d into black glass. She placed the phone face down on the
nters, heading toward the employee breakroom at the far end of the
hts buzzed softly overhead. She opened the overhead cab
the large commercial espresso machine.
arsh, mechanical screech. The noise completely masked t
g her steaming mug of dark
erfectly still
suit looked entirely out of place against the cheap
the heavy door closed until the metal lock
thy scent of his expensive vetiver cologne cut through th
r until her hips hit the edge of the laminate counter. She grippe
n at her. His dark eyes held zero warmth, zero familiar
in a low, da
e said, the words vibrating in his chest. "
r teeth ached. She stood her g
you, or your new girlfriend," she
aned in closer, his f
, "I will destroy your career. I will ruin your family. Don't think for a second I don't know exactly how much debt your pat
ed to kiss her forehead was now threatening her livelihood. She forced h
t. He adjusted his pristine cuffs, took a step back,
the adrenaline left Chloe's body
numb. She dropped
ens of jagged pieces. Hot, black coffee splashed
ater. Ethan rushed in. He had h
own paper towels from the wall dispenser. He dropped to hi
shocked face. He stood up, gently gripping her e
d the bullpen and pushed open the heavy fir
ng them into the quiet, hollow echo
issue from his pocket. His voic
you?" he asked, his e
tissue tightly. She refused to expla
" she whispered, h
king frustrated. He leaned against the concrete wall and revea
quietly. "He is the newly appointed lead di
er chest felt like it was bound in iron bands. Julian
her shoulder. He didn't pull her into a
back, Chloe. I pr
e wall. She clutched the crumpled tissue in her fist. She realized
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