LETTERS OF FATE

n dealing with someone like Adrian Blackwell. Claire had completed her first draft only twelve hours earlier, and now she found herself summoned for a meeting with the big boss. As th

was waiting for her, looking as

ing toward the conference room. "M

ed into her chair at the long table, setting her laptop and notepad into place, though doubt lingered in her mind. Just then, the door swung open, and Adrian strode in, exuding his usual air of a

apprehension in her chest. "Morning," Adrian replied curtly.

her breath, he

ghtful. It's clear you put effort into understanding Sophia's preferences and in

ted, her voice bare

by vague sentiments or surface-level flattery. She need

ed, taken ab

gaze did not waver. "Sophia thrives on passion and intensity

well of her own emotions and insecurities. How could she possibly write with the

ally, though doubt gnawed at

he was not entirely convinced. "Good. I'll e

line left little room for error, let alone sleep. B

will provide additional context for Sophia's recent pro

ings, an uneasy feeling settled in her stomach; it was as if Adrian was

oor, Adrian's voice stopp

she turn

ression softened. "Don't overt

oughts, Adrian had already returned to his papers, his attention fully abso

's words echoed in her thoughts: "Write what you feel." But what was she fee

Sophia Lane: her favorite movies, her childhood in a small coastal town, her swift ascent in the spotlight. It was all useful in

oems that had touched her, the moments when words felt like a lifeline. Gradually, an idea began to form. If her own ex

ice with each keystroke, pouring into the text the emotion she imagined he would express if he were speaking his

x of pride and anxiety in her chest. It was

ted, the anticipation felt unbearable, each minute stretching like hours. She attempted to occupy herse

buzzed with a notification

uld like to see

shing aside her nerves, she changed into a clean blous

nce room, the revised letter in hand. He gestu

on," he said without p

relief flooding

till not quite there. You're hol

"I'm not holding back," she prote

u want these letters to succeed, you need to strip away the art

ing deeper than she cared to admit. S

xpression thoughtful. "You have potent

rian's critique stung, but it also ignited a fire within her. S

ication popped up on her phone. It was an article, the headline bold

Sophia laughing with a man who was not Adrian. Her stomach twisted with unease.

y and foreboding, as Claire stared