Chapter 5
My new job started.
After the initial adjustment, I began enjoying the Southern breeze, the trees, even the flowers drifting down
from branches.
People adapt. That’s what we do.
For so many years, my whole world revolved around Daniel.
Now I was on my own, in a strange city, building a completely new life step by step.
Then Daniel showed up.
He cornered me in the Miami office hallway, dark circles under bloodshot eyes.
“Why?”
He was fighting to keep his lips from trembling.
I sighed and tried to walk around him.
He grabbed my arm with everything he had, his voice completely shot.
‘You’re really going to do this to me? Over some stupid joke Sophie played?”
les.
looked at him the same way I had for five years. Except this time, with zero emotion.
Yes. I’m petty and I can’t take a joke.”
gave Daniel his explanation.
His jaw was shaking. “Emily, you can’t do this-you know I can’t function without you!”
‘Sophie means nothing to me-she’s just some kid I’m mentoring. That kiss at the bar was about saving face.”
“The hiking posts, all that instagram crap-I was trying to make you jealous.”
His voice cracked completely. “You’re so fucking cruel. You blindsided me. Why didn’t you cancel the
transfer?”
“Was that joke really worth destroying everything?”
I studied him quietly, then shook my head. “Fine. That joke wasn’t really the issue.”
Daniel froze, staring at me.
I asked him a question. “Do you remember six months ago during that major project, when you and Sophie went to karaoke? Do you remember where I was?”
‘In the office lobby. You were definitely there, waiting for me, right?” Daniel was sharp when he needed to ɔe. “I screwed up. I shouldn’t have gone out that night. I should’ve come to you instead.”
I didn’t respond for a long time. Then I slowly pulled my arm free.
‘Daniel, that night Mr. Anderson came back.”
Daniel’s entire body went rigid. The color drained from his face as he pulled me into his arms.
‘Did he… did he touch you?”
Yeah. I was waiting for you in the lobby when Anderson dragged me into the elevator. He kept grabbing my lands, saying disgusting things to me.”
smiled while I talked, as if it were nothing.
He called me a stuck-up bitch, said entertaining clients was part of the job. He reeked of alcohol and I was
errified.”
Daniel started shaking all over.
His pupils kept contracting, fists clenching and unclenching. He looked ready to tear someone apart.
tilted my head back to meet his eyes, my voice completely flat. “That night, I was scared out of my mind. And you were passed out next to Sophie, sleeping peacefully. You missed eleven calls from me.”
Daniel let out an agonized sound.
He slammed his fist into the wall, his face twisted with rage.
took a breath. “But it’s fine now. I’m good. Better than I’ve ever been.”
‘So let’s call it even. Tell Sophie I appreciate the joke-I accept it. And honestly? I am absolutely in love with
Miami.”
