Torres stumbled back to the table, waving a hand dramatically. “Okay, okay. I murdered that song. Who’s next? Hannah? Clara? Tracy?”“Nope,” Clara said immediately, holding up her hands. “You’re on your own, Torres.”Hannah laughed. “I’ll go if Tracy goes with me. Duet?”I coughed into my drink. “Oh no. You’re not dragging me into your karaoke crimes.”“Oh come on!” Hannah whined playfully. “You can’t just sit there looking all mysterious and cute. We’re supposed to be bonding!”Everyone turned to look at me, faces full of encouragement. Even Nick gave me a side-eye smirk like he was daring me.I groaned. “Fine! But only one song.”The table erupted in cheers, and Hannah bounced up, grabbing my hand. “Let’s go before you change your mind!”Nick squeezed my knee under the table one more time, a silent good luck, and I followed Hannah reluctantly to the machine.“What are we even singing?” I hissed.Hannah grinned wickedly. “You’ll see.”I should’ve known better.A few seconds later, th
The city lights blurred past as Nick’s car wound through downtown, the hum of the engine a soft counterpoint to the quiet between us. I leaned against the window, my cheek cool against the glass, the buzz of the bar’s laughter and karaoke still echoing in my ears.The Reid Corps win felt like a triumph, but the weight of Jordan’s defensiveness and Marcus Reed’s ghost login clung to me, a puzzle I couldn’t solve tonight. Nick’s hand rested on my thigh, warm and steady, and I glanced at him, his profile sharp in the streetlights, his jaw relaxed but his eyes focused on the road.“You’re thinking too loud,” he said, his voice teasing but soft, breaking the silence. He squeezed my thigh gently, glancing my way. “Want to tell me what’s going on in that head of yours, Tee?”I smiled, shifting to face him, my hand covering his. “Just everything. The deal, Jordan, Marcus. I keep trying to connect the dots, but it’s like I’m missing half the picture. And then there’s Mom and Dad. I need to cal
The elevator doors slid open, and I stepped onto the marketing floor of Haven Enterprises, the familiar hum of printers and chatter greeting me. My heels clicked against the polished floor, and I adjusted the strap of my bag.David was at the coffee machine, wrestling with a jammed filter, his usual grin replaced by a scowl. “Morning, Tee,” he called, spotting me. “This thing’s out to ruin my day.”I laughed, setting my bag down at my desk. “Not unless it involves unplugging and praying. Rough start?”“You have no idea,” he said, finally yanking the filter free, coffee grounds scattering. “Torres kept me up late with his theories about that mock-up glitch. The guy is like a dog with a bone. Have you heard anything new?”I leaned against my cubicle, keeping my voice low. “Not yet. He’s supposed to update me and Nick today. Something about Marcus Reed’s login. You think it’s an inside job?”David wiped his hands on a napkin, his eyes narrowing. “Marcus was weird, always by himself, neve
At noon, I saw Jordan’s familiar frame walking out of the break room, a lunch container in hand, heading toward the small garden terrace on the third floor. I grabbed my salad from the fridge and followed at a distance, giving him a few minutes before joining him.The terrace was quiet, the spring air crisp, with just enough sunlight breaking through the overcast sky to warm the concrete benches. Jordan was seated near the far end, scrolling through his phone and picking at a sandwich.“Hey,” I said, keeping my tone light as I sat across from him. “Mind if I join?”He looked up, a flash of surprise in his eyes before he nodded. “Sure. It’s your building, too.”I tried not to flinch at the sharpness in his tone. “Just wanted a bit of air. And maybe some company.”He shrugged but didn’t say no. I let the silence hang for a few beats as I stabbed my fork into the lettuce, trying to make it look casual.“Listen, about yesterday,” I said, watching his face carefully, “I didn’t mean to come
