Love isn't a game

r: Treading

Hazel had convinced herself to push everything that happened on the bridge to the back of h

ag

e of the open office floor. He stood beside Clara, discussing something on a tablet, his ex

determined not to look in his di

ed, his voice cutting thro

ng. She turned, forcing a neutral expr

," he said, already walking awa

walled conference room loomed ahead, and as they entered, Liam closed t

t?" Hazel asked,

e table and slid it toward

was a campaign proposal, detailed and ambitious. Th

eal," she said,

his tone clipped. "And I'

you really trusting me, or a

g against the table.

she said, holding his gaze. "And I t

But you don't strike me as

ng to let him see any hint

e table. "Because failure isn't a

ked out of the room, leaving her alone wit

-

d was grueling, but she refused to let Liam-or anyone else-see her strugg

asn't maki

personal than professional. He asked probing questions in meetings, his tone calm but cutting. An

ted her thoughts one evening a

aning against the doorway, his

up," she said,

iet on the carpet. "You're working ha

ment?" Hazel aske

replied, taking the

air, crossing her arms. "Wh

eadable. "Do you remember what you said to me d

off guard by the shift

Liam said, his voice quiet but steady. "Th

the gut. She looked away, shame hea

gaze piercing. "Because it f

t actions crashing down on her. "I'm sorry,

n he stood, his expression softening

simply, before wal

-

f the damage she'd done. She had always been good at moving on, at convincing herself the

erself meant working twice as hard, so be it. She

ing. Liam no longer lingered during her meetings, but his presence still loomed. Hazel found herself looking for him

, how his approval-or lack of it-s

root. Beneath the tension and unresolved history, there was a sp

d neither of them was pre

r: Treading

Hazel had convinced herself to push everything that happened on the bridge to the back of h

ag

e of the open office floor. He stood beside Clara, discussing something on a tablet, his ex

determined not to look in his di

ed, his voice cutting thro

ng. She turned, forcing a neutral expr

," he said, already walking awa

walled conference room loomed ahead, and as they entered, Liam closed t

t?" Hazel asked,

e table and slid it toward

was a campaign proposal, detailed and ambitious. Th

eal," she said,

his tone clipped. "And I'

you really trusting me, or a

g against the table.

she said, holding his gaze. "And I t

But you don't strike me as

ng to let him see any hint

e table. "Because failure isn't a

ked out of the room, leaving her alone wit

-

d was grueling, but she refused to let Liam-or anyone else-see her strugg

asn't maki

personal than professional. He asked probing questions in meetings, his tone calm but cutting. An

ted her thoughts one evening a

aning against the doorway, his

up," she said,

iet on the carpet. "You're working ha

ment?" Hazel aske

replied, taking the

air, crossing her arms. "Wh

eadable. "Do you remember what you said to me d

off guard by the shift

Liam said, his voice quiet but steady. "Th

the gut. She looked away, shame hea

gaze piercing. "Because it f

t actions crashing down on her. "I'm sorry,

n he stood, his expression softening

simply, before wal

-

f the damage she'd done. She had always been good at moving on, at convincing herself the

erself meant working twice as hard, so be it. She

ing. Liam no longer lingered during her meetings, but his presence still loomed. Hazel found herself looking for him

, how his approval-or lack of it-s

root. Beneath the tension and unresolved history, there was a sp

d neither of them was pre