AudreyI sat behind my desk, pinching the bridge of my nose as I stared absentmindedly out the window. The voices from the video meeting droned on, barely registering in my mind; rather, I was focused on the city skyline that was stretched out below me, a maze of glass and steel that usually filled
I had squared my shoulders, trying to call her bluff. My hands clenched into fists at my sides, my nails digging into my palms. “I don’t care about my status. Do your worst.”But Fiona had one more card to play. Her voice had dropped to a menacing whisper, her eyes glittering with malice. “You think
Audrey & EdwinAudrey’s POVMy feet felt like they were made of lead as I trudged into work that morning.Silver Star... That strange phrase from my nightmare echoed in my mind, bringing with it a sense of deja vu. I had heard it before, multiple times, and the realization had hit me like a slap to
“Miss Thatcher started off her internship by verbally harassing another intern,” her mentor had said. “She also came unprepared to a meeting and, in her haste to ‘prove herself’, she scribbled all over our whiteboard with permanent marker.”That wasn’t like Audrey; she was never the type to attack s
AudreyThe weekend had finally arrived, and I couldn’t have been more relieved. The stress of the past week at my internship had left me feeling drained, and I was looking forward to a day out with my friends at the local botanical gardens. They were hosting a special butterfly exhibit, which Avis h
The attendant looked around nervously for a moment, but then shrugged. “I don’t normally do this, but sure,” she said. “Let me get you a small bag to put it in.”As the attendant walked away, Gavin, who had approached with the others during the debacle, let out a low whistle. “Leave it to Audrey to
AudreyI arrived at work bright and early on Monday morning, feeling energized after the weekend.The luna moth I had brought home from the botanical gardens was safely tucked away in my bag, and I couldn’t wait to incorporate it into my second project. I had made my decision over the weekend: I wou
“Oh my Goddess,” a voice gasped behind me. I turned to see one of the designers standing there, her eyes wide with horror. “Audrey, did you do this?”I shook my head frantically, clutching the broken pieces to my chest. “No! Of course not. I came back from lunch and found it like this.”But the word
“I think you’re going to change so many lives,” I said to Eliza. “Those kids are so lucky to have you.” Eliza looked down, her cheeks pink. “Thank you, Audrey. Really.” Tina piped up next. “And my LGBT counseling department is finally off the ground! ” She paused, leaning into my mother, who was
Audrey After a long flight, we finally touched down in Italy. The sunlight streaming in through the plane window was a promising golden hue, and just the sight of it made me feel like my heart was about to leap out of my chest. “I might need a nap when we get to the villa,” Edwin yawned, shaking
And as I watched, I felt a hand slip into mine. I glanced up, finding Edwin beside me, his gaze focused on the runway but his approval humming through the bond. My mother stood on my other side, wrapping her arm around my shoulders. A lump rose in my throat, and I couldn’t even speak. None of us c
Audrey Edwin and I emerged from the small room, his hand still resting protectively on my back. The hustle and bustle of last-minute preparations immediately hit us, assistants running back and forth, models being ushered into position, and the soft hum of the audience’s chatter drifting through t
“There’s always time,” I whispered, grabbing the wrist of his free hand and pulling it close to peer at his watch. The movement caused him to topple forward, and he caught himself on his other palm, caging me against the hard wood of the vanity. “But maybe not enough time to waste right now.” Edwi
Audrey Before I could even answer his question, Edwin rushed past me and locked the door. When he turned back to me, he was grinning from ear to ear. The sight of that mischievous look on his face made my breath hitch. Once, it had been like pulling teeth to get the man to smile. And now here he
He didn’t need to tell me twice. I tore into the wrapping paper, revealing a soft red scarf. I could tell immediately that it was handmade—there were more than a few uneven stitches, and the outline was lumpy. It was far from perfect. But I loved it all the more for that. “Goddess, Edwin,” I laugh
Audrey The morning of the show was a frenzy. No, more than a frenzy. It was complete and utter chaos. I spent the entire morning from sunup to noon running endlessly from one end of the venue to the other, desperately trying to make sure every last detail was perfect. The racks were lined with c
“Uh… Yeah,” Malakai said. “Coffee would be nice.” A few minutes later, the three of us sat around the table, steaming cups of pitch black coffee in our hands. I kept it bitter, just in case Malakai was here to stir up more shit. It burned a little going down, but I sipped it anyway. Malakai look