I walked into the hotel lobby. Everything looked expensive from the velvet armchairs and uniformed staff who moved like they were in a choreographed dance.This was a place I wouldn’t normally splurge on, but tonight wasn’t supposed to be just any night.Tonight was my date with my fiance, Elias. We hadn’t been perfect, far from it, but I thought we’d built something real, something worth celebrating.I had even booked one of the fancy rooms to please him, using the money I didn’t have just to make this night special for the both of us.I waited for Elias by the bar and began scrolling through my phone absently, trying to distract myself from the butterflies that twisted my stomach. That’s when my phone buzzed.Sylvia’s name flashed on the screen.Sylvia was my best friend and my only real friend.“Hey, Sylvia,” I said, putting the phone to my ear. “What’s good?”Her voice was breathless like she’d been exercising. “Tee… are you at the hotel already?”“Yeah, I’m at the bar. Why?”Ther
I walked into the break room at Haven Enterprises, my sanity was messed up with the thoughts of Elias and Sylvia. The hurt from last night still clung to me, making it hard to think straight.My best friend, Sylvia, who I’d trusted for years, had betrayed me. Elias, my fiancé, had cheated on me with her. I was heartbroken, and no matter how hard I tried, the thought of them together wouldn’t leave my mind.“Hey, Trace, you okay?” Brenda asked as I sat down across from her. Brenda was my colleague and a good friend, someone who always knew when I was upset.I looked at her, trying to smile but failing. “Not really,” I sighed. “I… I caught Elias cheating on me with Sylvia last night. They were… having sex. I don’t know what to do now.”Brenda’s eyes widened, her hand immediately going to mine. “Oh no, that’s awful. I’m so sorry.” Her grip tightened on mine, and she seemed genuinely hurt for me. “You don’t deserve that at all. He’s an idiot, and Sylvia, I can’t believe she’d do that to y
I couldn’t move nor speak. The way he looked at me made my stomach wrench in a certain way I didn't understand.“Uh… I… I’m sorry,” I stammered, feeling the heat rise to my face. My hands gripped the files I was holding tighter, but they felt so slippery like they might fall any second.He pushed back his chair slowly, standing up. He was taller than I remembered and his suit fitted him perfectly like it was tailored ready made just for him.“And who are you?” he asked, his deep voice sounding smooth and sexy. His eyes were on mine, harsh but somehow soft at the same time.“I… I work here,” I said, almost in a whisper. My voice barely sounded like my own.He raised an eyebrow, stepping around the desk, and coming closer. “I can see that. But what do you do? What’s your position in the company?”“I’m a… I work in the marketing department,” I replied, wishing my voice didn’t shake so much. “Mr. Lawrence asked me to bring these files to you.”He stopped just a few steps away from me, til
The day had been long and exhausting, but we were finally closed and I was heading back home. My heels clicked against the pavement as I clutched my bag tightly, ready to collapse on my bed and forget about everything that had happened for a while.The streets were quieter than usual.Out of nowhere, a car came speeding through a puddle on the road. Before I could react, dirty water splashed all over me. The cold, filthy water soaked my clothes and dripped down my face. I froze, my mouth hanging open in shock.“What the—” I started, spinning around to see who the culprit was.My heart dropped when I saw who it was. Elias. My ex-fiancé. And right there in the passenger seat, laughing like it was the funniest thing in the world, was Sylvia. My so-called best friend.They had done this on purpose.The car screeched to a halt, and Elias stepped out first, his smug smile making my stomach churn. Sylvia followed, flipping her hair and smirking at me like she owned the world.“Well, look who
At noon, I saw Jordan’s familiar frame walking out of the break room, a lunch container in hand, heading toward the small garden terrace on the third floor. I grabbed my salad from the fridge and followed at a distance, giving him a few minutes before joining him.The terrace was quiet, the spring air crisp, with just enough sunlight breaking through the overcast sky to warm the concrete benches. Jordan was seated near the far end, scrolling through his phone and picking at a sandwich.“Hey,” I said, keeping my tone light as I sat across from him. “Mind if I join?”He looked up, a flash of surprise in his eyes before he nodded. “Sure. It’s your building, too.”I tried not to flinch at the sharpness in his tone. “Just wanted a bit of air. And maybe some company.”He shrugged but didn’t say no. I let the silence hang for a few beats as I stabbed my fork into the lettuce, trying to make it look casual.“Listen, about yesterday,” I said, watching his face carefully, “I didn’t mean to come
