to look weak. Elena's assistant walked her to the junior workstation, and she gave it ten minutes before she stood up from her office towards Michelle's cubicle."Michelle."Michelle looked startled at first, and when her eyes landed on Elena, she stood up immediately with her back straightened. Sheo
When the Past Finally BreaksELENA looked at him as though he had spoken in another language.“Divorce?” she asked, her eyes widening.“Yes, babe,” Eamon replied calmly, but firmly. “A divorce… and a legal claim on Evan. That would put a final hold on all of this.” He leaned forward slightly, resti
In the Blink of an EmergencyTHE office was quiet, the hum of the air conditioner the only background noise as she typed steadily, compiling reports and updating files on her laptop. The events of the past weekend drifted through her mind in fragments— Marcus’s threats, Eamon’s protection, Evan asl
Gentle EncouragementTHE soft golden light of early evening filtered through the curtains when Evan stirred. He yawned, stretching his small arms above his head before swinging his legs off the bed.“Mom?” he called softly as he padded toward the kitchen.Elena was there, stirring a pot gently on t
When Walls FallTHE Saturday morning sun had barely crested the horizon when Elena’s peace was shattered. She had been enjoying a quiet breakfast with Evan— pancakes, syrup, and the boy’s endless chatter about dinosaurs, when an insistent knock at the front door startled her.“Mom? Who is it?” Evan







