All Chapters of The Morning After : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

The bedroom door slammed hard enough that the sound still seemed to hang in the air even after it stopped. Audrey stood in the middle of the room, breathing too fast. Her palm was still stinging. She looked down at it. The red mark she had left on his face flashed behind her eyes every time she blinked. She paced once. Twice. Then she stopped and pressed both hands over her face. “Fuck.” The word came out muffled. She dropped her hands and stared at the bed. For a second she considered grabbing her bag and just leaving. The thought was tempting. She even took a step toward the closet before she stopped herself. Running would only prove every ugly thing he had just said about her. She sat down hard on the edge of the bed instead. Her hands were still shaking. Downstairs, the house was quiet. Claire hadn’t moved from the doorway. She was still holding the tablet against her chest. Vasileios stood exactly where Audrey had left him, the red mark already darkening on his che

The apartment was small, but it was clean.A little girl sat on the carpet with her crayons spread out around her, tongue slightly poking out as she colored carefully inside the lines. In the kitchen, her mother moved slowly, still careful with her body after being discharged from the hospital. She filled a cup with water, then leaned against the counter for a second before walking back into the living room.“Have you finished your homework?” she asked.The girl nodded without looking up. “Almost.”Her mother sat down on the couch and watched her for a moment. The television was off. The only sound was the soft scratch of crayon against paper.“Do you want snacks?”“Yes, please.”She got up again, took a small packet from the cupboard, and placed it beside her daughter. The girl smiled up at her before going back to coloring.Her mother sat back down, one hand resting lightly against her side. She looked tired, but she still smiled when her daughter held up the page to show her.“It’s

By late morning, Audrey had managed to accomplish almost nothing. Her laptop was open on the dining table, the same document sitting on the screen for nearly twenty minutes. She had read the paragraph twice and still couldn't remember what it said. She finally closed the laptop. Her phone rang. Claire. Audrey answered. “Hi, Claire.” “Hi. Sorry to bother you.” “You're not bothering me.” “I sent the updated documents for your business yesterday. There's one page Vasileios still needs to sign before I can send everything through.” Audrey looked toward the folder sitting beside her laptop. “I have it.” “Good. If you can get it to him today, that would help.” Audrey glanced at the time. “Is he at the office?” “Yes.” She hesitated for a moment. “I can bring it.” “You don't have to.” “I know.” Claire laughed softly. “Alright. I'll let reception know you're coming.” The call ended. Audrey picked up the folder and headed upstairs to change. She didn't put muc

The house was quiet when Audrey got back from the office. She walked upstairs and went up to change into something more comfortable—shorts and an oversized shirt. By the time she came back down, the sky outside had already started to dim.Vasileios was around now.He sat on the couch with his laptop open, glasses on for once. He only wore them when he was properly working. Audrey paused at the bottom of the stairs for a second before continuing into the kitchen.She poured herself a glass of water. From where she stood, she could still see him in the living room, focused on the screen.“You’re home early,” she said without looking up.“You sound surprised.”“I am, a little.”She walked into the living room and sat on the other end of the couch, tucking one leg under herself. He glanced at her once, then back at his laptop.Neither of them spoke. The only sounds were the quiet tapping of his keyboard.Audrey leaned her head against the back of the couch. “Your office was bigger than I

Audrey sat on the living room couch on her phone, half working. Vasileios had been in and out of his office all day, on calls, sorting things, speaking to Claire and other people.He walked into the living room, looking composed as always. He glanced at her once before going to the small cabinet and pouring himself a drink.“You’re staring,” he said without looking at her.Audrey returned her eyes to the phone. “I wasn’t.”“You were.”“Okay, and?”He smirked faintly and took a sip. “Hard not to when you make it that obvious.”She kept the phone on the couch. “You’re in a good mood for someone leaving.”“It’s a business trip, Audrey. Not exile.”“Could’ve fooled me with how seriously everyone’s been treating it.”Vasileios walked over and sat on the arm of the chair across from her, glass hanging loosely from his fingers. “Claire overreacts. You should know that by now.”“Whatever.”His mouth curved. “Miss me already?”Audrey let out a short breath. “You wish.”The arrogance in his ton