His Marble Heart

r than it should, as though it carried not just ink and promises, but the weight of something she cannot name. She hadn't slept well-her

walked i

to the gold name tag-barely blinked this

ecting you," she

th clammy hands. Her reflection in the mirrored walls looked like someone pretending to belon

p floor, she half-expected a bu

d, it

an

ark and amber-colored into a crystal glass. His suit was charcoal today, cris

ed her thr

ass in hand.

old me

s 8:

d. "You're

of a smile. "Y

before the word insufferable mad

. "No, go ahead. F

f the room. She dropped her bag at her feet and pulled out the

flect both modernism and natural softness. So, I thought-glass planters suspended from the ce

to

inked.

k for a pres

ly open. "Then why di

st the edge of it, crossing his arms. "To see how you opera

htened. "You m

ng you into t

between th

cience experiment, Mr. Vale. If you don't want my work, say it

, either. Just... quietly. Like he was

: "S

ather

er surprise, the corner

e diff

condes

reali

the city, Mr. Vale, but you don't own me. I came here in good faith. I stayed up unt

she turne

dn't let

ri

unexpected. No sharp edge. Just the barest hint of s

wly, her expre

t. I was testing you. It's no

mployee yet," s

the co

tated. "

olding hers, "I want to se

r shop that afternoon, her

n, and inhaled the comforting scent of soil, water, and wild roses. Her best friend and p

e said without looking up. "Or a nak

ped against the count

t h

on

ushing soil off her apron. "You

ing down at her i

y. "That's good. Rig

murmured. "It

chess while everyone else played checkers. Ethan Vale wasn't someone who gave without

that

quet like it's a dead s

man named Vanessa-giggled nervous

tems. "Breathe. Lift your chin. Imagine the person you love st

le softened.

ush-pink peonies and eucalyptus caught the

her, a deep

alrea

d there he wa

xedo th

nned. "What are

, smiling. "Ethan's my c

ia said

, sipping something dark

rld," Ari

aid, stepping closer

ro

That dress is

rming. "It's June's. I spil

y," he

t," she f

e flicked to her hands-scarred at the fingertips from years of pruning and tr

work

't a qu

ce, not sure

he said, "That's

inked.

begged. Not because of the flowers. But beca

oat wen

," he said, gaze dro

say to that. It felt t

. "Vanessa said you used t

d. "That'

"I'd pay to

ch, not

ime in a long while, Ethan Vale looked less like mar

outside with her shoes in her hands a

de her. Lit a cigarett

crowds,"

tending," h

him. "You're

wly. "I used t

chan

then, truly loo

reamer-felt something shift