Dear My Beloved

, feeling both exhausted and annoyed

ork, and I need to report to the company." I gave him a

his shirt, bent one knee and kne

ct face of his! No, I needed

ss. I make

lutely sh

a call from Ruby, who launched into a barra

t weren't for her going into that store yesterday to b

.

en staring at my neck fo

as unbelievable. Last night, he'd demanded that I finally acknowledge him as

And he...well, he di

second I walked into the café, Ruby pulled it off.

me if I said it was...

ted in di

sn't buying i

ight, alright. You look all glowy and happy;

one else could hear us. Di

vily. "Mia, I'm

s goin

good friend and help her out, given she's not onl

t to come along to help keep things comfortable? Me! Apparently, they think

h.

cting like they're the royalty of the city, all 'I'm a legacy,' 'I'

out her phone and scrolled through the photos her mom

iou

women in the photos were stunning, refi

art s

ocess this – I think I'm feeling wor

se he was being pressured into blind dates w

e; when I got home, it was already dark. I buried myself i

d and heading to bed. Jerold didn't say anything else,

little nagging thoughts – of how different Jerold

dealing with thi

.

o Roberts Corporation

Jerold entering, surrounded by his team. That version of J

d a large decorative vase. Once he was safely in the elevator, I stood

my first week at Rober

y tied up with a major project, which even h

nce, he cornered me in his car, telling me with a fierce intensity that

m my colleagues. The Jerold they described soun

a little crack in my heart, a

Jerold's, I started feeling like I didn't deser

rved out some time to take me to my favorite

I tried to explain, but I couldn't keep from crying. Finally, Jerold let out

a long, tight hug, then got

a bath, put on a face

t's just life – no matter who y

.

ickly earned me the recognition of my supervisor and an early prom

ce due to my position, but gossip a

rold had been spotted having lunch wit

illed hot coffee on the back of my hand, sti

aturday. She'd recently started seeing someone and hadn't been around muc

.

ed it, I had a momentary flash of nostalgia. "Moments" was a cozy shop with a wall dedicated to customers' wishes – each written on color

n, so why on earth was she

.

th a sweet smile as she took my arm. She looked so radiant, and I couldn't h

taring at me?"

o meet here all of