The elevator doors slid open, and I stepped onto the marketing floor of Haven Enterprises, the familiar hum of printers and chatter greeting me. My heels clicked against the polished floor, and I adjusted the strap of my bag.David was at the coffee machine, wrestling with a jammed filter, his usual grin replaced by a scowl. “Morning, Tee,” he called, spotting me. “This thing’s out to ruin my day.”I laughed, setting my bag down at my desk. “Not unless it involves unplugging and praying. Rough start?”“You have no idea,” he said, finally yanking the filter free, coffee grounds scattering. “Torres kept me up late with his theories about that mock-up glitch. The guy is like a dog with a bone. Have you heard anything new?”I leaned against my cubicle, keeping my voice low. “Not yet. He’s supposed to update me and Nick today. Something about Marcus Reed’s login. You think it’s an inside job?”David wiped his hands on a napkin, his eyes narrowing. “Marcus was weird, always by himself, neve
The city lights blurred past as Nick’s car wound through downtown, the hum of the engine a soft counterpoint to the quiet between us. I leaned against the window, my cheek cool against the glass, the buzz of the bar’s laughter and karaoke still echoing in my ears.The Reid Corps win felt like a triumph, but the weight of Jordan’s defensiveness and Marcus Reed’s ghost login clung to me, a puzzle I couldn’t solve tonight. Nick’s hand rested on my thigh, warm and steady, and I glanced at him, his profile sharp in the streetlights, his jaw relaxed but his eyes focused on the road.“You’re thinking too loud,” he said, his voice teasing but soft, breaking the silence. He squeezed my thigh gently, glancing my way. “Want to tell me what’s going on in that head of yours, Tee?”I smiled, shifting to face him, my hand covering his. “Just everything. The deal, Jordan, Marcus. I keep trying to connect the dots, but it’s like I’m missing half the picture. And then there’s Mom and Dad. I need to cal
Torres stumbled back to the table, waving a hand dramatically. “Okay, okay. I murdered that song. Who’s next? Hannah? Clara? Tracy?”“Nope,” Clara said immediately, holding up her hands. “You’re on your own, Torres.”Hannah laughed. “I’ll go if Tracy goes with me. Duet?”I coughed into my drink. “Oh no. You’re not dragging me into your karaoke crimes.”“Oh come on!” Hannah whined playfully. “You can’t just sit there looking all mysterious and cute. We’re supposed to be bonding!”Everyone turned to look at me, faces full of encouragement. Even Nick gave me a side-eye smirk like he was daring me.I groaned. “Fine! But only one song.”The table erupted in cheers, and Hannah bounced up, grabbing my hand. “Let’s go before you change your mind!”Nick squeezed my knee under the table one more time, a silent good luck, and I followed Hannah reluctantly to the machine.“What are we even singing?” I hissed.Hannah grinned wickedly. “You’ll see.”I should’ve known better.A few seconds later, th
The afternoon sun streamed through the office windows, painting the marketing floor in warm hues as I sat at my desk, my laptop open but untouched. The high of sealing the Reid Corps deal still buzzed in my veins, but Jordan’s words and his quick denial about Marcus Reed kept replaying in my head, stirring doubt. I wanted to believe him, but that flicker in his eyes, the way he’d shut down, felt like a loose thread I couldn’t ignore. I sipped my now-lukewarm coffee, glancing at the clock. Three o’clock. Nick was tied up with HR, probably digging into Marcus’s records, and I needed to stay focused until we had answers.Clara bounced over. She leaned against my cubicle, a stack of folders in her arms, her smile wide. “Tee, you’re a legend! Ms. Devlin’s team just left, and they couldn’t stop talking about you. We’re still on for drinks tonight, right? Hannah’s picking the spot—some new bar downtown.”I managed a smile, pushing my worries aside. “Yeah, I’m in. We deserve it after today. A
