eli
ttled into one of her apa
ed under the duvet and felt my phone buzzed.
al med
t, I opened it-only to reg
smiling brightly and beside them w
of a store, Zora clutching a large Labubu doll, al
ingered o
, I had bought Zo
before frowning and dropping it on
had said back then, leaving the b
uldn't help but wonder-was it really the color
and stopped myself fro
ly and I blocked any future
ned off my phone
☆
ing, I woke up and
ok a little under thirty minutes. By the time I
ent she saw me. "Good morn
mall smile. "Good
s i reached the presidential elevator, i pulled out
pen, I noticed the way several
ew Vice Presi
ngton's most trusted person? And h
at their rel
king snicke
That last comment wa
urge to turn around. Instead, I stepped
workplac
as one of the people
chedule, Til
hers in a few minutes," she replied. "It's regarding the developme
minutes later, the doors opened, and I step
n, I bent the han
urned toward me and a tra
tood in a room like this, u
ife and a devoted mother had shaped m
as no longer
further into the room, ignoring the
Vice President?"
president have some k
she slept her
ce and figure, it wouldn
he words as I took
," he said col
diately and he glanced at me and
one before shifting my attenti
eir latest research-Project C-25, a cancer-focused st
s of effort, they had
e to perfect th
ocused gaze and gently nudged
every head tur
g matters himself-had just aske
lieved had slept
es slightly as I
precise, calculated down to the small
closer in
n't enti
on this?" I asked, my gaz
p. His name t
the tag to his
e calculatio
who was overly confide
low," I said calmly. "That results
iefly befor
levels are too high. Excess amoun
d at the
atio. Run the
ifted between discom
ng and it ruins our entire results? We won't just be looking for a breakthroug
ered. "He has years of experience.
com
With my eyes closed, I could outperform e
, my tone professional, a slight smile still on
pression
ve him time
test," I
ted, glancing at Tho
waiting for?"
ried out. Dane dropped back into hi
d a half passed
d the presenter rushed in, h
ed. "The new formula worked perfec
tantly fill
? Rea
ne was
as if even he hadn't
gain-but this time, their gazes were
, Vice President
ce President,"
e joined in, though his expression made i
as announced. "Refine and further anal
ryone stood. With lingering glances in
mas reached over and r
t, just as expected
of satisfaction settling
ght," he said. "We shou
odded in
e on, let's get
g the new formula, while the entire company buz
nd after a thirty-minute drive, we arr
r two," Thomas tol
r table. "A waiter will be with you
were alone,
ng back into work?
handle," I replie
e waiter arrived, beginning
asked. "What do you p
aused my mood
hout hesitation. "I'm
ps as if to respond,
la
pilled ont
went pale. "I-I'm so
grabbing a napkin and tr
didn't come o
estroom real quick. Gi
nod
'am," the waiter
smile before heading
't stain easily,' I thought, dabbing at
e corner, I nearly walk
lision, then looked up, ready to apologi
t of me, a frown etc
e he scoffed. "I let the first time go because Elizabeth a
ned. "
lowing me,
y frown deepen, and a scoff esc
round you, Adrian," I said,
his hand shot out and grab
ft home all day without calling or checking in. Don't y
sb
mind, and a quiet ch
seen the divor
tolerated your attitude for far too long. Come ho
e and lifted my chi
y, stepping closer and m
vil Affairs Bureau first thing tomorrow morning and pu
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