The subway rattled beneath me, the hum of tracks and the chatter of commuters filling the air as I stood gripping the pole, my bag slung over my shoulder. Morning light filtered through the grimy windows, catching the faces of strangers lost in their phones or their thoughts.I’d left the apartment early, the memory of last night’s dinner with Nick, candles, his warm hand in mine, still lingering like a soft glow. But today was big: the Reid Corps meeting to finalize the contract, and the issue of the mock-up sabotage was imminent, with Marcus Reed’s name circling in my head. I adjusted my navy blazer and took a deep breath, steadying myself for whatever the day would bring.The subway lurched to a stop, and I stepped onto the platform, joining the stream of people heading toward Haven Enterprises. My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I pulled it out, seeing a text from Clara: “Where are you already? Ms. Devlin’s team is already here!”I smiled, typing back: “On my way. Save me a coffee!
The office was nearly empty as I walked back to my desk, the golden light from the windows casting long shadows across the floor. The hum of computers and the occasional laugh from a cubicle were the only sounds left.My bag was packed, and my laptop shut. Still, I dawdled, my mind tangled in the day’s highs and lows, the situation back at home, Reid Corps’ contract on the horizon, the mock-up sabotage, and Nick’s promise of pasta and a quiet night felt like a beacon, but I couldn’t shake the unease about that ghost account. Who was behind it, and why?I was about to leave when Torres appeared, his glasses slightly askew, a stack of printouts in his hands. “Tracy, glad I caught you,” he said, his voice low and urgent. He glanced around, making sure no one was close, then sat on the edge of my desk. “David and I finished the scan on that mock-up file. You’re not gonna like this.”My heart skipped, and I leaned forward, my hands gripping my bag. “What did you find? Was it a hack?”He sh
The office was more subdued now, the lunch hour ending with people filtering back to their workstations, their voices a gentle buzz over the sound of keyboard clicks. I sat back in my chair, gazing at my phone, Mom’s words concerning Dad’s health and the bills lingering in my thoughts. The cold coffee in front of me was all that had been moved, but I didn’t care.The sabotage of the mock-up was a distant storm compared to the pain of knowing my parents were struggling. I wished I could correct it all, send them money, make Dad recover, and take the burden off Mom, but I felt stretched taut, like I was keeping too many pieces together.Footsteps interrupted my thoughts and I glanced up to see David coming towards me, a frown replacing his usual grin. He held a tablet in his hands, tapping the edge of it with nervous fingers. “Tee, got a minute? I went back over the logs on that mock-up debacle and… it’s strange.” He sat down beside a chair, speaking in a whisper so that no one could ov
I sat at my desk, the office noise receding to a distant buzz as I gazed at the tampered mock-up document in front of me. The incorrect numbers leered back at me, accusatorily silent, and my chest constricted with anger and confusion. Clara had suggested someone had done this deliberately, and I couldn’t help but see Jordan or Suzan as a suspect. Who would sabotage our effort? I massaged my temples and the morning coffee turned bitter in my gut.The marketing floor door swung open and there he was, tall and cutting a path through the hubbub, blue eyes scanning until catching mine. He strode over to where I sat, suit jacket over shoulder, tie still undone from the debrief. "Tee," Nick whispered, taking a chair beside me, steady voice but hinting with concern. "What is it? Clara gave me a quick rundown, but I want to hear the rest from you."I turned to him, fiddling with a pen in my hands. “Someone tampered with the Reid Corps prototype. The data's all incorrect, old data, not the new